On The Other Hand, If, As
The Orders Of The Day Seem To Show, A Serious Engagement Was Always
Intended, It Is Strange That Two Brigades Out Of Four Should Have
Played So Insignificant A Part.
To Barton's Brigade was given the
responsibility of seeing that no right flank attack was carried out
by the Boers, and this held it back until it was clear that no such
attack was contemplated.
After that one would have thought that,
had the situation been appreciated, at least two battalions might
have been spared to cover the abandoned guns with their rifle fire.
Two companies of the Scots Fusiliers did share the fortunes of the
guns. Two others, and one of the Irish Fusiliers, acted in support,
but the brigade as a whole, together with the 1st Royals and the
13th Hussars, might as well have been at Aldershot for any bearing
which their work had upon the fortunes of the day.
And so the first attempt at the relief of Ladysmith came to an end.
At twelve o'clock all the troops upon the ground were retreating
for the camp. There was nothing in the shape of rout or panic, and
the withdrawal was as orderly as the advance; but the fact remained
that we had just 1200 men in killed, wounded, and missing, and had
gained absolutely nothing. We had not even the satisfaction of
knowing that we had inflicted as well as endured punishment, for
the enemy remained throughout the day so cleverly concealed that it
is doubtful whether more than a hundred casualties occurred in
their ranks.
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