For
The Second Time In One Campaign They Were Exposed And In Imminent
Danger Of Capture.
A body of mounted Boers with great dash and
hardihood galloped down within close range and opened fire.
Instantly the 12th Lancers were let loose upon them.
How they must
have longed for their big-boned long-striding English troop horses
as they strove to raise a gallop out of their spiritless overworked
Argentines! For once, however, the lance meant more than five
pounds dead weight and an encumbrance to the rider. The guns were
saved, the Boers fled, and a dozen were left upon the ground. But a
cavalry charge has to end in a re-formation, and that is the
instant of danger if any unbroken enemy remains within range. Now a
sleet of bullets hissed through their ranks as they retired, and
the gallant Lord Airlie, as modest and brave a soldier as ever drew
sword, was struck through the heart. 'Pray moderate your language!'
was his last characteristic remark, made to a battle-drunken
sergeant. Two officers, seventeen men, and thirty horses went down
with their Colonel, the great majority only slightly injured. In
the meantime the increasing pressure upon his right caused
Broadwood to order a second charge, of the Life Guards this time,
to drive off the assailants. The appearance rather than the swords
of the Guards prevailed, and cavalry as cavalry had vindicated
their existence more than they had ever done during the campaign.
The guns were saved, the flank attack was rolled back, but one
other danger had still to be met, for the Heidelberg commando - a
corps d'elite of the Boers - had made its way outside Hamilton's
flank and threatened to get past him. With cool judgment the
British General detached a battalion and a section of a battery,
which pushed the Boers back into a less menacing position. The rest
of Bruce Hamilton's Brigade were ordered to advance upon the hills
in front, and, aided by a heavy artillery fire, they had succeeded,
before the closing in of the winter night, in getting possession of
this first line of the enemy's defences. Night fell upon an
undecided fight, which, after swaying this way and that, had
finally inclined to the side of the British. The Sussex and the
City Imperial Volunteers were clinging to the enemy's left flank,
while the 11th Division were holding them in front. All promised
well for the morrow.
By order of Lord Roberts the Guards were sent round early on
Tuesday, the 12th, to support the flank attack of Bruce Hamilton's
infantry. It was afternoon before all was ready for the advance,
and then the Sussex, the London Volunteers, and the Derbyshires won
a position upon the ridge, followed later by the three regiments of
Guards. But the ridge was the edge of a considerable plateau, swept
by Boer fire, and no advance could be made over its bare expanse
save at a considerable loss. The infantry clung in a long fringe to
the edge of the position, but for two hours no guns could be
brought up to their support, as the steepness of the slope was
insurmountable.
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