It Is Fairer To State That
In This Instance General French Ordered Colonel Watson To Make A
Night Attack Upon The Hill.
The result was disastrous.
At midnight four companies in canvas
shoes or in their stocking feet set forth upon their venture, and
just before dawn they found themselves upon the slope of the hill.
They were in a formation of quarter column with files extended to
two paces; H Company was leading. When half-way up a warm fire was
opened upon them in the darkness. Colonel Watson gave the order to
retire, intending, as it is believed, that the men should get under
the shelter of the dead ground which they had just quitted, but his
death immediately afterwards left matters in a confused condition.
The night was black, the ground broken, a hail of bullets whizzing
through the ranks. Companies got mixed in the darkness and
contradictory orders were issued. The leading company held its
ground, though each of the officers, Brett, Carey, and Butler, was
struck down. The other companies had retired, however, and the dawn
found this fringe of men, most of them wounded, lying under the
very rifles of the Boers. Even then they held out for some time,
but they could neither advance, retire, or stay where they were
without losing lives to no purpose, so the survivors were compelled
to surrender. There is better evidence here than at Magersfontein
that the enemy were warned and ready. Every one of the officers
engaged, from the Colonel to the boy subaltern, was killed,
wounded, or taken.
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