Eleven Officers And One Hundred And Fifty Men
Were Our Losses In This Unfortunate But Not Discreditable Affair,
Which Proves Once More How Much Accuracy And How Much Secrecy Is
Necessary For A Successful Night Attack.
Four companies of the
regiment were sent down to Port Elizabeth to re-officer, but the
arrival of the 1st Essex enabled French to fill the gap which had
been made in his force.
In spite of this annoying check, French continued to pursue his
original design of holding the enemy in front and working round him
on the east. On January 9th, Porter, of the Carabineers, with his
own regiment, two squadrons of Household Cavalry, the New
Zealanders, the New South Wales Lancers, and four guns, took
another step forward and, after a skirmish, occupied a position
called Slingersfontein, still further to the north and east, so as
to menace the main road of retreat to Norval's Pont. Some
skirmishing followed, but the position was maintained. On the 15th
the Boers, thinking that this long extension must have weakened us,
made a spirited attack upon a position held by New Zealanders and a
company of the 1st Yorkshires, this regiment having been sent up to
reinforce French. The attempt was met by a volley and a bayonet
charge. Captain Orr, of the Yorkshires, was struck down; but
Captain Madocks, of the New Zealanders, who behaved with
conspicuous gallantry at a critical instant, took command, and the
enemy was heavily repulsed. Madocks engaged in a point-blank rifle
duel with the frock-coated top-hatted Boer leader, and had the good
fortune to kill his formidable opponent.
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