Of All The
Examples Which The War Has Given Of The Enduring Qualities Of The
British Troops There Is None More Striking Than The Absolute
Confidence And Whole Hearted Delight With Which, After Three Bloody
Repulses, They Set Forth Upon Another Venture.
On February 9th the movements were started which transferred the
greater part of the force from the extreme left to the centre and
right.
By the 11th Lyttelton's (formerly Clery's) second division
and Warren's fifth division had come eastward, leaving Burn
Murdoch's cavalry brigade to guard the Western side. On the 12th
Lord Dundonald, with all the colonial cavalry, two battalions of
infantry, and a battery, made a strong reconnaissance towards
Hussar Hill, which is the nearest of the several hills which would
have to be occupied in order to turn the position. The hill was
taken, but was abandoned again by General Buller after he had used
it for some hours as an observatory. A long-range action between
the retiring cavalry and the Boers ended in a few losses upon each
side.
What Buller had seen during the hour or two which he had spent with
his telescope upon Hussar Hill had evidently confirmed him in his
views, for two days later (February 14th) the whole army set forth
for this point. By the morning of the 15th twenty thousand men were
concentrated upon the sides and spurs of this eminence. On the 16th
the heavy guns were in position, and all was ready for the advance.
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