Leaving The Indomitable Guerilla In His Hiding-Place, The Narrative
Must Return To That Drawing Of The Net Which Still Continued In
Spite Of The Escape Of This One Important Fish.
On all sides the
British forces had drawn closer, and they were both more numerous
and more formidable in quality.
It was evident now that by a rapid
advance from Bethlehem in the direction of the Basuto border all
Boers to the north of Ficksburg would be hemmed in. On July 22nd
the columns were moving. On that date Paget moved out of Bethlehem,
and Rundle took a step forward from Ficksburg. Bruce Hamilton had
already, at the cost of twenty Cameron Highlanders, got a grip upon
a bastion of that rocky country in which the enemy lurked. On the
23rd Hunter's force was held by the Boers at the strong pass of
Retief's Nek, but on the 24th they were compelled to abandon it, as
the capture of Slabbert's Nek by Clements threatened their rear.
This latter pass was fortified most elaborately. It was attacked
upon the 23rd by Brabant's Horse and the Royal Irish without
success. Later in the day two companies of the Wiltshire Regiment
were also brought to a standstill, but retained a position until
nightfall within stone-throw of the Boer lines, though a single
company had lost 17 killed and wounded. Part of the Royal Irish
remained also close to the enemy's trenches. Under cover of
darkness, Clements sent four companies of the Royal Irish and two
of the Wiltshires under Colonel Guinness to make a flanking
movement along the crest of the heights.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 543 of 842
Words from 145156 to 145426
of 225456
