Their Advance Being
Checked By A Very Severe Fire, The Horsemen Dismounted And Took
Such Cover As They Could.
Paget's original idea had been a turning
movement, but the Boers were the more numerous body, and it was
impossible for the smaller British force to find their flanks, for
they extended over at least seven miles.
The infantry were moved up
into the centre, therefore, between the wings of dismounted
horsemen, and the guns were brought up to cover the advance. The
country was ill-suited, however, to the use of artillery, and it
was only possible to use an indirect fire from under a curve of the
grass land. The guns made good practice, however, one section of
the 38th battery being in action all day within 800 yards of the
Boer line, and putting themselves out of action after 300 rounds by
the destruction of their own rifling. Once over the curve every
yard of the veld was commanded by the hidden riflemen. The infantry
advanced, but could make no headway against the deadly fire which
met them. By short rushes the attack managed to get within 300
yards of the enemy, and there it stuck. On the right the Munsters
carried a detached kopje which was in front of them, but could do
little to aid the main attack. Nothing could have exceeded the
tenacity of the Yorkshiremen and the New Zealanders, who were
immediately to their left. Though unable to advance they refused to
retire, and indeed they were in a position from which a retirement
would have been a serious operation.
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