It Was Well That It Was
So, For Less Sturdy Material Might Have Been Overborne By The
Vigour Of The Attack.
As it was, the garrison were driven to their
last trench, but held out under a very heavy fire all day, and next
morning the Boers abandoned the attack.
Their losses appear to have
been over fifty in number, and included Commandant Celliers, who
was badly wounded and afterwards taken prisoner at Warm Baths. The
brave garrison lost fourteen killed, including two officers of the
Northumberlands, and twenty wounded.
In each of these instances the attacks by the Boers upon British
posts had ended in a repulse to themselves. They were more
fortunate, however, in their attempt upon Modderfontein on the
Gatsrand at the end of January. The post was held by 200 of the
South Wales Borderers, reinforced by the 59th Imperial Yeomanry,
who had come in as escort to a convoy from Krugersdorp. The attack,
which lasted all day, was carried out by a commando of 2000 Boers
under Smuts, who rushed the position upon the following morning. As
usual, the Boers, who were unable to retain their prisoners, had
little to show for their success. The British casualties, however,
were between thirty and forty, mostly wounded.
On January 22nd General Cunninghame left Oliphant's Nek with a
small force consisting of the Border and Worcester Regiments, the
6th Mounted Infantry, Kitchener's Horse, 7th Imperial Yeomanry, 8th
R.F.A., and P battery R.H.A. It had instructions to move south upon
the enemy known to be gathering there.
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