There Were Two Opinions
As To Whether They Were Halting At Bulwana Or Passing It, On Their
Way To Laing's Neck.
If they were going only to Bulwana there was
the probability of two weeks' more fighting before they could be
dislodged.
If they had avoided Bulwana, the way to Ladysmith was
open.
Lord Dundonald, who is in command of a brigade of irregular cavalry,
was scouting to the left of Bulwana, far in advance of our forces.
At sunset he arrived, without having encountered the Boers, at the
base of Bulwana. He could either return and report the disappearance
of the enemy or he could make a dash for it and enter Ladysmith. His
orders were "to go, look, see," and avoid an action, and the fact
that none of his brigade was in the triumphant procession which took
place three days later has led many to think that in entering the
besieged town without orders he offended the commanding general. In
any event, it is a family row and of no interest to the outsider.
The main fact is that he did make a dash for it, and just at sunset
found himself with two hundred men only a mile from the "Doomed
City." His force was composed of Natal Carbiniers and Imperial Light
Horse. He halted them, and in order that honors might be even,
formed them in sections with the half sections made up from each of
the two organizations. All the officers were placed in front, and
with a cheer they started to race across the plain.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 123 of 202
Words from 33513 to 33774
of 55169
