64 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. IX. 
left along a bushy slope with guns, limbers, and ammu¬ 
nition-wagons. With these the major had to fight his 
way across the Keiskama River and up the long bushy 
valley under the Seven Kloof Mountain. 
I had been sent forward by General Somerset to 
hold the ford of the Keiskama River, and to defend the 
rear of the First Division wagons, directly I was replaced 
at the ford by the advance of Major Gibson’s force. I 
came up to the rear of the wagons whilst being fiercely 
attacked; and as Lieutenant Cochrane, 91st Foot, was 
at that moment wounded, the command devolved upon 
me. There was very hard fighting for some distance, 
but at last we cleared the bushy country and gained 
the open. We reached the camp without further 
fighting. During this day my charger was shot under 
me, my gun was shattered to pieces in my hands, 
and several men were killed and wounded. Greneral 
Somerset’s orderly was shot, and the general’s charger, 
which he was leading, fell into the enemy’s hands. 
During all this time Major Gibson was fighting his 
way over the same ground, with the Royal Artillery 
guns, limbers, and ammunition-wagons which he had 
saved from falling into the hands of the Kafirs. As 
night was closing in Major Gibson’s column made its 
appearance in the open about three miles from our 
camp. As they were leaving the bush country the 
enemy made a general rush on the rear; but the guns 
