laing's nek and ingogo. 
679 
however, and spare drivers from N/5 R.A., who drove in the lead and 
wheel of 10/7, the garrison gunners got on very well with their field 
guns, and were quite serviceable for slow manoeuvring. 
The general concentration at Newcastle was completed about the 
22nd January, 1881, the whole force being thus approximately made 
up-* 
/Two 6 cwt. 9-prs. of N/5 E.A. 
Artillerv ) Tw0 6 Cwt 9 "P rs * of 10 / 7 RA * 
1 Two 7 pr. guns manned by 3/60th Eifles with N.-C. O’s. 
V. from N/5 E.A. 
3/60th Eifles. Six companies under Lieut.-Col. Ashburnham, 3/60th. 
58th Eegiment. Seven companies under Major Hingeston, 58th Eegiment. 
Mounted troops. 250 mounted infantry, A. S. Corps, and details of 
K. D. Guards, who had been waiting at Pieter- 
Maritzburg under orders to join their depot at 
Canterbury, under Major Brownlow, K. D. Guards. 
Naval Brigade. 150 men with rockets and gatlings, under Commander 
Bomilly, E.N., from H.M.S. Boadicea. 
Natal Mounted Police. 100 men under Major Dartnell, N. M. Police. 
On the 24th January, 1881, at daylight, the force moved out from 
Newcastle under the command of Major General Sir G. Colley, accom¬ 
panied by a train of a hundred or more bullock wagons laden with 
provisions. Mount Prospect Camp, about 16 miles from Newcastle 
and 4 from Laing^s Nek, was reached on the 26th January—an 
excellent spot for a fortified camp, with abundance of water and good 
grazing for horses and cattle. Although nearly surrounded, it was 
nowhere commanded by the Drakensberg Range, and afforded a full 
view up the valley, enabling us to watch all the movements of the enemy. 
As we fully expected they would make cattle raids, and try and sweep 
off our cattle grazing in the vicinity of our camp, two guns were 
always on cattle guard under an officer. 
The 26th of January was so foggy and wet that the General deter¬ 
mined on postponing his forward march till the following day; so we 
spent the 26th in strengthening our wagon laager and spying the Boers 
on the surrounding hills with our field glasses. They sometimes came 
down scouting into the valley below, riding across our right front 
about 1000 yards off and offering a very tempting target to our guns ; 
but the General would not allow us to fire. 
On the 28th January, we moved on to the attack, starting at 
daylight with the object of taking Laing’s Nek. The two guns of 
N/5, R.A. were the rear guard and the last to leave the camp; but 
being more mobile and better horsed than the other guns, Sir G. Colley 
(after the force had crossed the river at E) ordered these guns up to 
the front, and sent them on at a gallop, escorted by Natal Mounted 
Police, to hold A. 
10/7 then moved on and held A! , and N/5 R.A. moved on to A", the 
guns thus covering the general advance of the force. 
