682 
laing's nek and ingogo. 
morrow we had a general funeral parade, when officers and men were 
interred in, as it were, one great family vault, in the vicinity of Mount 
Prospect. Camp life for the next ten days was indeed irksome and 
tedious. A mournful spirit pervaded the whole camp, and we were all 
impatient and anxious to be actively employed in once again attempting 
the capture of the Nek. There was nothing now, as we thought, but 
to hold our own and await the reinforcements that were being hurried 
into the country. Every day Boers were seen hovering around us, no 
doubt with the object of carrying out some cattle raid, or spying our 
movements. We seemed never to be able to gain any intelligence as 
to their losses, their numbers, or their plans. We offered them 
medical assistance after the action at Laing's Nek, which they respect¬ 
fully declined, saying their slight losses hardly necessitated their 
acceptance of such an offer. 
Every morning before daylight we were under arms, in expectation 
of an attack, and during the day we were busily employed in cattle 
guarding and building detached forts such as F } to strengthen our 
position. Early in February, the site of the camp was changed, and 
the usual wagon laager formed with guns and gatlings at the angles, 
horses picqueted inside, tents outside. 
The duty of the R.A. in this action was mainly to cover the advance 
and retreat of the infantry and cavalry. Shrapnel shell was generally 
used with 15 secs, fuzes, at ranges varying from 1200 to 2200 yds. 
Number of rounds fired by the six guns, about 170. Casualties among 
the R.A., nil. The diagram represents the position of the troops about 
noon, when the 58th and mounted men had commenced their respective 
attacks. 
INGOGO.— 8th February , 1881. 
On the 7th February, while attending the sale by auction of the effects 
of the poor fellows who were killed at Laing’s Nek, we were rather 
startled to see the Newcastle post which had been despatched in the 
morning, return to camp. On enquiry it was ascertained that the 
post carriers, three in number, had been fired on by the Boers and pre¬ 
vented from crossing the Ingogo River. 
In consequence of this, shortly after we had got under arms about 
daybreak on the 8th, Sir G. Colley gave us orders to have two guns 
(with one wagon) and the 7-prs. ready to start at 8 a.m. with the 60th 
Rifles. The object was, first, to make a demonstration by marching 
down to the Ingogo River; and, secondly, to re-establish our postal 
communication with Newcastle, which had been interrupted by the Boers. 
No one thought there would be fighting. Sir G. Colley gave us 
orders to have dinners ready on the (expected) return of our force 
about 4 p.m. No provisions of any kind were taken, simply water- 
