LAINa’S NEK AND IN00G0. 
683 
bottles filled, &c. N/5, R.A., with their 9-prs., being more mobile 
and better horsed than 10/7, was detailed for this duty, together with 
the 7-prs.; and about 8 a.m., accompanied by five companies of the 
60th Rifles, the force marched from camp. On arriving at the summit 
of the steep hill (marked A) leading into the Ingogo Valley, Lieut. Young, 
Royal Scots Eusileers, with his 7-prs. and an escort of a company of 
60th, was detached and left behind, to guard our rear and hold the 
road between ourselves and Mount Prospect Camp. Sir G. Colley, 
accompanied by Captain McGregor as his military secretary, Lieut. 
Hamilton, 15th Regiment, as his aide-de-camp, Major Essex as his 
staff officer, and Mr. Stuart, the Resident Magistrate of the Ixopo 
District, as his chief Intelligence Officer, conducted the operations in 
person. Major Brownlow, K. D. Guards, with his mounted men, was 
all the time scouting and feeling the way for us. The descent was 
easily accomplished, the river crossed, and the plateau on the 
other side of the river reached when some of our scouts came 
in reporting the enemy to our front, which report was soon 
corroborated by sundry rifle shots which we could hear along 
our front. Sir G. Colley, on receipt of this news, immediately 
sent out the 60th Rifles in skirmishing order, ordering the 9-prs. 
to take up a position on a commanding eminence. This manoeuvre 
carried out, a further advance was ordered, the 60th skirmishing 
in front of the guns until the high ground (marked B) about 
two miles from the river and on the main road was gained. The 
enemy we could now see were in full force in our front. The guns 
galloped into action, unlimbered and commenced firing shrapnel at 
the enemy about 1200 yds. range. The Boers seemed to be galloping 
in single file across our front, taking advantage of the undulating 
ground to quickly get under cover. The first two shells from the 
guns had little effect, as the range had not been accurately guessed; 
and even had we been in a position to trust and use range-finders, time 
did not allow of their being of any practical advantage on this occasion. 
The Rifles all this time were crowning the plateau and lining the edges. 
We were commanded nowhere. Brownlow was presently driven in on 
us, and the action began in earnest about 12 midday. The guns were 
in action, playing on small parties of the enemy galloping across our 
front and flanks, evidently with the object of surrounding and forming 
a complete cordon round us. At about 1 p.m. the firing was very hot* 
The Boers, leaving their horses in their rear well under cover, were 
creeping up the slopes to the crests of the plateau that we were lining, 
keeping up all the time a most deadly and telling fire. Excellent shelter 
was afforded them by the nature of the ground and the huge rocks 
and boulders that abound everywhere in this part of the country. 
Until about 2 p.m. the action was continued with ever-increasing vigour. 
Greer, R.A. had been killed by a bullet through the head about 
1.30 p.m. while superintending the boring of fuzes at the trail of one 
of the guns. His last words to me were,—“ Can you let me have some 
men ? mine are nearly all down.” It was not possible to comply with 
his request: there were no men to give him. M f Gregor, R.E. was shot 
while carrying out the orders of Sir G. Colley; and Mr. Stuart, 
