were not yet fit after their long sea and railway journey. The military authorities were fully conscious that the security of their position depended upon no blunder being made in any respect. Their magnificently brave defence has testified to their conspicuous yet cautious power of resource. I had not left Ladysmith twelve hours before news came to Pietermaritzburg, two hours after my return there on October 13th, to say that the Boers had crossed the border both from the Transvaal and the Free State, with forces of 4,000 and 3,000 respectively, and that Sir George White had started to meet one of these forces, so that he had had but a short time for preparation. The day, however, only ended in mutual reconnoitring, as the Boers were indisposed to leave the hilly fastnesses, and were content for that day with having occupied Newcastle without opposition. The country round Ladysmith is a good deal more hilly than that near Dundee, and there seemed to be more rocky or stony patches. |