for the left guides; these ropes were taken, but I believe," adds Lord Methuen, "used by only two battalions. The three battalions were to extend just before daybreak, two companies in firingline, two companies in support, and four companies in reserve, all at five paces' interval between them." Lord Methuen then gives an account of what actually happened—a tale infinitely sad.

Not finding any signs of the enemy on the right flank just before daybreak, which took place at 4 a.m., as the brigade was approaching the foot of the kopje, Major-General Wauchope gave the order for the Black Watch to extend, but to direct its advance on the spur in front, the Seaforth Highlanders to prolong to the left, the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders to prolong to the right, the Highland Light Infantry in reserve. Five minutes earlier (the kopje looming in the distance), Major Benson had asked Major-General Wauchope if he did not consider it to be time to deploy. Lieut.-Colonel Hughes-Hallett states that the extension could have taken place 200 yards sooner, but the leading battalion got thrown into confusion in the dark by a very thick bit of bush about 20 to 30 yards long. The Seaforth Highlanders went round this bush to the right, and had just got into its original position behind the Black Watch when the order to extend was given by Major-General Wauchope to the Black Watch. The Seaforth Highlanders and two companies of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were also moving out, and were in the act of extending when suddenly a heavy fire was poured in by the enemy, most of the bullets going over the men.

"Lieut.-Colonel Hughes-Hallett at once ordered the Seaforths to fix bayonets and charge the position. The officers commanding the other battalions acted in a similar manner. At this moment some one gave the word 'Retire.' Part of the Black Watch then rushed back through the ranks of the Seaforths. Lieut.-Colonel Hallett ordered his men to halt and lie down, and not to retire. It was now becoming quite light, and some of the Black Watch were a little in front, to the left of the Seaforths."

As soon as light permitted the artillery opened fire. The Seaforths having had no orders, the commanding officer tried to reach the trenches, about 400 yards off, but as soon as the companies moved the officers and half the men fell before a very heavy fire. Ten minutes later another rush was tried, with the same fatal illsuccess, and the fragment of the regiment lay down where they

were. Meanwhile the 9th and 12th Lancers, G Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, and mounted infantry were working on the right flank. At twelve o'clock noon the Gordons went forward to support the Highland Brigade by order of Lord Methuen, who adds that "the trenches, even after the bombardment of lyddite and shrapnel since daybreak, were too strongly held to be cleared;" but "the battalion did splendid work throughout the day." Continuing the story from this point Lord Methuen states :

"At 1 p.m. the Seaforth Highlanders found themselves exposed to a heavy crossfire, the enemy trying to get round to the right. The commanding officer brought his left forward. An order to 'Retire' was given, and it was at this time that the greater part of the casualties occurred. The retirement continued for 500 yards, and the 'Highlanders' remained there till dusk. Lieut.-Colonel Downman, commanding Gordons, gave the order to retire, because he found his position untenable, so soon as the Seaforth Highlanders made the turning movement to the right. This was an unfortunate retirement, for Lieut.-Colonel Hughes-Hallet had received instructions from me to remain in position until dusk, and the enemy were at this time quitting the trenches by tens and twenties."

One paragraph is devoted to the gallant leader of the Highland Brigade, and the General sums up the failure:

'Major-General Wauchope told me, when I asked him the question, on the evening of the 10th, that he quite understood his orders, and made no further remark. He died at the head of the brigade, in which his name will always remain honoured and respected. His high military reputation and attainments disarm all criticism. Every soldier in my division deplores the loss of a fine soldier, and a true comrade.

"The attack failed: the inclement weather was against success; the men in the Highland Brigade were ready enough to rally, but the paucity of officers and non-commissioned officers rendered this no easy matter. I attach no blame to this splendid brigade. From noon until dark I held my own opposite to the enemy's intrenchments."

APPENDIX X.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS SINCE THE RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY.

THE general narrative of the campaign breaks off in the preceding chapters at various interesting points. Kimberley has been relieved, and the first step has been taken towards recovering the ground lost when Lord Methuen received his check at Maaghersfontein.

Not a moment was lost by Lord Roberts in pushing his advantage home. On the day following the Relief of Kimberley he pressed resolutely forward and occupied Jacobsdal, which is well within the Free State territory. His strategy was so well planned that the Boers under General Cronje, who had so stubbornly resisted the advance of Lord Methuen, precipitately fled from their trenches at Maaghersfontein, their places being taken by the British Guards. General French, with his cavalry, and KellyKenny, with the Sixth Division, at once started in pursuit, and a general movement was developed by means of which Cronje's force was, on the 7th February, overtaken and completely surrounded at Paardeberg.

The Boer General, with rare sagacity for one who was already in a hopeless position, established himself in the bed of the Modder River, and there intrenched himself within an area of one square mile, in the hope that reinforcements would come up either from Ladysmith or Cape Colony and rescue him from his pursuers. But his hope was vain. Lord Roberts commenced a terrific bombardment of his laager. It is said that no fewer than one hundred and ten guns were concentrated upon him and his unfortunate forces.

Lord Roberts beat off comparatively small bodies of reinforcements which ventured into the neighbourhood, and on the 19th General Cronje, apparently realising the futility of further resistance, asked for an armistice. To this request Lord Kitchener gave the now historical reply, "Not a minute," and the bombardment

was continued more furiously than ever. The British General's final defeat of the Boer reinforcements took place on the 20th. The indomitable Cronje still held out, however, and during the next seven days showed a tenacity of purpose which marks him as one of the most stubborn soldiers who ever lived.

On the 27th he abandoned his last hope, and, by a happy chance on the anniversary of Majuba Day, surrendered to Lord Roberts with over four thousand officers and men.

The news, as may be imagined, was received in Great Britain and throughout the Empire with the wildest enthusiasm, especially on account of the fact that the chief honours of the final rush which settled Cronje's fate were shared with the Gordon Highlanders by the Canadians.

General Cronje was sent as a prisoner to Capetown, in charge of General Pretyman, and Roberts continued his march on the Orange capital. On Tuesday, March 13th, the first part of the campaign from Cape Colony was brought to a glorious conclusion, Lord Roberts being able on the evening of that day, in a dispatch which will long be memorable, to telegraph to his Government :— 'By the help of God and by the bravery of her Majesty's soldiers, the troops under my command have taken possession of Bloemfontein.

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"The British flag now flies over the Presidency, vacated last evening by Mr. Steyn, late President of the Orange Free State." Meanwhile great events were happening in Natal. The main narrative closed with the failure of General Buller's third attempt to relieve Ladysmith. That was on February 7th. It was not until the 20th that a further effort was made, and General Hart crossed the Tugela and occupied Colenso. Even then it seemed impossible for the gallant British troops to make headway, for General Buller himself was on the south of the Tugela six days later. Majuba Day, however, brought luck to Buller as it had done to Roberts. Pieter's Hill was stormed and the Boers' main position was carried. Buller had fought for four days and had sustained severe losses throughout. The renowned Inniskillings were almost destroyed. Buller reported afterwards, however, that the victory he had gained far exceeded his expectations.

The road was at last cleared to Ladysmith. Lord Dundonald, at the head of his cavalry, which had done such splendid service before the battle of Spion Kop, succeeded in penetrating through the

intervening country, and actually entered the beleaguered town on February 28th. The formal entry of General Buller into Ladysmith occurred three days later, and thus the long siege, which had lasted from November 2nd, was triumphantly brought to an end. It should not be overlooked that, ever since we had any news from Ladysmith at all, we had had nothing but the most cheerful reports declaring the garrison to be in the best of spirits, and to be well provided with food and ammunition. The world now learned that they had undergone unheard-of privations, that the whole camp was a hospital, that the artillery ammunition was practically exhausted, and that both the military and the civil population were reduced to the last extremity. It was, indeed, a community of living skeletons which greeted its deliverer.

Again, as when Kimberley was relieved and when Cronje surrendered, there was unbounded rejoicing among Britons all over the world.

A few lines are necessary to summarise one branch of the campaign which has not yet been noticed-the campaign along the Orange River in the north and north-east of Cape Colony.

General Gatacre, with the Third Division, which had been broken off from the original Army Corps and. had now become a rather weak and confused independent force, was sent to stem the tide of Boer invasion, and to check, if possible, the spreading spirit of revolt among the Cape Dutch. It was obvious from the first that he had an arduous task before him. After the battle of Elandslaagte, in Natal, General French was sent round to his assistance, and speedily, with his cavalry, made a strong impression upon the enemy. He could not, however, effect much beyond reconnaissances, and even these did not save General Gatacre from a severe reverse when, in attacking Stormberg on December 10th, he was misled by his guides into what was practically an ambuscade and lost hundreds of his men. Since that date General Gatacre has done but little. The operations of Lord Roberts on the Modder River and of Buller on the Tugela has at length, however, relieved the pressure in the Stormberg region and enabled Gatacre with his whole force to cross the Orange River and occupy Bethulie. His field of action is thus transferred to the Orange Free State, where he will doubtless co-operate with Roberts.

There are still two minor operations to be noticed, the peculiar circumstances of which have caused them to arouse an enormous