While these things were passing a new pontoon bridge was being constructed at a bend of the Tugela immediately under the Vaal Krantz ridge, and by five o’clock this was finished.  Nothing else was done during the day, but at nightfall Lyttelton’s Brigade was relieved by Hildyard’s, which marched across the new pontoon (No. 4) under a desultory shell fire from an extreme range.  Lyttelton’s Brigade returned under cover of darkness to a bivouac underneath the Zwartkop guns.  Their losses in the two days’ operations had been 225 officers and men.

General Hildyard, with whom was Prince Christian Victor, spent the night in improving the defences of the hill and in building new traverses and head cover.  At midnight the Boers made a fresh effort to regain the position, and the sudden roar of musketry awakened the sleeping army.  The attack, however, was easily repulsed.  At daybreak the shelling began again, only now the Boers had brought up several new guns, and the bombardment was much heavier.  Owing, however, to the excellent cover which had been arranged the casualties during the day did not exceed forty.  The Cavalry and Transport, who were sheltering in the hollows underneath Zwartkop, were also shelled, and it was thought desirable to move them back to a safer position.

In the evening Sir Redvers Buller, who throughout these two days had been sitting under a tree in a somewhat exposed position, and who had bivouacked with the troops, consulted with his generals.  Many plans were suggested, but there was a general consensus of opinion that it was impossible to advance further along this line.  At eleven at night Hildyard’s Brigade was withdrawn from Vaal Krantz, evacuating the position in good order, and carrying with them their wounded, whom till dark it had been impossible to collect.  Orders were issued for the general retirement of the army to Springfield and Spearman’s, and by ten o’clock on the 8th this operation was in full progress.

With feelings of bitter disappointment at not having been permitted to fight the matter out, the Infantry, only two brigades of which had been sharply engaged, marched by various routes to their former camping grounds, and only their perfect discipline enabled them to control their grief and anger.  The Cavalry and Artillery followed in due course, and thus the fourth attempt to relieve Ladysmith, which had been begun with such hopes and enthusiasm, fizzled out into failure.  It must not, however, be imagined that the enemy conducted his defence without proportionate loss.

What I have written is a plain record of facts, and I am so deeply conscious of their significance that I shall attempt some explanation.