Up to seven o’clock our infantry had shown no disposition to press the attack, for with so huge a position in front of them, and so many hills which were held by the enemy, it was difficult to know what line of advance should be taken, or whether the attack should not be converted into a mere reconnaissance.  Shortly after that hour, however, the Boers decided the question by themselves developing a vigorous movement upon Grimwood and the right flank.  With field guns, Maxims, and rifle fire, they closed rapidly in upon him.  The centre column was drafted off, regiment by regiment, to reinforce the right.  The Gordons, Devons, Manchesters, and three batteries were sent over to Grimwood’s relief, and the 5th Lancers, acting as infantry, assisted him to hold on.

At nine o’clock there was a lull, but it was evident that fresh commandoes and fresh guns were continually streaming into the firing line.  The engagement opened again with redoubled violence, and Grimwood’s three advanced battalions fell back, abandoning the ridge which they had held for five hours.  The reason for this withdrawal was not that they could not continue to hold their position, but it was that a message had just reached Sir George White from Colonel Knox, commanding in Ladysmith, to the effect that it looked as if the enemy was about to rush the town from the other side.  Crossing the open in some disorder, they lost heavily, and would have done so more had not the 13th Field Battery, followed after an interval by the 53rd, dashed forward, firing shrapnel at short ranges, in order to cover the retreat of the infantry.  Amid the bursting of the huge 96-pound shells, and the snapping of the vicious little automatic one-pounders, with a cross-fire of rifles as well, Abdy’s and Dawkins’ gallant batteries swung round their muzzles, and hit back right and left, flashing and blazing, amid their litter of dead horses and men.  So severe was the fire that the guns were obscured by the dust knocked up by the little shells of the automatic gun.  Then, when their work was done and the retiring infantry had straggled over the ridge, the covering guns whirled and bounded after them.  So many horses had fallen that two pieces were left until the teams could be brought back for them, which was successfully done through the gallantry of Captain Thwaites.  The action of these batteries was one of the few gleams of light in a not too brilliant day’s work.  With splendid coolness and courage they helped each other by alternate retirements after the retreating infantry had passed them.  The 21st Battery (Blewitt’s) also distinguished itself by its staunchness in covering the retirement of the cavalry, while the 42nd (Goulburn’s) suffered the heaviest losses of any.  On the whole, such honours as fell to our lot were mainly with the gunners.