CHAPTER XXI

HUSSAR HILL

[Illustration:  Map of the Operations of the Natal Field Army from January 11 to February 9.]

General Buller’s Headquarters:  February 15, 1900.

When Sir Redvers Buller broke off the combat of Vaal Krantz, and for the third time ordered his unbeaten troops to retreat, it was clearly understood that another attempt to penetrate the Boer lines was to be made without delay.

The army has moved from Spearman’s and Springfield to Chieveley, General Lyttelton, who had succeeded Sir Francis Clery, in command of the 2nd Division and 4th Brigade, marching via Pretorius’s Farm on the 9th and 10th, Sir Charles Warren covering the withdrawal of the supplies and transport and following on the 10th and 11th.  The regular Cavalry Brigade, under Burn-Murdoch, was left with two battalions to hold the bridge at Springfield, beyond which place the Boers, who had crossed the Tugela in some strength at Potgieter’s, were reported to be showing considerable activity.  The left flank of the marching Infantry columns was covered by Dundonald’s Brigade of Light Horse, and the operations were performed without interruption from the enemy.  On the 12th orders were issued to reconnoitre Hussar Hill, a grassy and wooded eminence four miles to the east of Chieveley, and the direction of the next attack was revealed.  The reader of the accounts of this war is probably familiar with the Colenso position and understands its great strength.  The proper left of this position rests on the rocky, scrub-covered hill of Hlangwani, which rises on the British side of the Tugela.  If this hill can be captured and artillery placed on it, and if it can be secured from cross fire, then all the trenches of Fort Wylie and along the river bank will be completely enfiladed, and the Colenso position will become untenable, so that Hlangwani is the key of the Colenso position.  In order, however, to guard this key carefully the Boers have extended their left—­as at Trichardt’s Drift they extended their right—­until it occupies a very lofty range of mountains four or five miles to the east of Hlangwani, and along all this front works have been constructed on a judicious system of defence.  The long delays have given ample time to the enemy to complete his fortifications, and the trenches here are more like forts than field works, being provided with overhead cover against shells and carefully made loopholes.  In front of them stretches a bare slope, on either side rise formidable hills from which long-range guns can make a continual cross-fire.  Behind this position, again, are others of great strength.