ur party (Captain Robertson, 92nd) then signalled the
question, 'Who are you?' and the answer returned was, 'We are two
companies of the 60th Rifles, who have been left here all night.' A
second message was then sent, asking what their orders were, and
the reply returned was, 'None.' Their position was consequently
much the same as ours. All the morning our sentries heard
occasional shots, and from time to time were seen small bodies of
mounted Boers galloping to and fro near our entrenchments,
seemingly to reconnoitre our position. At about eleven o'clock we
were joined by a troop of the 15th Hussars, who had just come from
the camp, bringing with them the rations for the 60th Rifles. This
troop was commanded by Captain G. D. F. Sulivan, and accompanied by
Second Lieutenant Pocklington and Lieutenant H. C. Hopkins, 9th
Lancers, attached. Captain Sulivan, having received no orders,
remained with our party, dismounting his men, and placing them
under cover on the slope, just in rear of our entrenchment. For an
hour or two afterwards all remained perfectly quiet. The distant
figures on the summit of the Majuba Hill could still be seen
passing and repassing against the grey sky. We had come to the
definite conclusion that they were our own men, entrenching
themselves on the top of the mountain. They had gained by strategy
a strong position; but could they hold it? Even then the question
was mooted. All at once, while we were quietly waiting, a
continuous and heavy firing broke out on the mountain. We saw the
blue smoke rolling across the still sky; we saw an evident stir and
excitement among the party on the hill. What was it? Were they
attacked, or attacking? Volley after volley rolled forth; it was a
heavy and continuous fire, never ceasing for a moment. All glasses
were brought to bear on the mountain, and every eye was strained to
catch a sight of what was going on. After a few minutes the figure
of a man hurrying down towards us was visible--a wounded man, no
doubt--and a mounted Hussar was sent out to bring him in. He proved
to be a wounded man of the 58th, and from him we learnt something
of the disaster which had befallen our column. The General was
dead, lying on his back, with a bullet through his head. Our men
were nearly all either wounded o