ir. The
howitzer was in an even worse plight, the explosion having
wrecked the carriage as well as the gun."

The force under General Hunter was composed of a hundred men selected
from three squadrons of the Imperial Light Horse: Squadron B, Captain
Mullens; Squadron E, Captain Codrington; Squadron F, Captain Fowler;
Commanding Officer, Colonel A. H. M. Edwards, of the 5th Dragoon Guards,
with Major "Karri" Davis, and Captain Fitzgerald, Adjutant of the
Regiment. The second hundred men were chosen from the Natal Volunteers,
and were led by Major Addison. The flanking parties, under Colonel
Royston, were composed of Natal Mounted Rifles, under Major Evans;
Border Mounted Rifles, under Major Rethman; Carabineers, under Colonel
Greene; and Natal Mounted Police, under Inspector Clarke; Colonel
Royston in command. Major Henderson was in charge of the Guides. Our
casualties were nine wounded, one mortally.

A little later in the day a smart skirmish commenced between Colonel
Knox with one squadron of the 19th Hussars and the Boers on Pepworth
Hill. The enemy thinking that all the troops had been engaged, to their
discomfiture, near Lombard's Kop, arranged that they would seize the
opportunity to approach the town. Again they were somewhat surprised to
find Colonel Knox and his party in readiness for them. Some brisk
fighting ensued, but all was over by six o'clock, and the net result of
the morning's work was considered highly satisfactory. The voice of
"Long Tom" was completely silenced, and Ladysmith had got a Maxim to the
good. The Boer telegraph lines were cut and their kraals burnt. On the
whole, the troops were well pleased with themselves, and returned to
receive an enthusiastic reception from those within the town. The only
regret was that Major Henderson, D.A.A.G., 1st Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders, should have been wounded in two places.

Probably this was the first time in the history of British arms that
guns have been stormed by Mounted Infantry, and the complete success of
the movement reflected the utmost credit, not only on the troops
themselves, but on Major-General Hunter, who so magnificently led the
assault. After the men returned to camp, General White had the
Volunteers, Light Horsemen, and other portions of the force paraded, and
addressed them as follows:--

"Colonel Royston, officers and men of the Natal Mounted
Volunteers, officers and men of the Imperial Light Horse, and