neer detachment in charge of Lieutenant Digby Jones, R.E.,
started off from King's Post on their dangerous mission. The moon,
however, shone clear and white, throwing undesirable magnesian light
over their progress. It was a night for Hero and Leander, not for deeds
dark and deadly. For this reason they halted at the base of Observation
Hill until such time as it was possible to proceed in safety. Presently
the moon sank behind clouds and they moved on. At half-past one they
crossed the railway lines and commenced, stealthy as cats, to ascend
the hill. One company and a half was left on the right, and one company
and a half on the left flank. A half company was posted in a nullah near
the railway. The remainder of the force, led by Colonel Metcalfe,
deployed into line and ascended with steady, cautious step. The Boer
picket was evidently dozing, as the party was never challenged till the
British had almost reached the top of the hill. Then, with a sudden
surprised "Who goes there?" and a leap to arms, the enemy fired several
shots. Directly afterwards, the order to "Fix bayonets" was given. This
was followed by the click of steel and the rush of our men wildly
cheering--cheering till the midnight echoes rang with weird
reverberations. The crest of the hill was carried! The Boers, after
firing a few shots, had vanished into space.

After some moments of anxious search the gun--the object of the British
operations--was found. It was promptly surrounded, and the breech-block
and muzzle were destroyed with gun-cotton by Lieutenant Digby Jones,
R.E. The fuse unluckily declined at first to ignite, causing the delay
of some twenty minutes, during which interval the Boers, reinforced, had
swept back round the kopje and sandwiched themselves between the
attacking force as they retired down-hill and the reserves. The
confusion that ensued was lamentable, as the fighting line were forced
to cut their way through with the bayonet, but this with extreme
caution, as in the darkness it was difficult to distinguish between
friend and foe. The Boers cunningly enhanced the difficulty of the
position by passing themselves off as British, and repeating our cries
and orders, and calling "Is that the Rifle Brigade?" &c. On receiving an
answer they promptly fired, our reserve being unable to make return
owing to a fear of injuring our own force. The Boers' losses were great.
Our own were: Lieutenant Fergusson, 2nd Rifle Brigade, and ten rank a