ems to be little doubt that Lord Methuen's ill-success was
largely due to treachery, for in the course of the battle an officer
detected a Cape Dutchman on the left rear in the act of exchanging
signals with the Boers. In fact, much of the information supplied both
to General Gatacre and General Methuen was found to be deliberately
false, and it was known that the districts through which they had to
pass were seething with disaffection. For this reason most probably this
glorious and desperate fight proved a drawn battle, but there were, of
course, other possible causes to be considered. Lord Methuen had
advanced from De Aar with a brilliant army which had already acquitted
itself nobly, though with great loss, in three battles, against an enemy
entrenched in stony hills. With his thinned force of some 8000 men he
now hurled himself against troops which not only had been greatly
reinforced, but were situated behind complicated earthworks miles in
length, built on the most approved system of modern tactics.

In regard to strategy, there was no doubt that the Boers had scored.
They had been lying in wait fully aware of our plans, and had the
approach of the troops signalled to them by means of a lantern fixed
high on the hills. The Highlanders were fairly at their mercy. By the
time the shouts and orders and counter-orders had rung out, those who
had uttered them were dead or dying, and many who were left were
rushing--rushing and dropping--to get out of the fiery furnace into
which they had been led. It must be remembered that on that day there
was no artillery preparation; the heights had not been searched, and the
enemy was master of the field. The artillery operated later in the
morning; but after the first momentary retirement the Brigade of its own
accord formed up, consigned itself again to the hell of flame and death,
and there stuck as targets for the enemy till midday.

In the official despatch occurs the line, "I attach no blame to this
splendid brigade." Fortunately there is none among the great multitude
to whom the story of the tragic affair is known who would dream of
associating the word blame with the glorious band who so grievously have
suffered. Where the blame rests it is not for the civilian to say.
Indeed the exact facts of the matter can never be known, as the two dead
heroes most concerned cannot speak, and those who live can never argue
with certainty of facts occurring in the turmoil of battle. I