ver, it is clear that General Buller fully believed in
his ability to force the passage of the Tugela, and viewed the position,
though formidable, as less formidable than it really was. From all
accounts it was plain that all the generals believed the village of
Colenso to be evacuated, and none of them seemed to foresee very
powerful opposition from that quarter or to take into account the
exceeding rapidity with which the Boers managed to return to positions
temporarily vacated.

Selections from the general orders of the day will show the proposed
plan of action, and help to an understanding of how much one side may
propose and the other dispose in a modern campaign:--

GENERAL ORDERS.

"Orders of Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Clery, commanding the
South Natal field forces.

"CHIEVELEY, _Dec. 14, 1899_ (10 P.M.).

"1. The enemy is intrenched in the kopjes north of the Tugela;
one large camp is reported to be near the Ladysmith road, about
five miles north-west of Colenso. Another large camp is
reported in the hills which lie off the Tugela in a northerly
direction from Hlangwane Hill, a rough scrub-covered kopje.

"2. It is the intention of the General Officer Commanding to
force a passage of the Tugela to-morrow.

"3. The 5th Brigade (Major-General Hart's) will move from its
present camp at 4.30 A.M. and march towards Bridle Drift (a
ford about four miles west of Colenso), immediately west of the
junction of Doornkop Spruit and the Tugela. The brigade will
cross at this point, and after crossing move along on the left
bank of the river towards the kopjes north of the iron bridge.

"4. The 2nd Brigade (Major-General Hildyard's) will move from
its present camping-ground at 4 A.M., and, passing south of the
present camping-ground of No. 1 and No. 2 of the divisional
troops, will march in the direction of the iron bridge at
Colenso, and the brigade will cross at this point and gain
possession of the kopjes north of the iron bridge.

"5. The 4th Brigade (Major-General the Hon. N. G. Lyttelton's)
will advance at 4.30 A.M. to the point between Bridle Drift
and the railway south, and can support either the 5th or the
2nd Brigade.

"6. The 6th Brigade (Major-General Barton's), less half a
battalion as escort to the baggage,