marching from their post at
Tunnel Hill, a distance of four miles or more, ascended Waggon Hill, led
by Colonel Park, to whom Brigadier-General Hamilton gave but one laconic
order. Wanting no more than the word to go, the Devons shook themselves
into loose column and swarmed forward for their first rush across the
zone of Boer fire. Having gained a little cover they lay there a while,
and began shooting steadily with slow, deliberate aim, even adopting
quaint subterfuges to draw shots from the Boers before pulling trigger
themselves. Then in the same loose but unwavering formation they dashed
forward in another rush, the sergeants calling upon their comrades to
remember that they were Devons, and every company cheering as it ran
towards the enemy, whose fire began to get a bit wild. Another halt for
firing in the same steady way, and then rising with unbroken front,
though their company leaders had all been hit, the Devons straightened
themselves for a charge. With bayonets bristling they sprang to the
crest, and their cheers rang loud across the hills. A hail of bullets
made gaps in their ranks, but they closed up and pressed forward,
eagerly following their colonel. The Boers, unable to withstand any
longer the sight of that fine front sweeping like fate upon them, fired
a few hundred shots and fled down hill, followed by shots from the
victorious Devons, who in a few minutes more had cleared the position of
every Boer. That was the end of the fight, and though some enemies still
clung to Intombi's crest waiting for darkness, their fire soon
slackened, and the hard-fought battle ended in a complete defeat of the
enemy at all points.

This brilliant victory, demonstrating to the Boers the vast
difference between firing from cover on British assailants and
attempts to storm positions held in force by our troops, cost the
army at Lady smith 420 men in killed and wounded. The large
proportion slain on the spot was remarkable, and was due, no doubt,
to the close fighting. Fourteen officers were killed and 33
wounded, while the non-commissioned officers and men killed
numbered 167, and the wounded 284. The killed included, besides
Colonel Dick-Cunyngham, Major Mackworth of the 2nd Queen's;
Lieutenant Hall, Rifle Brigade; Major Miller-Wallnutt, Gordon
Highlanders; Lieutenant Digby-Jones and Lieutenant Dennis of the
Royal Engineers, all of whom met death heroically;