then left unmolested for two or three hours.

[Midnight.]

About midnight another shower of bullets was poured into the camp,
but the firing was not kept up for long.

Somewhat later a Maxim gun opened on the bivouac, but failed to get
our range.

[Thursday, January 2.]

At 3.30 a.m. patrols were pushed out on all sides, while the force as
silently and rapidly as possible was got ready to move off.

At 4 a.m. a heavy fire was opened by the Boers on the column, and the
patrols driven in from the north and east sides.

Under the direction of Major R. White (assisted by Lieutenant
Jesser-Coope) the column was formed under cover of the slope.

Soon after this the patrols which had been sent out to the south
returned, and reported that the ground was clear of the Boers in that
direction.

The growing light enabled us to ascertain that the Boers in force
were occupying pits to our left and lining the railway embankment
for a distance of one and a half miles right across the direct road
to Johannesburg.

I covered the movements of the main body with the B.B.P. and two
Maxims under Colonel Grey along the original left front of the
bivouac, and two troops M.M.P., under Major K. White on the right
front.

During all this time the firing was excessively heavy; however the
main body was partially sheltered by the slope.

Colonel White then led the advance for a mile across the vley without
casualty, but on reaching the opposite rise near the Oceanic Mine,
was subjected to a very heavy long-range fire. Colonel White hereupon
very judiciously threw out one troop to the left to cover the further
advance of the main body.

This was somewhat delayed, after crossing the rise, by the
disappearance of our volunteer guide of the previous night.

Some little time elapsed before another guide could be obtained.

In the meantime, Lieutenant-Colonel Grey withdrew his force and the
covering Maxims out of action under the protection of the M.M.P.
covering troops, and rejoined the main body.

[5 a.m.]

At this juncture Colonel Grey was shot in the foot, but most
gallantly insisted on carrying on his duties until the close of the
action.

Sub-Inspector Cazalet was also wounded here, but continued in action
until he was shot again in the chest at Doornkop.

While crossing the ridge the column was subjected to a very heavy
fire, and several men and horses were lost here.

I detailed a rearguard of one troop and two Maxims