he Boer musketry increased in volume, and the bullets
whistled among the retreating soldiers. Lieut.-Colonel Sitwell was
killed as he descended the slope, and Captain Maitland, of the Gordon
Highlanders, who had been in command of 'G' company since November,
was mortally wounded almost at the same time. Luckily, the distance
was not very great, and once over the railway line the stream of
bullets ceased.

[Illustration: The Grave of Colonel Sitwell and Captain Maitland,
Gordon Highlanders (attached), near Railway at Pieter's Hill.]

Lieut.-Colonel Sitwell's loss was severely felt. Though he had only
recently joined us, he had given numerous proofs of his soldierly
ability. He had the benefit of considerable previous war service, and
had he lived would doubtless have risen to high rank. Captain
Maitland, Gordon Highlanders, had been unable to join his regiment in
Ladysmith, and had been attached to the battalion since Estcourt. Over
and over again he had proved himself to be a most gallant soldier, and
had endeared himself to all his temporary comrades (see Appendix). He
commanded 'G' company, which was most unfortunate in respect of its
commanders, having no less than six during the war. Colour-Sergeant
Connell, however, than whom no braver man lives, was with it
throughout.

As the retiring infantry climbed up the slope of Hart's Hollow they
met the advancing lines of the 4th Brigade, who had been sent to
reinforce the 5th. The latter quickly re-formed--there were not many
of the Inniskilling Fusiliers left to re-form--and were able to obtain
food after a fast of nearly twenty-four hours.

The casualties of the left half-battalion amounted to two officers
killed and three wounded, and eleven killed and fifty-six wounded of
the rank and file.[6]

[Footnote 6: There were, of course, many narrow escapes, but
none narrower than that of Major Romer, whose modesty forbids
him to allude to it. His helmet was shot through by a bullet
which actually parted his hair in its passage, a feat never
before accomplished.--A. E. M.]

The right half-battalion, under Major English, had, during the assault
of Hart's Hill, watched the right flank towards Pieter's Hill. General
Hart proposed that they should attack the Boers in that quarter, but
Colonel Cooper, who was with the right half-battalion, pointed out
that the day was too far advanced. The right half-battalion spent the
night of