one of
those accidents of war, inexplicable because of the death of those who
alone could explain them, largely increased his hitherto insignificant
losses. Shortly before midday Colonel E. P. Wilford, commanding the
1st Gloucestershire, taking a company of his battalion and the
regimental Maxim gun, dashed out of cover down the open slope as if to
assault. Another half company of the battalion moved on ahead to cut
a wire fence which obstructed the front. The Boers, who for a time had
lain quiet under the shrapnel, which searched their position from end
to end, at once opened a fierce fusilade. Colonel Wilford was shot
dead, and his men fell rapidly, the detachment finally halting upon a
low ridge beneath Intintanyoni. Further advance was impossible. Only
with difficulty could both the Gloucestershire and "D." squadron
I.L.H., which had joined in the attack, be withdrawn. Fortunately, as
the attempt was promptly ordered to cease, though many had been
wounded, only six were killed in the adventure. Meanwhile the shooting
over their heads had been continuous. The enemy, encouraged by this
event, and by the immobility of Sir G. White's line of battle, which
they imagined to be awed from its purpose by their resistance, still
clung to their fastness, and maintained a heavy though spasmodic fire.
More than once the gunners of the still uninjured piece beneath the
eastern peak made efforts to drag it forward into action, but the
British artillerymen watched the spot narrowly, and each attempt was
blown back by shrapnel, under which Intintanyoni burst into flames.
Many of the Boer ponies herded in rear, terrified by the blaze,
stampeded. Then, up on Nodashwana, amongst the Harrismith men, a stir
was descried which seemed to threaten an outflanking manoeuvre against
the British left. Sir G. White, anxious for his communications with
Ladysmith, promptly countered the movement by calling the Natal
Mounted Rifles across from his right, and sending them on in front of
his left flank.[108] The Colonial riflemen went with such skill into
the maze of broken ground below the mountain, that they not only
succeeded in outflanking the outflankers, but actually drove by
enfilade fire all of the Kroonstad commando, who were upon the right
of Intintanyoni, far back across the hill to where the Winburgers lay
at the eastern extremity. All danger ceased definitely on this side
when two guns of the 42nd battery, turning towards the ridges of