impetus to the wave of rebellion. The necessity for immediate action
was urgent, both in Natal and Cape Colony, but the former appeared for
the moment to present the more critical situation. Sir Redvers,
therefore, on the 2nd November, telegraphed to the War Office:

"I consider that I must reinforce Natal, hang on to Orange River
bridge, and give myself to organise troops expected from England.
I am, therefore, withdrawing the garrisons at Naauwpoort and
Stormberg. I shall send Gatacre's division on arrival to Natal,
and with Methuen's and Clery's try to keep the main line open,
and to relieve Kimberley. I do not wish to be pessimistic, but it
seems to me I shall have to wait until March to commence active
operations."

[Sidenote: Messages from and to home. "Extreme gravity."]

On receipt of this report Lord Lansdowne telegraphed an enquiry
whether the division sent to Natal should be replaced by a fresh
division from England. On the 3rd November, in consequence of further
reports from Natal, Sir Redvers telegraphed to the Secretary of State:

"Telegraphic connection with Ladysmith was interrupted yesterday,
and White's force is isolated. He is well supplied with
everything, except ammunition for his naval 12-pounders, which
are the only guns that can compete with hostile artillery. I
regard the situation as one of extreme gravity. Colenso bridge
and Maritzburg are held by one battalion each; we are protecting
Durban from the fleet. I shall despatch the first reinforcements
I receive to Durban, but I cannot conceal from myself that if the
enemy previously occupy, even with a small force, the country
south of Mooi River, the relief of White by troops just landed
will be an almost impossible operation, unless he can hold out
six weeks at least from now."

[Sidenote: Nov. 4/99. Sir Redvers decides to go to Natal.]

By the following day, 4th November, General Buller had been able to
work out his plans more in detail. It had become more and more
apparent that Natal, where now the bulk of the enemy's strength lay,
was for the moment the scene of most difficulty and danger, and that
the relief of Ladysmith was all-important. For these reasons Sir
Redvers decided to proceed himself to Natal for a time to supervise
personally that critical operation. He telegraphed, therefore, to the
Secretary of State:

"My intenti