e. By a common impulse, such
officers and men as were able to extricate themselves from the mass
rushed towards the enemy. In the confusion caused by the unexpected
bullets, and by the partial disintegration of the column, due to the
onward dash, battalions became intermixed, and regular formation,
though not discipline, was lost. Though the dull grey of early dawn
nearly put a stop to all supervision, though the Major-General, while
leading the two foremost companies of the Black Watch,[203] was almost
instantly shot dead, and no one knew who was present to assume the
chief command--the crowd pushed forward. A mixed body of soldiers from
various battalions succeeded in making their way to within 200 or 300
yards of the enemy. Then, unable to advance further, they flung
themselves on the ground behind such scanty cover as there was, and
opened fire. In the centre of the group were many of the Black Watch.
Lieutenant-Colonel G. L. J. Goff, who commanded the Argyll and
Sutherland, was killed, but his officers and men came up, some on the
left, some on the right. Lieut.-Colonel J. W. Hughes-Hallett, in
accordance with his instructions, brought the greater portion of the
Seaforth towards the right. Such was, broadly speaking, the character
of the movement, though all were greatly intermixed. The result was
that Magersfontein Hill, originally assigned as the object to be
assailed, had now an irregular line of Highlanders in the plain at its
foot, lapping round its eastern extremity and spreading somewhat to
the west of it. Those of the Highland Light Infantry who had not
joined the men in front, extended as a reserve in rear.

[Footnote 203: These companies of this, the leading battalion
of the brigade, had actually deployed when the Boers opened
fire.]

[Sidenote: The course of The Highlanders' attempt on Magersfontein
Hill.]

The Scandinavians, posted on the level ground at the junction of the
Boer left and centre, had, from the first, enfiladed the British
troops. When some of the Highlanders came round the foot of the hill
the opposing forces were at close quarters. The Scandinavian commando,
resisting bravely, was destroyed by mixed detachments as they pressed
onwards. Having thus succeeded in getting round the key of the whole
position, Magersfontein Hill itself, these composite parties several
times attempted to storm it. Some ninety or a hundred of the Black
Watch, under Captain W. Macf