lley below. Therefore, on the one hand, this could be
safely occupied by protecting troops, and on the other, unless some
were there, the Boers could almost without risk have assailed the
battery and perhaps have carried it by surprise. Before Major
Allason's arrival there were on this dead ground many of the Highland
brigade. Very soon after G. battery opened fire these men were
reinforced by part of two dismounted squadrons of the 12th Lancers
under Lieut.-Colonel the Earl of Airlie, who passed between the guns,
and by parties of mounted infantry who came up on the right under
Major P. W. A. A. Milton. During the early hours of the morning, Major
Allason distributed his shells over the trenches at the foot of
Magersfontein Hill and along the low ridge down to the river; but on
the arrival of the 75th battery R.F.A. on his left, the target was
divided. From that time, the 75th ranged upon the Magersfontein
trenches and the northern end of the low ridge, while the Horse
artillery battery kept down the musketry from its centre and south.

[Footnote 205: The fence which runs north-west from Moss
Drift.]

[Footnote 206: See map No. 13(a).]

[Footnote 207: See Footnote at the end of the chapter.]

[Sidenote: The night-march of the Guards and their entry into the
fight.]

At 1 a.m. the brigade of Guards fell in and moved towards its
rendezvous, near the previous bivouac of the Highland brigade; the two
battalions of the Coldstream were followed by the Grenadiers and the
Scots Guards. Owing to the extreme darkness of the night, the storm,
and difficulties similar to those experienced by Major-General
Wauchope's brigade, connection was not maintained in the rear half of
the column. The battalion of Scots Guards, in consequence of some
confusion during the march, which they attribute to the fact that two
companies of the regiment in front of them had lost connection, became
detached from the column, and therefore halted till dawn. The two
companies in question went on to the place ordered, but the Scots
Guards marched to Headquarters, where they were detailed to act as
escort to the Howitzers and Field artillery, and did not rejoin their
brigade until the 12th. The three other battalions pushed on to the
rendezvous which they reached about half an hour before the Boers
opened on the Highlanders. After Lord Methuen had realised that the
attack had failed, he ordered Major-General Colvile