eived that he was intended to
lead the column, not to the Bridle Drift, but to a point (marked 4 on
map No. 15) close to his own kraal, at the head of and inside the
loop, where, owing to the existence of rapids, the river was fordable,
breast-high, by men on foot. The practicability of this drift had been
personally verified by the native on the two previous nights, but no
staff officer had accompanied him. Another similar foot-ford might
have been found at point 6 immediately below the junction of the
Doornkop Spruit with the Tugela, but the existence of neither of these
fords was known to Major-General Hart or to the Headquarter
staff.[228]

[Footnote 228: General Buller's telegram to the War Office,
dated 15th December, 1899, states: "There are two fordable
places in the Tugela ... they are about two miles apart ...
General Hart was to attack the left drift, General Hildyard
the right."]

[Sidenote: The march of Hart's (5th) brigade.]

The 5th brigade marched from its parade ground in mass of
quarter-columns, the battalions being arranged in the following
order:--

2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, commanded by Col. C. D. Cooper.
1st Connaught Rangers, commanded by Col. L. G. Brooke.
1st Border regiment, commanded by Col. J. H. E. Hinde.
1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, commanded by Lt.-Col. T. M. G.
Thackeray.

Half of the 17th Company, R.E., under the command of Major H. H.
Massy, followed in rear. A squadron of the Royal Dragoons acted as
advance guard as far as Doornkop Spruit, where the cavalry moved off
to the left.

[Sidenote: Hart's intention.]

The Brigadier had informed the commanding officers on the previous
evening that he intended the leading battalion to line the right bank
of the Tugela, while the remainder crossed. After passing, the brigade
was to move eastward, and attempt to close the enemy into the Colenso
loop of the river.

[Sidenote: Hart plunges into the loop.]

[Sidenote: The Boer artillery opens fire, shortly after 6 a.m.]

[Sidenote: Unseen riflemen enfilade the attack.]

Hart, following the directions of the Kaffir guide, led his brigade in
a north-westerly direction to the first drift over the Doornkop
Spruit,[229] and thence northward, the formation of the leading
battalion being now changed to an advance in fours from the right of
companies at deploying interval, the three rear battalions continuing
in mass of quarter