arrival of reinforcements of men and ammunition.

[Footnote 233: The two companies of the Royal Scots Fusiliers
subsequently ran short of ammunition, but a further supply
was brought up to them under a heavy fire by Sergeant-Major
J. Shannon, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers.]

[Footnote 234: Three burghers of the Krugersdorp commando,
who were manning the trenches near the river, stated
subsequently that it would have been impossible for them to
have maintained "any sort of fire" on the infantry, if these
had advanced while the guns were in action.]

[Sidenote: Two messengers sent to Sir Redvers.]

The effective strength of the detachments was by this time reduced to
an average of about four men per gun.[235] The remaining men were
accordingly formed up and marched quietly to the donga at about 7.15
a.m. All the wounded were placed under cover in small dongas, close to
the outer flanks of the batteries, but no attempt was made to disable
the guns, as the officer in command only awaited fresh supplies of men
and ammunition to open fire again. Captain G. F. Herbert, R.A.,
Colonel Long's staff officer, and an Australian officer attached to
his staff, were instructed to ride at once to Sir Redvers Buller and
report the situation and the needs of the batteries.

[Footnote 235: Exclusive of prisoners, the 66th battery's
losses throughout the day were 1 officer and 10 men killed,
and 2 officers and 30 men wounded; these casualties include
those incurred in the attempts to carry away the guns.]

[Sidenote: Sir Redvers receives various reports and leaves Naval Gun
Hill.]

Sir Redvers had already felt some anxiety as to Long's guns, as
Colonel Stopford had already pointed out to him that they were not in
the intended position. An aide-de-camp had been despatched to
ascertain their exact situation, and, having observed the guns in
action from a distance through field-glasses, that officer had
reported that they were "all right and comfortable," but under a
certain amount of fire. Sir Redvers' anxiety as to the guns was not
relieved, and a little later he left Naval Gun Hill with the intention
of seeing himself what was going on. On his way he met the Australian
officer, who stated that the batteries, including the Naval guns, were
all out of action, their ammunition exhausted, and every officer and
man of the gun