igade, in rear of Captain Jones' Naval
artillery. Two other battalions, 1st Rifle Brigade and 1st Durham
Light Infantry, were moving in accordance with Sir R. Buller's orders
to the left flank to cover the withdrawal of the 5th brigade; one
company, however, of the latter battalion had been left with the Naval
guns. The mounted brigade, whose proceedings will be narrated later,
was advancing against Hlangwhane Hill, but no report of their progress
had yet reached Sir Redvers Buller.

[Footnote 237: The positions of the troops at this period of
the action are given in detail on map No. 15.]

[Sidenote: Hildyard moves 2nd brigade forward.]

[Sidenote: He occupies Colenso, and joins hands with Barton.]

He himself now considered it advisable to go in person to the critical
point, and ascertain by his own inspection the true facts about the
guns. On his way to the front, he informed Major-General Hildyard that
the attack, as originally planned, was to be given up, and instructed
him to advance two of his battalions to cover the extrication of the
guns, taking care not to get involved in any engagement with the enemy
that could be avoided. The G.O.C., 2nd brigade, had already extended
his two leading battalions, the 2nd Queen's and 2nd Devon, for the
attack on the bridge, as first ordered. Both these battalions being to
the west of the railway, Hildyard directed the 2nd Devon to pass
through the Queen's and cross over to the east side of the line. The
two battalions then advanced, the 2nd Queen's on Colenso and the Devon
on Long's guns, the formation adopted being columns of half companies
at from fifty to eighty paces distance, the half companies being
deployed in single rank, with six to eight paces interval. The 2nd
East Surrey formed a second line in rear; the 2nd West Yorkshire was
in third line. In this formation, the 2nd brigade moved forward across
the open plain under a heavy fire, experiencing but slight loss. By
9.30 a.m. five companies of the Queen's, under the command of Major W.
S. Burrell, had occupied the village of Colenso. About two sections of
"C." and "G." companies of the Devon, accompanied by their battalion
commander, Lieut.-Colonel G. M. Bullock, had reached the donga
immediately in rear of Long's guns, the rest of that battalion being
echeloned in the open, further back as a support. A little later "E."
and "F." companies crossed the railway, and seized some farm
buildings, clos