Identifier: battlesofninetee06forb (find matches)
Title: Battles of the nineteenth century
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Forbes, Archibald, 1838-1900 Atteridge, A. Hilliard (Andrew Hilliard)
Subjects: Battles Military history, Modern
Publisher: London New York : Cassell and Company
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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f the fight, and was itself in serious peril.Between eight and nine the fight seemed lesshot, but the Boers were gathering for anotherattack. It was now that serious news reachedSir George White from the small detachmenthe had left to hold the defences of Ladysmith.They sent him word that the Boer artillery wasopening fire on the camp on the north side ofthe town, and that the enemy were threateningto attack. Reluctantly the order was given toGrimwood and Ian Hamilton to withdraw. Thefirst movement in retreat was the signal for theBoers to come on, opening a heavy fire on thefront and flank of the battalions on the Britishright and shelling them vigorously from all theirbatteries, which now reopened fire from variouspoints on the long semicircle of hills. E.\posed to this shower of projectiles anc^dispirited by the retirement, the troops at firstcame back somewhat hurriedly and irregularly.The 13th and 53rd Batteries of the Royal FieldArtillery galloped bravely to the front to protect
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42 THE BOER WAR. the retreat, ready if necessary to devote them-selves to destruction in order to save theinfantry. The 53rd was taken in flank by aMa.xim-Nordenfeldt quick-firer, which sent astream of one-pound shells into it. Two gunsswung round to meet this dangerous opponent ;the other four held back the Boer pursuit.Then the two batteries retired alternately, oneunlimbering to open tire while the other was onthe move. One gun had five out of its sixhorses killed, and seemed on the point ofcapture, hut a brave non-commissioned officer,Bombardier Saunders, galloped back with a teamand limbur from one of the waggons, and undera shower of bullets broughtback the gun. Another gunwas overturned while cross-ing a ditch. LieutenantHiggins and a party of gun-ners righted it and broughtit in. So the retirementwent on, most of the menmoving steadily as if onparade and making a doggedfight. But between the or-dered lines tliat still facedthe Boers there was troop-ing back to Lady smith amass

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