They may feel that they may conquer in the
next fight, but what is to follow? In this case the chances of success
would be smaller than before, the loss more serious, for the Boers from
all parts had united to oppose us. Many of the cannon had been brought
over from the positions from which Ladysmith was bombarded. The
advantage of surprise gained by the long march from Chieveley had been
lost; more serious still was it that a large proportion of the
provisions, brought at the cost of so much labour and exhaustion of the
transport animals, was consumed, and what remained would be insufficient
had fresh battles to be fought to capture the positions, one behind
another, held by the Boers.
General Buller was the last man to retire as long as there was a hope of
success. He knew that not only at home, but all over the civilized
world, men were anxiously awaiting the news of his second attempt to
relieve Ladysmith, and it must have been hard indeed for him to have to
acknowledge a second reverse; but in spite of this he sternly determined
to fall back. The movement was admirably executed; every horse, waggon,
gun, and soldier was taken safely across the Tugela without hindrance by
the Boers, a fact that showed how deeply they had been impressed with
the valour of our soldiers.
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