ere killed, and several of the Boers
were shot. The party returned to camp safely, after having accomplished
the object of their expedition in the space of twenty-three hours.

The trestle bridge at Frere was now completed, and trains began to run
over it. Frere Bridge, on the Natal Government Railway, some twenty
miles from Ladysmith, was, it may be remembered, the first to be blown
up by the Boers on their retreat from Estcourt to Colenso.

The following is a rough list of the force, under General Sir Redvers
Buller, Major-General Sir C. F. Clery, Major-General Hildyard, and
Major-General Barton, which was now advancing towards Ladysmith from
Durban by way of Pietermaritzburg, Mooi River, Estcourt, and Colenso:--

1st Border Regiment, 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 2nd West
Yorkshire, 2nd East Surrey, 2nd West Surrey, 2nd Devonshire,
1st Welsh Fusiliers, 2nd Scottish Rifles, 2nd Royal Fusiliers,
2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, 1st Royal
Dragoons, 1st Durham Light Infantry, 13th Hussars, 1st
Connaught Rangers, 1st Dublin Fusiliers, 1st Gordon
Highlanders, 1st Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Somersetshire
Light Infantry, 3rd King's Royal Rifles, B Squadron 6th Dragoon
Guards, one Squadron Imperial Light Horse, Durban Light
Infantry, various Local Rifle Associations, Naval Detachments,
Volunteer Cavalry and Infantry, Uitlander Corps under Major
Thorneycroft, 7th, 14th, 64th, 66th, 73rd Field Batteries,
several Companies Royal Engineers, several Companies R.A.M.C.,
Field Hospitals.

Besides the arrival of incoming regiments, camp life at Frere was
enlivened by many minor episodes. Provost-Marshal Major Chichester paid
more surprise visits to Dutch farms whose owners were suspected of
aiding the enemy. Though looting was strictly forbidden, some of the
raiding parties returned with interesting souvenirs of their
expeditions--sometimes in the form of corpulent turkey, squeaking
sucking-pig, or other dainty with which to vary the monotony of camp
fare. Good-nature prevailed among the troops, and the health of the men
testified to the excellence of their feeding. Fair beef, occasional
mutton, and beer were available, and with these at hand and the enemy in
front, and shortly to be interviewed by heavy guns plus the bayonet,
"Tommy" was well content. Meanwhile, reinforcements continued to come up
from Maritzburg in all haste. The march fro