attery
line. We began to feel rather shaky.

On looking over the field at this time one could not tell that anything
was occurring except for the long range guns replying to the fire from
the hill. The enemy had opened fire as soon as our advance was pushed
out. With a glass one could distinguish the infantry pushing up in
lines, five or six in succession, the men being some yards apart. Then
came a long pause, broken only by the big guns. At last we got the order
to advance just as the big guns of the enemy stopped their fire. We
advanced about four miles mostly up the slope, which is in all about
1500 feet high, over a great deal of rough ground and over a number of
spruits. The horses were put to their utmost to draw the guns up the
hills. As we advanced we could see artillery crawling in from both
flanks, all converging to the main hill, while far away the infantry and
cavalry were beginning to crown the heights near us. Then the field
guns and the pompoms began to play. As the field guns came up to a broad
plateau section after section came into action, and we fired shrapnel
and lyddite on the crests ahead and to the left. Every now and then a
rattle of Mausers and Metfords would tell us that the infantry were at
their work, but practically the battle was over. From being an infantry
attack as expected it was the gunners' day, and the artillery seemed to
do excellent work.

General Buller pushed up the hill as the guns were at work, and
afterwards General Hamilton; the one as grim as his pictures, the other
looking very happy. The wind blew through us cold like ice as we stood
on the hill; as the artillery ceased fire the mist dropped over us
chilling us to the bone. We were afraid we should have to spend the
night on the hill, but a welcome order came sending us back to camp, a
distance of five miles by the roads, as Buller would hold the hill, and
our force must march south. Our front was over eight miles wide and the
objective 1500 feet higher than our camp, and over six miles away. If
the enemy had had the nerve to stand, the position could scarcely have
been taken; certainly not without the loss of thousands.

For this campaign he received the Queen's Medal with three clasps.

VI. Children and Animals

Through all his life, and through all his letters, dogs and children
followed him as shadows follow men. To walk in the streets with him was
a slow procession. Every dog and every child one met mu