ar, but told me to cross the Tugela by the Pont as quickly as
possible, the pontoon bridge having been removed. At the Pont I had to
off-load all my wagons, as the drift below was impassable; and after
having got one gun and ox team safely across, the Pont was upset in
the middle of the river, and all the work was jammed. During this time
there was a heavy shell fire on Colenso Station from a Boer 3" gun,
but we were not touched. I had the Pont righted, and my men baled it
out before daylight on the 28th, and I took my other gun and two
wagons and loads of ammunition across, and hurried on to join General
Coke. On the morning of March 1st a body of men rode in from
Ladysmith. They proved to be Ladysmith scouts, and brought General
Coke his first intimation of the relief of Ladysmith on the previous
evening. My guns were in position, and we bivouacked with the troops
for some days, but I have now pitched camp and withdrawn the guns.
Hearing many rumours here that the Naval men are to return to their
ships, I should like to bring to your notice the very excellent
service which has been rendered me by my captains of guns, R.
Mitchell, P.O., 1st class, and especially G. Mullis, P.O., 1st class,
and the clever and hard work of F. Harvey, P.O., 2nd class (leading
shipwright), and to mention the following names not before
mentioned:--H. House, A.B., F. Long, O.S. (bugler), S. Ratcliffe,
O.S., and to state my appreciation of the work done by all.

* * * * *

[_The Times_ of April 16th, 1900.]

_Extract from "Times" Natal Military Correspondent, dated March 22nd,
1900._

The Naval contingent of the _Powerful_ left Ladysmith for England on
the 7th, and that of the _Terrible_ left to rejoin their ship on the
11th. The 4.7 guns remain in the hands of the Naval gunners of the
_Forte_, _Philomel_, and _Tartar_, under Captain Jones of the _Forte_,
but most of the 12-pounders have now been handed over to the 4th
Mountain Battery. It seems a great pity that the Naval gunners of the
_Terrible_ could not have been spared to finish the campaign. Three
months' practice ashore has made them nearly perfect in the management
of their guns, and they themselves would be the first to admit that,
at any rate in that part of the gunnery that was not learnt on board
ship, such as rapidity of fire under their present altered conditions
and mobility, they have improved twofold since they first landed.
Their rapidity