ee advanced
hills here, while Ogilvy has been moved back across the river. We hear
of a loss of some 1,600 men, the poor 2nd Bn. of the Lancashire
Fusiliers specially suffering heavily;[2] there is therefore great
depression among all here, a cessation of fire being ordered, and
nothing in front of us except ambulances. Our mail came in during the
evening and I was very pleased to get letters from Admiral and Mrs.
Douglas. We feared a night attack, so had everything ready for the
fray. I was on the watch all night with Whyte, but our search-light
kept off the danger and all remained quiet.

[Footnote 2: Having lost over 100 officers and men killed and
wounded at Venter's Spruit, the 2nd battalion of the regiment
went subsequently into action at Spion Kop 800 strong, and
only 553 answered the roll call next day.]

_Thursday, 25th January._--A quiet day, the Boers and our own
ambulance parties burying the dead on Spion Kop. And so went the next
few days, we shelling the Boers at intervals although sparingly.
Rumour says that General Buller is confident of beating the Boers in
one more try, and is shortly going to try it. May the key fit the
lock this time! He seems determined, and we all hope he will be at
last successful.

_Monday, 29th January._--We are firing as usual. Colonel Northcote of
the Rifle Brigade came over from his kopje to see me, and I proposed
the construction of two rifle-proof gun pits on the river bank, to
which he agreed. A very hot day and raining heavily at night.

_Wednesday, 31st January._--We have orders to watch carefully the
right of the Boer position. I let Mr. Whyte fire a dozen shells, which
he did very well, and I finished my gun pits, and very good ones they
are. Just at dark up came an officer from General Buller with an order
that we were to retire our Naval guns at daybreak to the plateau,
which we had to do much to our disappointment, moving off at daybreak
next morning and taking the guns in a punt across the river. I learnt
to my great sorrow that poor Vertue of the Buffs, my friend of Ceylon
days when he was an A.D.C. to the General there, was killed at Spion
Kop, and I am much depressed as I liked and admired him immensely.

_Friday, 2nd February._--The Boers are busy burying their dead on
Spion Kop under a flag of truce, so we have a quiet day and no firing.

_Saturday, 3rd February._--The troops are all again on the move; no
less than ni