same day.

As the great attack has been so ably described by various authors, it
will suffice here to give a rough outline of what took place on Caesar's
Camp and Wagon Hill prior to the companies of the Regiment reaching the
latter place.

The Boers attacked Wagon Hill at about 2.45 a.m., and amidst a good deal
of confusion on the top, where 4:7 gun was in the act of being mounted,
gained possession of the front crest. Their attempt to take Wagon Hill
itself failed. Reinforcements consisting of two companies Gordon
Highlanders and three squadrons of I.L.H. were sent to assist the 60th
Rifles, the men of the I.L.H., and the detachment of Sappers already
engaged with the Boers.

[Illustration: The Railway Bridge, with Caesar's Camp in Distance,
Ladysmith]

An hour later the attack on Caesar's Camp developed. The Manchesters were
prepared for them, and one company Gordon Highlanders was sent to
reinforce. The Boers, unable to advance against the front crest of
Caesar's Camp, attempted to turn the flank of the Manchesters along the
northern slopes. This attempt was foiled by the advance of the one
company Gordon Highlanders, assisted by the 53rd Battery which had come
into action on the plain below. The Rifle Brigade reinforced Caesar's
Camp at about 7 a.m., and two more companies of the Gordons were sent
there at about 2 p.m. By 10 a.m. the Boers had been pushed back off
Caesar's Camp, and Wagon Hill was reported nearly clear.

Wagon Hill was further reinforced by the 18th Hussars at 10 a.m.

At 1 p.m. the Boers, who had always hung on to their crest line, again
attempted to rush Wagon Hill point, and though they gained a temporary
advantage failed to establish themselves.

Sir George White ordered that the hill should be cleared of Boers at all
costs before nightfall, and he sent the 5th Lancers and 19th Hussars to
support the troops already at Wagon Hill, and at the same time three
companies of the Devons were ordered to proceed there with all dispatch.

At 10 a.m. the three companies of the Devons, which were in camp,
commanded respectively by Captain W.B. Lafone, Lieutenant Masterson with
Lieutenant Walker, and Lieutenant Field, the whole commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Park, had been ordered to proceed to the camp near
Iron Bridge vacated that morning by the Gordon Highlanders, to be ready
as a reserve if wanted.

At about 3.30 p.m. these three companies received orders to proceed at
once to Wagon Hill to