ld batteries from their positions could see the
Boers as they fled from Mont Blanc. The Naval guns, which had been
successfully co-operating with the 18th battery[157] in shelling the
Boers on the crest line of Mont Blanc, were the artillery nearest to
Lord Methuen's hand as, from the summit, he watched the retreating
Boers. He called upon the Naval brigade to bring one of their guns on
to the top of Mont Blanc, by the deep gorge which cuts into the
western face of the main range. But the ground was impossible; the
heavy gun could not be dragged up the mountain side, and the Boers
effected their retreat without molestation from artillery fire. The
18th battery indeed joined with Major Rimington in a pursuit of the
Boers eastwards, from the extreme south of the hills, but with horses
exhausted by thirst and fatigue, nothing could be effected. The
detachment of cavalry and mounted infantry on the left of the British
line pushed some distance to the north-east; its appearance scattered
considerable parties of the enemy who otherwise might have harassed
the left flank, but with this exception its influence on the fight was
small. About midday its progress was arrested by a very well handled
flank or rearguard of the enemy in the neighbourhood of Swinkpan.[158]

[Footnote 157: The 18th battery fired 141 rounds. For the
greater part of the day it was in action at 1,375 yards.]

[Footnote 158: This water-hole is not shown on map No. 10; it
appears on map No. 9.]

[Sidenote: End of action. Casualties, Nov. 23rd.]

By 10 a.m. the engagement was over, and by noon the greater part of
the British force had returned to camp. After the action the outposts
were furnished by the Northampton regiment, and half a battalion of
the Scots Guards held Belmont station with a detached post on Table
Mountain. The total loss of Lord Methuen's command was 3 officers and
51 N.C.O.s and men killed; 23 officers and 220 N.C.O.s and men
wounded. The Grenadiers suffered more heavily than any of the other
battalions. They lost 1 officer killed and 8 wounded, 2 mortally; 21
N.C.O.s and men killed and 107 wounded, 24 mortally. Of the Boers, it
is known that more than 80 were killed, and 70 were taken prisoners. A
large amount of cattle, a considerable number of ponies, and much
ammunition were captured.

[Sidenote: An indecisive but in some ways satisfactory engagement.]

Though from the insufficient number of his