ighlanders held the donga between the farm and the nearest Boer
trench on the south bank.

[Sidenote: Lodgments on further bank.]

[Sidenote: Rosmead is captured.]

A few minutes later Lieut.-Col. Barter, K.O.Y.L.I., followed by a few
men of various corps, began to cross the river by the weir, while a
quarter of a mile lower down the stream two companies of the Loyal
North Lancashire under Major Coleridge commenced the passage of the
drift. Major-General Pole-Carew now despatched a messenger to inform
Lord Methuen, who had returned to the centre of the line, that he had
made a lodgment on the right bank and required reinforcements. But
there were no troops in hand. No battalions had been retained as final
reserve, and the only troops not engaged were the baggage guard of six
companies of the Northampton regiment and three companies of Royal
engineers. All that could be done was to direct various officers to
convey orders to the 9th brigade, and to the companies of the Guards
in its immediate neighbourhood to move westward, in support of the
movement on the extreme left. But their efforts served to prove once
more the truth of the axiom that when once troops are heavily engaged
in the fire-fight, they can only advance or retire; for it was found
impossible to withdraw any large number of men from the right and
centre of the 9th brigade. Without waiting for the reinforcements he
had asked for, the Major-General, as soon as he had collected about
150 men of various corps, dashed into the river, and partly by wading
through water up to the men's armpits, partly by scrambling along the
wall of the weir, brought his party safely into Rosmead.

[Sidenote: Pole-Carew moves against Modder River village.]

After making preparations to repulse any attempt by the enemy to
recapture the village, the Brigadier began to organise a force with
which to push up the right bank towards Modder River village, and thus
attack the heart of the defence. In about an hour he had collected
some five hundred men of various corps, and leaving part of the Loyal
North Lancashire to guard Rosmead, he advanced eastward to capture
this important post. On his right, in the brushwood, were some of the
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. On the left were parties of the
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry under Colonel Barter, and some of
the Loyal North Lancashire. A company of Northumberland Fusiliers,
commanded by Major the Hon. C. Lambton, followed i