"The enemy occupied a position four miles north and eleven miles south of Modder River. "I placed Colvile's division on north bank; Kelly-Kenny's and Tucker's, with cavalry division, on south bank. "The cavalry division succeeded in turning the left flank, opening the road for 6th Division, which is advancing without having been obliged to fire a shot up to present time (twelve noon). "Enemy are in full retreat toward north and east, being closely followed by cavalry, horse-artillery, and mounted infantry, while the 7th (Tucker's) and 9th (Colvile's) divisions, and Guards Brigade, under Pole-Carew, are making their way across the river at Poplar's Drift, where I propose to place my headquarters this evening." Later on the Commander-in-Chief wired from the said headquarters:-- "POPLAR GROVE, _March 7_ (7.35 P.M.). "We have had a very successful day and completely routed the enemy, who are in full retreat. "The position they occupied was extremely strong, and cunningly arranged with a second line of entrenchments, which would have caused us heavy loss had a direct attack been made. "The turning movement was necessarily wide owing to the nature of the ground, and the cavalry and horse-artillery horses are much done up. "The fighting was practically confined to the cavalry division, which, as usual, did exceedingly well, and French reports that the horse-artillery batteries did a great deal of execution amongst the enemy. "Our casualties number about fifty. "I regret to say that Lieutenant Keswick, 12th Lancers, was killed, and Lieutenant Bailey, of the same regiment, severely wounded. Lieutenant De Crespigny, 2nd Life Guards, also severely wounded."