The place was described by General Buller as a "natural fortress surrounded by a glacis of about 1500 yards absolutely without cover." Others who saw it looked upon it in the light of another Spion Kop, yet this the infantry were ordered to assault. General Kitchener directed Colonel Metcalfe to move the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade under cover of the ridge from which the guns were firing, and place his battalion across the main east and west ridge, on which the farm stood, and assault it frontally from the west. Colonel Payne was at the same time to move the Inniskilling Fusiliers down the face of the gun ridge, and assault the flank of the position from the south, the 1st Devons supporting the left centre, the 2nd Gordons the right attack. At the moment of starting the leading companies of Inniskillings were assailed by an accurate and deadly fire from the Boer pom-pom, which was somewhat staggering, but nevertheless without loss of time they reformed themselves, and, "admirably led by their commanding officers," pressed on and on against the stubborn foe. These only gave way when the troops were absolutely in among them, many continuing to fire till actually made prisoners. General Buller described the attack made without the assistance of any cover as a most gallant one. "The moment the kopje was carried the Rifle Brigade, although they lost their Colonel (who, to our great regret, was wounded while gallantly leading the advance), at once reformed, and swept on their own initiative up the plateau, carrying all before them, supported by the Devons, who had got up on the left, and the Gordons and Inniskillings who joined in on the right." He went on to say, "The honours of the assault belong to the Rifle Brigade, as they had to attack that part of the kopje which had been most protected from our artillery fire, but all the troops did splendidly, and the carrying of such a position, held as it was by resolute men, will always remain present to the minds of those who witnessed it as a most gallant feat of arms."