"The men went splendidly, and when Buller saw us appear at the top of the other side and open fire he turned to General Smith-Dorrien and said, 'By Jove! those Royal Scots are devils to go. I never saw a regiment cross such ground so quickly.' He also mentioned the regiment specially in orders that night. The scene inside the ravine was grand. The precipitous rocky sides, the tropical vegetation, the running stream, with thickly wooded banks, together with the incessant roar of guns, bursting shells, the 'knock-knock' of the pom-poms, and rattle of rifles, combined to make it a weird and splendid experience. We fired by volleys and independently from the edge of the ravine for some time, whilst our artillery supported us nobly. It is impossible to overrate the value of their support. They placed their shells exactly in the right places. Between us and the trenches was a plateau of 1200 yards, without any cover at all, flat, with thin and short grass. At first we advanced by rushes, then in general lines. A grand feeling of elation carried us on regardless of anything. We got to within 200 yards and fixed bayonets. The men, full of excitement, yelled and charged, the guns ceasing exactly at the right moment--one more shell would have hit us--but it was of no use, the Boers had bolted before we reached the trenches, delayed as we were by boulders and steepness. What, however, was worst of all was the fog that now fell on the mountains. It spoilt our bag. We were right round the Boer left, but could see nothing, and except for a few caught at 200 yards by case from our guns, they slipped away." Of the British forces thirteen were killed, twenty-five wounded, sixteen of whom belonged to the Volunteer Company of the Gordons. This company, while marching in column about seven miles from the enemy, were caught by a shrapnel shell, which burst among them, but it was noted that they "continued to march steadily forward as if nothing had happened." It was not the first time these fine fellows had shown surprising grit in awkward situations. * * * * * General French, who for the time had been halting at Carolina, now continued his march towards Barberton, fighting as he went. With him were Dickson's and Gordon's brigades of cavalry, the Suffolks and Shropshires, and the 4.7 naval guns under Captain Bearcroft. From one fortified position to another they pushed back the enemy, the Suffolks distinguishing themselves by their gallantry in clearing a formidable peak and escaping with few casualties owing to the skilfulness of their leading.