At length, on November 20, the organisation of Lord Methuen's column was complete and all was ready for a start. It was composed almost wholly of infantry, and that the very finest in the British Army. Its brigades were two in number--the Ninth and the Guards. The Ninth Brigade, under Major-General Fetherstonhaugh, comprised the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers--the famous "Fighting Fifth," who for eighteen months had had but a fortnight in bed, continually facing privations in Crete, in the Sudan, and wherever campaigning was to be done--the 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry, the 2nd Northampton Regiment--with terrible memories of Majuba--and half the 1st Loyal North Lancashire. The Guards Brigade, under Major-General Colvile, was made up of four Guards battalions, magnificent in appearance and physique, as gallant in action as well conducted in the barracks of the Empire's capital--the 1st and 2nd Coldstreams, the 3rd Grenadiers, and the 1st Scots Guards. All the battalions of this brigade were at full strength, or if anything over strength, so that Lord Methuen's total force of infantry mustered about 7,500 men. To support this superb infantry there should have been artillery galore; to cover its movements cavalry and mounted infantry without stint. But whereas forty guns were about the right proportion, in the light of all experience, for the division, its guns were only twelve in number, of the 18th and 75th Field Batteries. To these were added four long 12-pounders, in charge of a small naval brigade, composed of seamen and marines from the ships on the Cape Station, and commanded by Flag-Captain Prothero, of H.M.S. Doris. The consequences of this inadequate supply of artillery will be seen at every turn. The heroic infantry had to be flung upon the entrenched positions of unshaken enemies, and had to sustain heavy losses. A great price was paid in British blood for the deficient equipment of our army. [Illustration: [_Photo by Hughes & Mullins._ GENERAL FETHERSTONHAUGH, Who was severely wounded through the shoulder at Belmont, was in command of the 9th Brigade at that battle, having been transferred from Lieut.-Colonel (half pay) of the King's Royal Rifles. He went through the Zulu War of 1879, and was in the Nile Expedition of 1884-5. He joined the service in 1867, and was appointed to the 31st Regiment. In 1863 he joined the 60th Rifles, and eventually commanded that regiment. After his wound at Belmont, his command was transferred to General Pole-Carew.] [Illustration: [_Photo by H. W. Barnett, Park Side._ GENERAL POLE-CAREW, C.B.,