At last, on January 16, a supply of seventeen days' provisions was ready at Springfield. The position of the British Army was now as follows:--At Spearman's Camp and Potgieter's Drift were General Coke's and General Lyttelton's Brigades, forming the centre of the British Army. Watching Skiet Drift, near which the enemy had been seen in some force, and guarding the British right, was the greater part of Bethune's Mounted Infantry. At Springfield the main force was concentrated--three brigades strong, with six batteries, under the command of Sir Charles Warren. On the evening of the 16th this force marched north-westwards to Trichard's Drift, where it was to pass the river next day. With it went the Cavalry Division under Lord Dundonald. Sir Charles Warren's orders were, having crossed the Tugela, to advance north-westwards along the front of the Boer position, leaving Spion Kop on his right, and swinging his force round the westward extremity of the Boer line of defence, in the neighbourhood of Acton Homes. Thence a comparatively open stretch of country extended to the neighbourhood of Ladysmith. [Illustration: THE SCOTTISH RIFLES' MAXIM ON ZWART KOP.] [Sidenote: The crossing of Potgieter's Drift.] To draw off the enemy's attention from this, the decisive movement, a demonstration in force was to be made from Potgieter's Drift. As columns of dust rose from the direction of Springfield, betokening the advance of Warren's three brigades, the camp at Spearman's Farm showed signs of activity. The infantry struck their tents; the cavalry, whose camp was in full view of the Boer lines, left theirs standing and marched off to the west; all the naval guns pushed forward to good positions on Spearman's Hill. Then, first Lyttelton's and afterwards Coke's Brigades deployed and in open order descended to the river. The Scottish Rifles and Durham Light Infantry led the way. One officer, Captain Harrison, advanced into the water carrying with him a rope; the stream had fallen and now ran only waist deep at the ford. Then came two or three more men, and last a long line holding hands. Simultaneously a number of pontoons were got to work, and the ferry, which had stuck obstinately and refused to move, was repaired by the Natal Naval Volunteers. Away in front the Boers watched without firing a shot. They could be seen manning their trenches on the hills, but they gave no sign of life, intending, perhaps, as at Modder River and Colenso, to allow the "rooineks" to approach within some hundreds of yards, and then to massacre them with their magazine fire at their leisure. [Illustration: DINNER HOUR IN CAMP. A trumpeter of Thorneycroft's Horse going the rounds.]