The retreat was accomplished with perfect order and success. General Hildyard's troops fell back with all their wounded; once more the Tugela was recrossed, and the bridges taken to pieces. The enemy offered no other molestation than a few shells, but watched with exultation the long lines of troops and waggons moving slowly eastwards all the 8th. There were some among the Boers who supposed that the relief of Ladysmith had been finally abandoned, and in the British force there was at least talk of such a dreadful possibility. The soldiers were gloomy and dispirited, yet they still had confidence in themselves and in their commanders, notwithstanding the errors of the past month. Only two brigades out of the five composing General Buller's army had been seriously engaged, and all longed for a real trial of strength. The British losses in the fighting at Vaal Krantz were by no means heavy. The killed were 25, wounded 344, and missing 5. The Boers on their part owned to 21 killed and 31 wounded, but their losses were probably nearly equal to those of the British, with a larger proportion of killed, owing to the effect of the tremendous shell-fire directed upon Brakfontein and Vaal Krantz. According to Boer accounts, no fewer than 5,000 projectiles were thrown against these two positions by the British guns. Seldom have more shots been fired with less effect. [Illustration: [_Photo by Knight, Aldershot._ MAJOR-GENERAL WYNNE. Commanding the Eleventh Brigade of the South African Field Force, was born in Ireland in 1846; joined the 51st Light Infantry in 1863; Adjutant, 1868-71; Superintendent of Signalling in the Jowaki Expedition, 1877; and served in the Afghan War of 1878-9; employed on special service in South Africa in 1881; commanded the 4th Battalion Egyptian Army, 1883-5; and has since held appointments as Deputy or Assistant-Adjutant-General at the Curragh, at Malta, and at Aldershot.] [Illustration: MAP OF THE ACTION AT VAAL KRANTZ.] [Illustration: THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT HOLDING VAAL KRANTZ.] [Sidenote: Disappointment in Britain.]