All these considerations militated strongly against any substantial success. It is not known whether he asked of the Home Government a larger force, but if he did it was not granted him. Yet 50,000 men with 200 field guns would have been not one whit too great a strength for the proper performance of his task. Here as elsewhere in South Africa the disasters which befell British arms may be traced to these three causes--under-estimating the enemy's force, attempting to effect most difficult operations in a difficult country with inadequate strength, and failure to observe the precautions which the lessons of the past have shown to be necessary. [Sidenote: NOV.-DEC. 11, 1899.] _Composition of the British Force._] In the last week of November, General Buller's army was reinforced by two naval 4·7-inch guns and fourteen 12-pounders, which had been sent ashore from the _Terrible_ for the defence of Durban. These weapons, from their great range and extreme power, were a valuable addition to the British artillery, though, mounted on improvised carriages and drawn painfully by oxen, they could not compare in mobility with our field guns. They were manned by bluejackets, who proved themselves formidable marksmen. [Illustration: [_Photo by Van Hoepen._ SOME OF THE MEN WHO KEPT US OUT OF LADYSMITH. Boer farmers with their servants encamped on a hill overlooking the town.] [Illustration: BOER COMMANDO WITH MAXIM GUN DRAWN BY HORSES.] [Sidenote: The forward movement begins.] On December 11th everything was ready for a forward movement. The troops were disposed as follows:-- HILDYARD'S BRIGADE. LYTTELTON'S BRIGADE. 2nd Royal West Surrey. 2nd Scottish Rifles. 2nd West Yorkshire. 1st Durham Light Infantry. 2nd East Surrey. 1st Rifle Brigade. 2nd Devonshire. 3rd King's Royal Rifles. 14th and 66th Field Batteries. BARTON'S BRIGADE. HART'S BRIGADE. 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 1st Connaught Rangers. 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers. 1st & 2nd Rl. Dublin Fusiliers. 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers. 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 2nd Royal Fusiliers. 1st Borderers. 63rd and 64th Field Batteries. DUNDONALD'S MOUNTED BRIGADE. 1st Royal Dragoons. 13th Hussars. Composite Regiment of Mounted Infantry. Bethune's Mounted Infantry. Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. South African Light Horse. 7th Field Battery. [Sidenote: [DEC. 12-14, 1899.] Barton's brigade was the first to move out from Frere Camp. At dawn on December 12 it advanced to a kopje three miles south of Colenso. From this kopje the ground sloped smoothly and gently down to the River Tugela, hidden in its deep bed by scrub and brushwood. [Sidenote: Boer position at Colenso.]