That evening General Buller determined to force the passage of the river with all his troops on the 15th. The mounted troops under Dundonald were to occupy Hlangwane Hill, covered by the 7th Battery; the English [Hildyard's] and Irish [Hart's] Brigades, supported by artillery, to advance towards the river and endeavour to cross by the fords, Hart's Brigade by the Bridle Drift, above Colenso, Hildyard's by the main ford close to the iron railway bridge. The 7th Battery was, if possible, to take up a position on Hlangwane Hill so as to enfilade the enemy's position. Barton's Brigade was to take ground between Hildyard's and Dundonald's, Lyttelton's between Hildyard's in the British centre and Hart's on the British left, ready to support either. The naval 4·7's and four of the 12-pounders, under Captain Jones of H.M.S. _Forte_, took up a position on the top of an eminence two miles from Colenso, prepared to set to work when the advance began. [Illustration: THORNEYCROFT'S MOUNTED INFANTRY PACKING KIT AT MOOI RIVER CAMP, BEFORE GOING INTO ACTION.] [Illustration: STEAM ROAD LOCOMOTIVES USED BY THE BRITISH GENERALS IN SOUTH AFRICA TO BRING UP SUPPLIES.] [Illustration: [_Photo by Lieut. Crawford._ LETTERS FROM HOME: DISTRIBUTING THE BRITISH MAIL IN CAMP.] [Illustration: PANORAMA OF THE BATTLE OF COLENSO. [_From a Sketch by Capt. W. S. Carey._ This picture includes about 2½ miles of the river, which divided the contending armies. It is taken from behind the British positions, looking almost due north towards Ladysmith, which lies behind the hills a little to the left of the centre. In the foreground are the 4·7-inch naval guns being brought into position by ox-teams. To the left is an armoured train, and in the extreme right a portion of a Kaffir kraal.] [Illustration: DEATH OF LIEUTENANT ROBERTS, ONLY SON OF FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS OF KANDAHAR, IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THE ABANDONED GUNS AT COLENSO. Lieut. Roberts is seen on the extreme right of the picture. He fell mortally wounded; Capt. Congreve returned to his assistance, and brought him in.] CHAPTER VI. THE FIRST BATTLE OF COLENSO. The battle begins--Bombardment of Fort Wylie--Artillery pushed forward--The Boers open fire--The guns abandoned--General Hart's position--The Dublin Fusiliers attempt to ford the Tugela--Their retirement ordered--Failure to carry Hlangwane--Advance of Hildyard's Brigade--General withdrawal ordered--Death of Lieutenant Roberts--Guns and men captured by the Boers--Retirement effected in good order--Our losses--Scarcity of water--Bravery of the Army Medical Corps--Impressions of an eye-witness--Armistice--A day of blunders. [Sidenote: The battle begins.]