Our own
casualties amounted only to six killed, including Major Harvey of
the 10th, and to fifteen wounded.
Encouraged by this success an attempt was made by the Suffolk
Regiment to carry a hill which formed the key of the enemy's
position. The town of Colesberg lies in a basin surrounded by a
ring of kopjes, and the possession by us of any one of them would
have made the place untenable. The plan has been ascribed to
Colonel Watson of the Suffolks, but it is time that some protest
should be raised against this devolution of responsibility upon
subordinates in the event of failure. When success has crowned our
arms we have been delighted to honour our general; but when our
efforts end in failure our attention is called to Colonel Watson,
Colonel Long, or Colonel Thorneycroft. It is fairer to state that
in this instance General French ordered Colonel Watson to make a
night attack upon the hill.
The result was disastrous. At midnight four companies in canvas
shoes or in their stocking feet set forth upon their venture, and
just before dawn they found themselves upon the slope of the hill.
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