It was most gallantly seized by
Kitchener's Horse, who were quickly supported by Smith-Dorrien's
men. The mountain became the scene of a brisk action, and night
fell before the crest was cleared. At dawn upon May 1st the
fighting was resumed, and the position was carried by a determined
advance of the Shropshires, the Canadians, and the Gordons: the
Boers escaping down the reverse slope of the hill came under a
heavy fire of our infantry, and fifty of them were wounded or
taken. It was in this action, during the fighting on the hill, that
Captain Towse, of the Gordons, though shot through the eyes and
totally blind, encouraged his men to charge through a group of the
enemy who had gathered round them. After this victory Hamilton's
men, who had fought for seven days out of ten, halted for a rest at
Jacobsrust, where they were joined by Broadwood's cavalry and Bruce
Hamilton's infantry brigade. Ian Hamilton's column now contained
two infantry brigades (Smith-Dorrien's and Bruce Hamilton's),
Ridley's Mounted Infantry, Broadwood's Cavalry Brigade, five
batteries of artillery, two heavy guns, altogether 13,000 men.
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