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In the early morning of November 29th Paget's men came in contact
with the enemy, who were in some force upon an admirable position.
A ridge for their centre, a flanking kopje for their cross fire,
and a grass glacis for the approach--it was an ideal Boer
battlefield. The colonials and the yeomanry under Plumer on the
left, and Hickman on the right, pushed in upon them, until it was
evident that they meant to hold their ground. Their advance being
checked by a very severe fire, the horsemen dismounted and took
such cover as they could. Paget's original idea had been a turning
movement, but the Boers were the more numerous body, and it was
impossible for the smaller British force to find their flanks, for
they extended over at least seven miles. The infantry were moved up
into the centre, therefore, between the wings of dismounted
horsemen, and the guns were brought up to cover the advance. The
country was ill-suited, however, to the use of artillery, and it
was only possible to use an indirect fire from under a curve of the
grass land.


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