On the morning of February 5th the army sallied forth once more to have another try to win a way to Ladysmith.

It was known that enteric was rife in the town, that shell and bullet and typhoid germ had struck down a terrible proportion of the garrison, and that the rations of starved horse and commissariat mule were running low.

With their comrades--in many cases their linked battalions--in such straits within fifteen miles of them, Buller's soldiers had high motives to brace them for a supreme effort.
The previous attempt had been upon the line immediately to the west of Spion Kop.

If, however, one were to follow to the east of Spion Kop, one would come upon a high mountain called Doornkloof.

Between these two peaks, there lies a low ridge, called Brakfontein, and a small detached hill named Vaalkranz.