What, were they foiled again?
Was the blood of these brave men to be shed in vain?
They ground their teeth at the thought.

The higher strategy was not for them, but back was back and forward was forward, and they knew which way their proud hearts wished to go.
The 26th was occupied by the large movements of troops which so complete a reversal of tactics necessitated.

Under the screen of a heavy artillery fire, the British right became the left and the left the right.

A second pontoon bridge was thrown across near the old Boer bridge at Hlangwane, and over it was passed a large force of infantry, Barton's Fusilier Brigade, Kitchener's (vice Wynne's, vice Woodgate's) Lancashire Brigade, and two battalions of Norcott's (formerly Lyttelton's) Brigade.

Coke's Brigade was left at Colenso to prevent a counter attack upon our left flank and communications.