A Verestschagen might find a subject these 2000 indomitable men with their emaciated horses pursuing a formidable foe.
It is God's mercy they failed to overtake them.
If the record of the besieged force was great, that of the relieving army was no less so.

Through the blackest depths of despondency and failure they had struggled to absolute success.

At Colenso they had lost 1200 men, at Spion Kop 1700, at Vaalkranz 400, and now, in this last long-drawn effort, 1600 more.

Their total losses were over 5000 men, more than 20 per cent of the whole army.

Some particular regiments had suffered horribly.