The assumption seems to have been made (on no other hypothesis can one understand the facts) that the enemy were demoralised and that the positions would not be strongly held.

Our flanking advantage was abandoned and a direct advance was ordered from Colenso, involving a frontal attack upon the Pieters position.
On February 21st Buller threw his pontoon bridge over the river near Colenso, and the same evening his army began to cross.

It was at once evident that the Boer resistance had by no means collapsed.

Wynne's Lancashire Brigade were the first across, and found themselves hotly engaged before nightfall.

The low kopjes in front of them were blazing with musketry fire.