The sun descended on Sunday, February 18th, upon a bloody field and crowded field hospitals, but also upon an unbroken circle of British troops still hemming in the desperate men who lurked among the willows and mimosas which drape the brown steep banks of the Modder.
There was evidence during the action of the presence of an active Boer force to the south of us, probably the same well-handled and enterprising body which had captured our convoy at Waterval.

A small party of Kitchener's Horse was surprised by this body, and thirty men with four officers were taken prisoners.

Much has been said of the superiority of South African scouting to that of the British regulars, but it must be confessed that a good many instances might be quoted in which the colonials, though second to none in gallantry, have been defective in that very quality in which they were expected to excel.
This surprise of our cavalry post had more serious consequences than can be measured by the loss of men, for by it the Boers obtained possession of a strong kopje called Kitchener's Hill, lying about two miles distant on the south-east of our position.

The movement was an admirable one strategically upon their part, for it gave their beleaguered comrades a first station on the line of their retreat.

Could they only win their way to that kopje, a rearguard action might be fought from there which would cover the escape of at least a portion of the force.