It was clear that this force, unless driven away, would be the vanguard of the relieving army which might be expected to assemble from Ladysmith, Bloemfontein, Colesberg, or wherever else the Boers could detach men.

Already it was known that reinforcements who had left Natal whenever they heard that the Free State was invaded were drawing near.

It was necessary to crush the force upon the hill before it became too powerful.

For this purpose the cavalry set forth, Broadwood with the 10th Hussars, 12th Lancers, and two batteries going round on one side, while French with the 9th and 16th Lancers, the Household Cavalry, and two other batteries skirted the other.

A force of Boers was met and defeated, while the defenders of the hill were driven off with considerable loss.