On November 20th the Boers mounted some more guns on Bulwana and also on
Umbrella Tree Hill, which lay in the Nek between Bulwana and Gun Hill.
Colonel Knox ordered a dummy battery to be made at night on the further
side of the Klip River and out in the open. Wooden imitation guns and
imitation gunners were erected, and these were worked with a string by a
gunner concealed in the bank of the river.

Captain Kincaid-Smith, with the two Maxim-Nordenfeldt guns captured at
Elandslaagte, of which he was now in charge, was to open fire from Devon
Post on to the Boer guns newly placed on Umbrella Tree Hill, and as he
was perfectly concealed and fired smokeless powder, it was supposed that
the Boers would imagine that the firing came from the new dummy battery
just erected.

Kincaid-Smith began firing at about six o'clock on the following
morning. He fired some five shells in perfect silence unanswered by the
Boers. He was then suddenly located by them, and shells were hurled on
to him from all sides and from all descriptions of guns. This continued
for a quarter of an hour and then slackened off. The Boers burst their
shrapnel better than usual, and in the evening just before dark one
shrapnel got into a working party on Devon Post, killing one man and
severely wounding another.

There was some heavy musketry fire during the night at a reconnaissance
party sent out from Ladysmith towards Umbrella Tree Hill. The party had
orders to disturb the Boers and draw their fire. This they very
successfully accomplished. On the 22nd night another "disturbing party"
was sent out under Captain Jacson, consisting of one company of the
Regiment and a party of cavalry, to "stir up" the Boers on Flag Hill. It
was pitch-dark, pouring with rain, and the ground was covered with