The following morning, as the men were collecting and parading
preparatory to marching back to the railway cutting, Sir George White
rode up and addressed them. Shaking Colonel Park by the hand he said: "I
congratulate and thank you for the splendid work you and your men did
yesterday. It was magnificently done. I am afraid you suffered very
heavily, but you must remember that such work as that cannot be done for
the Empire without loss."

Whilst the three companies were performing such gallant deeds on the
southern defences, the three companies under Major Curry were holding
their own on the north-west defences at Observation Hill.

The Boers attacked this post heavily in the morning, and were supported
by six field-guns, which were supposed to have been the Colenso guns of
General Buller's army, shrapnel being continually burst with excellent
precision over the defences.

[Illustration: Naval Battery Hill, Ladysmith]

[Illustration: Monument Erected to Devons on Wagon Hill, on Spot Where
the Charge Took Place, Ladysmith]

The account of the fighting which took place is told in Major Curry's
own words:--

"The battle of Ladysmith commenced between 2 and 3 a.m. on Cæsar's Camp
and soon we were engaged all round. The three companies which had
proceeded to Observation Hill originally had just been relieved by three
fresh companies. At about 4 a.m. Lieutenant Emerson reported to me that