as we possibly could to the field hospital, but in a few minutes
his disembodied spirit had left its tenement of clay and gone to
answer the roll call up yonder.

'One cannot speak too highly of the unremitting care and attention
bestowed upon our dear wounded fellows by the army surgeons. Our
officers in the field behaved most gallantly, and were as cool as
possible under the most galling fire. The "O.C.," Captain
McWhinnie, could be seen against the sky line again and again,
walking about amongst his men, directing the defence, and giving
orders as coolly as if he had been on parade. While telling his men
to avail themselves of every bit of cover he seemed utterly
regardless of his own personal safety. The other officers were
directing their men in more distant parts of the field, and could
not be so easily seen by us. Our ammunition was getting low, and we
had no artillery, not even a machine gun, and had a long series of
ridges to occupy, extending over an area of three miles, so that it
was no wonder our position was untenable. On Thursday, at two p.m.,
we left the battlefield with our wounded for Reddersburg, where the
people received us most kindly and placed the Government
school-room at our disposal.'[10]

After burying the dead, and assisting the wounded to Bethany railway
station, Mr. Burgess returned to headquarters at Springfontein and gave
General Gatacre an account of the disaster. He was then attached to the
Royal Berks, as his own regiment was in captivity, and advanced with
them through the Orange River Colony.

[Footnote 10: _Methodist Times_, May 17, 1900.]