December 15, 1899 · Natal Theater
December 15, 1899
The third defeat of Black Week came at Colenso, where General Buller attempted to cross the Tugela River to relieve Ladysmith. Louis Botha, commanding the Boer defense, used the same invisible-trench tactics pioneered at Magersfontein — concealing his men below the riverbank and in kopjes (rocky outcrops) rather than on obvious hilltops. British forces advancing to the river crossing found themselves under fire from positions they could not locate. Two artillery batteries advanced too far forward and were abandoned when their horses were shot; a desperate attempt to rescue the guns cost five Victoria Crosses in one of the most celebrated acts of the war. Buller called off the attack after losing 1,100 men without crossing the river.
Commanders