The idea of a swift sudden attack upon Stormberg was excellent--the details of the operation are continually open to criticism.
How far the Boers suffered at Stormberg is unknown to us, but there seems in this instance no reason to doubt their own statement that their losses were very slight.

At no time was any body of them exposed to our fire, while we, as usual, fought in the open.

Their numbers were probably less than ours, and the quality of their shooting and want of energy in pursuit make the defeat the more galling.

On the other hand, their guns were served with skill and audacity.

They consisted of commandos from Bethulie, Rouxville, and Smithfield, under the orders of Olivier, with those colonials whom they had seduced from their allegiance.
This defeat of General Gatacre's, occurring, as it did, in a disaffected district and one of great strategic importance, might have produced the worst consequences.
Fortunately no very evil result followed.