A wheel had gone south, a trail east, a chase west.

Some of the cartridges were strewn upon the road.

Most were on their way back to Ladysmith.

There was nothing for it but to face this new situation and to determine what should be done.
It has been often and naturally asked, why did not Colonel Carleton make his way back at once upon the loss of his guns and ammunition, while it was still dark?
One or two considerations are evident.

In the first place, it is natural to a good soldier to endeavour to retrieve a situation rather than to abandon his enterprise.