Five distinct actions had been fought, none of them perhaps coming within the fair meaning of a battle.

Of these one had been a distinct British victory, two had been indecisive, one had been unfortunate, and one had been a positive disaster.

We had lost about twelve hundred prisoners and a battery of small guns.
The Boers had lost two fine guns and three hundred prisoners.

Twelve thousand British troops had been shut up in Ladysmith, and there was no serious force between the invaders and the sea.

Only in those distant transports, where the grimy stokers shoveled and strove, were there hopes for the safety of Natal and the honour of the Empire.