On the north, fighting had been going on all day also.

At about 4 a.m.the artillery and rifle fire was so violent around Observation Hill that I thought the main attack was on that point.
Originally the Boers no doubt intended a strong attack there.

The hill has always been one of the weakest points of our defence.
The Boers began their attack on Observation Hill just before dawn with a rapid fire of guns and rifles at long range.

At first only our guns replied, the two of the 69th doing excellent work with shrapnel over the opposite ridges.

By about six we could see the Boers creeping forward over Bell Spruit and making their way up the dongas and ridges in our front.