The edge measures 4,000 yards, and the Manchesters had only 560 men to hold it.
At a quarter to three a.m., while it was still dark, a small party of Boer sharpshooters climbed up the further (south-east) face of Waggon Hill, just left of the "nek." They were picked men who had volunteered for the exploit.

Nearly all came from Harrismith.

We had posted a picket of eight at the point, but long security had made them careless, or else they were betrayed by a mistake which nearly lost the whole position.
From the edge of the hill the whole face is "dead" ground.

It is so steep that an enemy climbing up it cannot be seen.

It was almost a case of Majuba again.
The Dutch crept up quite unobserved.