The Intelligence Department had heard a large body of Free State Boers was moving westward from the south, as though retiring towards the passes.

The information was false.
The only true point about it was the presence of a large Boer force along a characteristic Boer position of low rocky hills about three miles to our front.

There the General thought he would shell them out with a battery, and catch them as they retired by swinging cavalry round into the open length of plain behind the hills.

So at 11 a.m.

out trotted the 19th Hussars with the remains of the 18th.