The attack was made from all sides, but the principal effort came from the northward, between the railroads leading north-east to Glencoe and north-west to the Free State.

As before said, particulars are wanting; but the British had only to hold their own, except when by a rush, after a repulse of the enemy, they gained ground over which the latter had passed; whereas the Boers, having to break cover frequently in order to advance, underwent necessarily the greater burden of exposure and of loss.

How large this was is still uncertain.

Sir Redvers Buller, on the 5th December, telegraphed to the War Office that it was "very difficult to make any statement as to the {p.202} enemy's losses.

For instance, at Belmont, 81 of their dead were accounted for; they gave 15 as the number of killed.