It was by one or both of these roads that Buller purposed to advance.
On the 12th of January the 5th Division reached Springfield, and on the 13th the whole army was assembled there or at Spearman's Hill, near Potgieter's Drift, where Buller established his headquarters.

The hills there on the south side of the river were fortunately secured, and naval batteries placed upon them commanding the opposite heights.
The turning movement by way of Acton Homes was then committed by Sir Redvers Buller {p.254} to Sir Charles Warren, who on the 15th of January received--to quote his own words--"secret instructions to command a force to proceed across the Tugela, near Trichardt's Drift, to the west of Spion Kop, recommending me to proceed forward, refusing my right (Spion Kop), and bringing my left forward to gain the open plain north of Spion Kop ...

I was provided with four days' rations, with which I was to cross the Tugela, fight my way round to north of Spion Kop, and join your column opposite Potgieter's." This, therefore, was Buller's plan; the spur was to be turned rather than forced.

It appears to have been his sustained purpose to leave the execution to Warren, interfering himself not at all or the very least possible.

The force employed on the expedition has been nowhere found officially stated.