General Colley's report on the battle of Laiug's Neck was
published in the Gazette of Friday. It is a simple, clear, and obviously truthful narrative, General Colley says he considered. himself bound to advance, in order to save Pretoria and Pot- chefstroom, and that he chose the route by the Neck, instead of by Wakkerstroom, as being the shorter. He believed that if he could carry and hold the topmost point of the Neck, which is a small plateau of about 1,000 yards, he should possess the key of the position, and it was to this point he directed the attack. It nearly succeeded, the 58th Regiment actually reach- ing the brow, but the enemy wore too numerous and the fire too hot, and the 58th fell back in perfect order, and fighting the whole way, marched back to the foot of the hill, and reached. their old "position in as good order and with as erect and soldierly a bearing as they marched out," though most of their leaders, down to the colour-serjeauts, were killed or wounded. General Colley recounts numerous acts of heroism—Private Godfrey and Band- boy Martin, for example, refusing, under a hoary fire, to leave two wounded officers—and bears this testimony to the general conduct of the troops ;—" The behaviour of the men on the lino of march, in camp, and before the enemy, has been all that could be desired, and deserves special mention. The amount of crime has been almost nil, and on the day that the column marched against the enemy there were only two men sick in hospital." General Colley says the Boers fought with great courage and determination, advancing to meet the troops ; and. they treated the wounded with great humanity.
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