Further news of the reverse sustained by General Clements at
Nooitgedacht, briefly mentioned in our last issue, makes it clear that the British troops, though surprised by superior numbers—the proportion must have been three to one— behaved with great gallantry, inflicted heavy loss on the enemy, and retreated in good order to Rietfontein. The attack of the enemy on the British position at the foot of the Magaliesberg was repulsed,• but the Boers carried the heights occupied by four companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers, overpowered them after a desperate resistance, in which all the ammunition was expended, and took some four hundred prisoners. General Clemente's camp being thus rendered untenable, a general retreat was commanded and carried out in perfect order, all the guns being got safely away, and the retirement splendidly covered by the 12th Brigade of Mounted Infantry. The casualties on both sides were severe, the Boers suffering heavily from our artillery fire; while the British lost Colonel Legge, a gallant cavalry officer, who is said to have shot five of the enemy with his revolver before he fell, six officers, and about fifty of other ranks killed outright. The great bulk of the men captured
on the heights were shortly released, and all the wounded have been safely brought into Pretoria. Many instances of individual bravery are recorded, General Clements die. tinguishing himself by his coolness under heavy fire, while the reckless bravery shown by the Boers in rushing the heights amply disproves the imputations east on their courage at close quarters.
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