march at nine o'clock
While the battle of Elandslaagte was being fought the Boers had opened fire from the hills above Glencoe on the British camp , and had compelled it to shift its position . The next day they were again obliged to move by artillery on the Impati mountain , and it was then that General Yule decided to retire at once on Ladysmith . A cavalry reconnaissance which was sent out found that the Boers were in great strength in the pass of Glencoe , and it was therefore determined to move by the roundabout way through Helpmakaar . Some stores of ammunition that had been left under a guard in the other camp were fetched , and with full pouches the little army started on its long and perilous march at nine o'clock on the evening of the 22nd . The camp was abandoned as it stood . The wounded remained with some surgeons under the protection of the Red Cross flag . All the available transport accompanied the column , but the men 's kits and all other encumbrances were left behind .