two o'clock
As only a reconnaissance , and not an attack , had been ordered , the force retired , the Somersets , who were the leading regiment , having nearly a hundred casualties . The other regiments had as many more between them . The next day a continuous fire from all the points held by the Boers showed that large reinforcements had reached them . The Lancashire Brigade , under Colonel Wynne , started at two o'clock that afternoon to carry the kopjes up the Brook Spruit , which ran in the rear of Grobler 's Kloof . The Royal Lancasters led the way , but as soon as they left the shelter of the ridges by the side of the railway they were exposed to a terrible fire , both in front and from Grobler 's Kloof . The artillery on Hlangwane , and those still on the plain , endeavoured to silence the enemy 's guns , but though they poured numbers of lyddite and shrapnel shells among them they were unable to do so . The Lancasters advanced with the greatest coolness up the spruit , followed by the South Lancasters .