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1899 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Friday, 15 December

The enemy’s "general orders” seem to be lately to leave us in peace as all we have had today in the shape of bombardment were two big shells and a few one-pound Maxims; although they are so quiet, they are still up to some devilment as we now know that during the lull of yesterday they destroyed the railway line for about 2 1/2 imiles south, and that in fact, with the glasses from the lookout, they could be seen doing it. It seems likely that want of ammunition for their big gun has been the cause of the enemy’s silence in that quarter, as today three waggons were seen to arrive at their big laager from off the main Pretoria road. After a short halt these waggons were seen to then proceed to their big gun, so now expect we shall get a warm time again from that particular position.

We are still without news, but it is rumoured today from native sources that 60,000 men have crossed into the Transvaal. We are now told that there is no chance of relief before the middle of January.

Tomorrow being a Boer holiday, "Dingaan’s Day”, we quite expect to have a warm time of it.

15th December, the Battle of Colenso. British:132 killed, 765 wounded and 228 captured, 10 field guns lost. The 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the leading battalion of Hart’s Brigade, suffered 216 casualties out of 900 men
Boer: 30 casualties.

In 1903 General Buller testified under oath to the Royal Commission on the War in South Africa that no such battle took place:

‘ I hope I have practically made it clear that I never attacked on the 15th [December 1899] at all. I have been accused of having done so, and it has been said that every military man condemned the execution of that attack. But I made no attack. I stopped at the very earliest moment in the morning every General from moving, and no attack was made on Colenso at all on the 15th of December. I have tried to make that clear here… My left Brigade moved too soon, contrary to my orders - I did not succeed in stopping it, but withdrew it at once. But no other troops, except some artillery that got into the wrong place, moved forward at all for any purpose of any attack.’

I wonder what the orders Buller gave to his Major-Generals on the 14th of December?
18,000 troops all ready not to attack!!
If my memory serves me correctly, didn't Buller admit to attacking as per Viscount Esher's later questioning?
Viscount Esher " Had you intended to attack?"
Buller " Fully. I had given all my orders the day before"