Battle of Schuinshoogte

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Battle of Schuinshoogte
Part of First Boer War
Date February 8, 1881 Location Ingogo Transvaal Result Decisive Boer Victory
Combatants
Transvaal Boers	Great Britain
Commanders
N. J. Smith, J D Weilbach	Major-General Sir George Pomeroy Colley
Strength
300-500 men	240 Infantry 38 Cavalry 2 Cannon
Casualties
8 dead 10 wounded	76 dead 68 wounded

First Boer War
Bronkhorstspruit – Laing's Nek – Schuinshoogte – Majuba Hill

Battle of Schuinshoogte Also known as Ingogo, was a battle fought on February 8, 1881 during the First Boer War. General Sir George Pomeroy Colley's communications with Newcastle were under constant harassment by mounted Boer patrols under Commander J D Weilbach after the Battle of Laing's Nek (another British defeat) and as a result the General made it his plan to clear a clean unmolested path along the Newcastle-Mount Prospect road in order to better protect the British supply line, and receive fresh reinforcements he needed to bolster his ranks.

At roughly Nine that morning he left the Mount Prospect camp with a force comprised mostly of Infantrymen. A company of the 60th Rifles (King's Royal Rifles) and two pieces of artillery were left at a ridge overlooking the Ingogo River while a handful of mounted men and infantry covered the drift.

As Colley advanced up the slope of the Ingogo he received word from his scouting party that a mainly mounted Boer force under Gen. N J Smith and Comdt. J D Weilbach was approaching nearby. The British formed circular/squared defensive positions on the crest of the ridge with 240 infantry, 38 cavalry and 2 pieces of artillery while the roughly 300 Boers attempted to surround them and cut them off from escape.

From noon until about five that evening a series of close range engagements was fought and the British suffered heavily from the accurate and concentrated Boer fire. Although the 60th Rifles wore dark green (in fact, almost black) uniforms, they had pipeclayed white pith helmets which were easy aiming marks. The gunners and mounted troops also wore dark uniforms, but the gunners in particular were exposed when working their guns. In contrast the Boers wore khaki coloured clothing, and were also expert at fieldcraft, thus being able to blend into the environment.

Afterward heavy rain began to fall and the battle came to an abrupt end. Colley left the dead and wounded on the battlefield and retreated back to Mount Prospect while the Boers moved off to the south.

It has been speculated had Colley received his reinforcements before the onslaught of the rain, he would have probably been able to defeat the Boers for the first time and give the British better bargaining power during the peace negotiations.

When the British returned with a burial party on the next day, they found the Boers had returned to take care of their own dead and wounded. No engagement occurred. The 8 Boer dead were buried on the farm "Geelhoutboom" some 5 km west of the battle site. The British lost 7 officers and 69 men killed and another 68 were wounded. The men were buried on the battlefield while the officers’ bodies were exhumed 4 days later and taken to Fort Amiel for reburial.

Colley was plagued by defeat throughout the war, and although he would receive his reinforcements, his men were seriously demoralized by the string of defeats. Eventually he would be killed in action at the Battle of Majuba Hill.