Whilst planning the attack on Itala, General Botha had divided his force into two, with one half attacking Itala and the other half, Fort Prospect. Fort Prospect was about 20 km north west of the town of Melmoth, and about 15 km east of Itala.
The attack began in the early hours of 26 September, but the British, thanks to well-planned defences, repelled the Boer attack. The Boers kept up sporadic rifle fire during the course of the day before retiring at last light.
