After the Battle of Talana the British troops decided to leave Dundee and make their way to Ladysmith. Major-General Yule commanded the force after the death of General Penn-Symons. Lieutenant-General White who commanded the garrison at Ladysmith decided to send out a force to make Yule’s passage to Ladysmith easier.
Rietfontein was a farm 10 km north of Ladysmith, with Modder Spruit, a tributary of the Klip River, running on its north west boundary.
The Boers occupied the hills above the spruit and White’s force spent most of the day trying to dislodge the Boers. The battle lasted from 8 am to 3 pm without a British assault being launched, and when White heard that Yule’s progress was not going to be challenged by the Boers, he withdrew the British force back to Ladysmith.
British losses were 13 killed and 97 wounded.
