The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-03-03
OF TIE LATE ENGAGEMENT or TIL
BRITISH AND BOERs.
story Told by an Eye witness who owe
His Life 10 the Literally Of the
Encmy-An ArduOus March
And n Battle Against
Fearful Odds. -t .

Monday S:SO-I returned to camp OF s
o'clock Sunday night atter escaping, al
most by miracle, from the fate which has
beiallen q great portion OF the force which
lett camp. The strength OF the column
last night amounted 10 600 men, all told,
belonging to the 6sth, Goth and 99d regi-
ments and the naval brigade. The night
was dark and the march across an un'
known country toisome In the extreme,
We first made our way over comparatively
level ground TO the foot OF the main range
Of hills, but there our difficulties began. In
many cases the ascent was absolutely pre-.
cipitous, and wherever there was footing
for the troops huge boulders and loose
stones rolled down when touched.
The troops carried their arms,
eighty rounds Of ammunition, water
bottles and three days provisions, making
progress painful In the extreme. Day.
light was breaking when we approached
the hill, which was the object OF the expe-
dition, Starting at 10 o'clock, we were six
hours in accomplishing what, as crow
lilies, Is little over four miles, to the sum.
nit Of the eminence from which we looked
down on the long line Of the Beers in.
trenchments, stretching from point i'm.
mediately below rs TO the Buffalo river
So far our success was perfectly clear.
Our occupation OF the hill rendered the
BoOrs' position untenable, as we took their
whole intrCnChments In tho reverse Of our
own camp. Although miles away, It
looked quite close, for we we're at an ele.
vation OF $500 feet above 1t. The enemy's
lager was about 1000 yards away. The
position we had secured was undoubtedly
one OF immense natural strength, On the
summit was plateau, so that all the troops
not actually engaged in repelling the
assaults could lie down perfectly
secure from the fire below. For
an hour the greater part OF the troops
rested, portion, however, helping the
sailors, who had not so far been able to
get the gatling gun up the bill. At sun.
rise the Beers were to be seen moving In
their lines, but 1t was not until nearly an
hour later that the party mounted. Vi
dettes were seen travelling out toward the
hill, on which they evidently intended 10
take stand. AS they approached our
outlying piCkets they fired on them and
our presence was for the first time disCov.
ered The sound OF our guns was heard
at the Ouch lager, and the whole scene
changed as II by magic. In the place ofa
few scattering figures there appeared on
the scene swarm Of men rushing hither
and hither. Some rushed to the horses and
others TO the wagons and work in yoklng
the oxens, and preparations for instant re.
treat began at once. When the first panic
abated Il could be seen that some persons
In authority had taken command. A
greater number Of the Beers began to
move forward, with the evident intention
OF attacking ua, but the work oi preparing
for retreat In case Of necessity still went
on and continued till all the wagons were
inspanned and ready to move away, and
some, indeed, at once began 10 withdraw.
At about seven o'clock the Beers opened
Gre and the bullets whistled thickly over
the plateau. The men were oil perfectly
cool and confident. ] do not think the
possibility OF our position being carried
by storm occurred to any one, From 10
II the Beers, who were lying oil around
the hill, maintained q constant fire. Their
shooting was wonderfully accurate. The
stones behind which our men In the front
line were lying were hit by almost ever
shot. Opposed to such shooting as this
buVl6 Wan nv up6u W lmplG1b upuu tu9
men to keep well Under cover. They only
showed Themselves to take an occasional
shot, and accurate as was the enemy's
shooting, up to eleven o'clock we had but
five casualties.
Commander Romilly was dangerously
wounded as he was standing close to Gen.
sral Coley. Two men, OF the regiment
under Lieut. Hamilton, held the pblnt
which was most threatened by the Boprs
Nothing could exceed the Bteadineas OF
these Hlghlanders They kept well under
cover, and although they Cred but seldom
they killed eight or ten OF the Beers who
. showed themselves from behind their
cover. So far our position appeared 10 be
perfectly safe, the Beers had indeed got
between us and the camp, but we had
three days' provisions and could hold out
until r6iniorcements came up. Our
casualties were, with the exception OF that
Of Commander Romilly, few and TN.
important, and all were perfectly con.
Hdent OF the result. From II to IL o'clock
the enemy'B FIRE continued as hot, but as
harmless as before. Between 12 and !
o'clock II slaCkened, and II seemed as II
The loerB were drawing Of. This, hoy.
ever, was not the case, The enemy had
been, as was aiterward learned very
strongly reiorCing thelr fighting line ID
preparation for the assault.
Shortly alter a terrific FIRE suddenly
broke forth from the right lower slopes Of
The hill side, which firing had all along
been the heaviest. A Tremendous rush
vas simultaneously made by the enemy
On otlf adyanle line, who were al once
nearly all shot Of driven back Upon Our
main position. This position may be dc.
scrbed as All oblong basin. on the top Of
the bill. II was about two bundled yards
long by fifty broad. Our whole force now
lined the rim Of the basin and fixed bay
onets TO tepel our assaiahts. The Beers,
With shouts OF triumph, swarmed up the
side Of the hill and made several despef.
J ate attempts 10 carry the position with
rush, Each time, however, they we're
driver, back yiththe bayohet. After each
Charae, the firing, which had nearly
Ceased during The melee, broke out with
renewed violence, and the air above us
seemed alive with bullets.
The troops did their duty well and
steadily, and trying as was the occasion
Ihey fought with great CoOlness, ehCohr,
! aged by their officers. AZ last the Beers,
WHO had gathered near the top, made a
ttemendous rush al point beyond that
, Al which they had before been attacking
and where the number OF defenders were
Oonpafatiyely small they burst through
b tbe defenders and poured In over the edge
Of the basin and our position was lost
n Their flank turned and taking In the re-
a serve made a rush along the plateau Il
endeavot to form aud rally, but II was use
!, less, with fierce shouts and STORM oi bul
|, Iele the Boets poured In. There was
a wild rush with The Boers close behind
' a roar Of firing, whiStling Of bullets ant
!. shouts OF the enemy, made up a dit
i. which seemed internal. All around met
!. we're falling. There was no teslslanpe NJ
L. half n yvao a Hi0ht fhF life