The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-03-02
TRANsvAAL TROUBLE.
The British Rushing Troops
tn the Front.

4
London, ga dispatch from Mount
Prospect says the beers carried the Brit
ish position on Spitzkop by rush. The
correspondent was taken prisoner, bul
was afterwards released. He says The
body of General Galley is on the bill. IL
Is quite clear the loss of the bill was not
due to the failure of ammunition. Gen.
COlley Overestimsted the strength OF
his position, and left its mo vital point,
which the Beers attacked in force, but
poorly defended. The detachment
squadron will Immediately land a brigade
OF seAmen and marines. with guns, at
Durham, ands they viii be sent 10 the
front. Orders have been sent to Jamaica
for the dispatch of ship 10 Bermuda to
order the troop ship OrORteS, due there
on the 9Th instant, to proceed 10 The CaUe
with the Ninety-ninth Regiment. The
troop ship EiIphTdteS has been ordered to
embark the Eighty-fifth Regiment at
! Bombay in q week, thence proceed to
| Colombo em bark six companies of the
| One Hundred and Second Regiment, and
proceed to Durham, where she will ar
rive on the I'D inst. These reinforce
ments number 1000 men.
General Roberts succeeds General Col
ley.
Another correspondent estimates that
/ 1000 Beers took part in the Spitzkop
engagement.
Private kilograms state that three COM
psnies of the Fifly-eighth Regiment were
almost annihilatsd. General Wood, be
fore leaving PietermariIz, was sworn in
nc governor of the colony. Cavalry and
infantry left on MoBday for the Cape.
Mount Prospect, 1.-General Colley
was shot just before the close Of the en-
gagement while giving an order to cease
firing. The official list shows two officers
were killed, one Of whom was General
Colley; four captains, major and three
lieutenants were wounded, and two Cap
tsins and four lieutensnts prisoners; one
colonel, one major and one lieutenant
missing
General Roberts will have by the time
he arrives at Natal force of 1000 men.
Detailed accounts received to-day render
it certain thst the British vera driven
from Spitzkof because they were fairly
beaten. The fight ended in rout. The
most moderate estimate places the losses
at 800 killed and wounded. The latter
lay exposed to heavy rain from Sun
day afternoon until early Monday morn
ing.
A correspondent with Colloy's force at
Spitzkof gives the following account of
the engagement: Spitzkof is 5000 yards
from the Boer position. Two companies
were left at the base of the hill, the re-
mainder Of the troops toiled up the hill,
which is very steep, difficult ascent, on
their hands and knees. 1t was impos
sible to have car led even mountain
guns. Had we had those the result
might have been different. The whole
force reached the summit before
daylight, and about 5 O'Clock
began firing. The Beers had no
videttes posted, and were completely
surprised, but promptly returned the fire.
Our men had little cover. The mum her
of Beers at the base of the hill was about
1900. Up to midday their loss was
heavier than ours~ General Colley was
conspicuous for his GOODNESS and courage. |
He Kept up constant communication with |
the camp by signal. Shortly after noon |
the Beer fire, which heretofore averaged |
about fifty shots minute, increased to q !
terrific volley. Our men we're unable to |
Withstand it. They wavsred and were |
rallied, wavered again and ran in general |
SauUe qlti peat. The Beers climbed TO |
the summit of the hill and followed them |
with terrible fire, as they went down the |
other side. This correspondent was cap |
tured by the Beers, who treated him |
we'll and gave him a pass TO return to |
camp. He identified the body Of General |
Colley on the field.