The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-04
! the rim OF the basin and fixed bayone;s TO
repel The assailapts.
MAKINC A M

MAKING DESPERATE CHARGE.
The Beers, with shouts of triumph,
swarmed up the sides Of the hill and made
several desperate attempts 10 carry the posi-
/ tion with rub. Each time. however,
/ they were driven back with the bayonet.
After each charge the firing, which nearly
ceased during the msife, broke out with re-
newed violence. and the air above Us seemed
alive with bullets. The troops did their
duty well and steadily, and trying as was
the occasion, fought with great GOODNESS,
encouraged by their officers.
BREAKING THE BRITISH LINES.
AT last the Beers. who had gathered near
! the edge OF the slope, made tremendous
rush ct point beyond that at which they
had before been attacking, and where the
number OF defenders was comparatively
small. They burst through the defenders
and poured in over the edge OF the basin,
and our position was lost.
TIE main line Of our defenders, their
! flank turned and taken in reverse, made q
rush along the plateau to endcavor to form
and rally, but IL was useless. With fierce
shouts and a storm OF bullets the B0efs
poured in.
A WILD RUSH AND RETREAT.
There was a wild rush. with the Beers
close behind. The roar Of the firing. the
whiSiln@ Of the bullets, and the yellS OF the
enemy made up "a din which seemed INFER
nal. All around men were falling. There
was no reSisfance-nO halt. IL was Night
for life. At this moment was Knocked
down by the ruth and tramped upon, and
| when came to nv senses the Beers were
! firing over me at the retrrating troops who
were moving down the hill.
THE CORRESPONDENT TAKEN PRISONER.
Trying to rise. was taken prisoner and
! led away. On the hill found the body OF
General COlley, shot through the head.
After conversation wi h the BJer General |
| induced bin TO grant me pass 10 come
/ into our camp and bring ont succor for the
wounded. They were living thckIy bota
on the plateau and everywhere on the de-
scent OF the hill. Tue Beers were very
civil. They took, If Is true, a few articles |
| bad about me. but no troops in the world
could. on the wholc have behaved better as
| yictOr.. Taking with mc, they a>cribed
their victories not 10 their arms or bravery,
| but TO the righteousness OF their cause.
COMPLETENESS or THE VICTORY.
As to the completeness Of their victory
there can be 30 question. They carried by
/
ral himself considered to be, defended by
the force at his command, impresnable.
Even now | can hardly understand how it
was done, - sudden was the rush, 30 in
stantaneouS the charge from what We re-
earded aS periCci SIicty 10 imminent peril.
Up TO the moment when the BoeIs made
this rush they had effected no progress
whatever. A few only Of oar men had
been engaged.
THE BGERS' LOSSES THRILLING.
The Beers casualties were lrifmg in The
extreme. a few minute, later they held
the crest Of the hill, and our men were de-
Tending the natural basin in which they had
been lying in apparent security. II cannot
be denied that the capture Of Maiell Hill is
an exploit OF which any troops in the world
might be proud.
TIE CAUSE OF TIE BRITISH DEFEAT.
On the above account the StGndard re-
marks This simple bui graphic narrative
at once di.poses of all reports telegraphed
from Newcastle and Durham 10 the effect
that the loss at Maieil Hill was due 10 the
failure of the ammunition Of our troSns 1t
is clear that not only was there 10 failure
whatever, but that Il great proportion OF
our troops had never drawn trigger until
| lhey found themselves engagcd in an al
most hand.tO-hand conflict with the enemy.
General Rohert>'s appointment 10 the COM
mand OF South Africa gives general sati>fac-
ton"
ONE THOUSAND BOERS IN THE FIGHT.
Further telegrams from TranSvaal show
| that the number Of Beers who made the
attack on Najela was 1000. The !SidnddrF $
CORES spOndent says: "During The enemy 5
advance our men hardly caught >ight OF &
! single Boer. The Beers crcpt through the
grass, takin" advantage Of eYCry stone and
every inequality OF ground. When driven
back by our fire at one point they would
work around unperccived and thence open
with heavy yolleys upon us, themselves
| being all the time Invisible the CORE
spOndent thinks the English . would have
done well 10 baNe trusted to the bay0net
instead OF fleeing down the hill, where
they were quickly shot down like rabbits"
THE yALOE OF TIE BOEES.
The StdndQrQs correspondent adds:
cone lesson taught Us is that it i useless
to attempt TO fight the Beers with numeri.
cally inferior forces. In such warfare they
are man for man equal and more than equal
to our own. They are rs courageous, inG-
nitely better shots. and are maryClOu>ly
skilled, taking advantage Of every cover.
Their cooIne>s under fire is perfect. While
fighting individually, all work in concert
and in obedience to orders. They openly
express cOnte;lpt for cur infantry, but fear
our cavalry and artillery"