The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-08-08
Native mpis Make Determined
Effort to Capture a Brit
iSh Column.
Deadly Fire of Maxim and
Screw Guns Checked the
Onslaught.
For a Time 1t Looked as if They
Might Succeed Six Hours
Fighting.

CAPE Town, Aug. S.-Details have
been received of the decisive victory
won on Wednesday by the 700 British
troops composing Colonel Plumer's
column, over q native force estimated
to have numbered from 5000 to 1000.
The latter fought most desperately and
bravely, charging up within a few
yards of the British rapid fire guns.
About 500 of the Matabele warriors
were slain during the engagement,
which lasted several hours. The loss of
the British included Major Kershaw,
Lieutenant Harvey, four sergeants and
about so soldiers killed and six officers,
several non commissioned officers and
about 90 men wounded, according to
unofficial figures.
The Matabeles and their allies were
commanded by the big chiefs Sokombeo
and Umlugulus, and were divided into
five impis or regiments, each of over
1000 men, well supplied with arms and
ammunition.
The Fight Described.
At 6 o'clock OH Wednesday morning,
force of about 700 men, whites and
natives, cavalry, infantry and artillery,
all under British officers, marched to
the Umlugulu valley. The white in
fantry, commanded by Captain Beres-
ford, with two screw guns and a
Maxim rapid fire gun, was detached to
make detour behind some hills, and
then take up a position from which the
valley could be shelled. 1t had previ-
ously been reported by the scouts that
the enemy i'll strong force was en-
camped in the valley, preparing for
forward movement upon the British
positions.
The main body of the British troops
was halted while Captain Beresford's
detachment was making its way to the
position designated for the artillery to
occupy. While this movement was be-
ing executed, the guns being moved
over a small, isolated kopje, the Mata-
beles made sudden and determined
dash at Captain Beresford's command,
There was no strategy or concealment.
The natives rushed headlong at the
British and in spite of the heavy fire
which was poured into their ranks, sue
ceeded in getting within 40 yards Of the
British guns, and reached spot
Fifteen Feet From the Maxim Guns.
A minutes delay would have proved
fatal to the Beresford detachment, as
the white infantry was apparently un-
able to check the wild, reckless charge
of the tribesmen, who seemed to court
death in their fierce attack upon the
column. But when the screw guns be-
gan crashing case shot into the enemy,
tearing wide, bloody gaps in the ranks,
and the deadly Maxim ratified its hail
of lead into the heaving, serried masses
Of the rapidly moving impis, the natives
wavered in their charge and, moment
later, the rush was stopped, and they
began to give way, leaving heaps
of dead and wounded on the
field. But. rallied by the chiefs, who
bravely rushed to the front, t,encouraging
their followers by display of magnifi-
cent dash, the native warriors returned
to the charge in the face Of the fierce
fire of the British guns, and Captain
Beresford's force was for few moments
completely surrounded by surging
waves of warriors, seeming to know no
fear
Their Position Was Critical.
The position of the Beresford forces
was then most critical, and the COM
mander hurriedly ordered his signal
men to ask Colonel Plumer to lose no
time in advancing with the main body
to their rescue. While the signalling
was in progress, hot and determined
fight ragged around the guns, and sew
eral British officers and men fell. In
the distance, could be seen two more
impis rushing forward to Join in
the attack upon Beresford's position.
Colonel Plumer ordered the main body
Of the British troops to advance. The
mounted men were sent forward at q
gallop to storm the hills on the left of
Beresford's position, from which the
natives were delivering hasty, drop
ping fire, upon the kopje occupied by
the British guns. The cavalry was gal
lantly led by Major Kershaw, who
charged up to within Is yards of the
eneny's position, when he was shot
through the heart by n native, who al
most Immediately afterwards fell, lit
orally riddled with bullets. The ad-
vance Of the main body Of Plumer's
force was quickly noticed by the ma
tives, who were pressing around the
Beresford detachment, and it caused
them to take steps to retreat in order to
escape being caught between three
fires. The guns were thus able to do
better execution and well directed
fire of case shot, followed by q well
placed fire Of shrapnel, soon changed
the native attack inro retreat aud