The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-16

LONDON, Nov. l5.-The newspapers
of this city have received graphic de-
tails by mail OF the recapture Of Dargai
Ridge by the Gordon Highianders on
October 20, during which that regiment
exhibited remarkable dash and courage.
on Wednesday, October 20. Gen. Biggs
sent the second division to dislodge the
tribesmen from the Dargai Ridge. The
position was a very strong one, the
enemy occupying the summit Of precl-
pltous hill The top of this hill could be
reached only by single path along
which the attacking force. at first con-
slsting OF Ghurka regiment, the Der
byshlre regiment and the Dorsetshire
regiment, was obliged to climb In In
dian file, while three batteries OF artll-
lery shelled the breastworks OF the hill-
men.
Dargai Ridge from the direction Of
the assault presents frontage OF about
q mile, the left end Of which Is sheer
rock for 200 yards In spite OF the difil-
Guilty Of the ascent, the movements or
the British troops were fairly well coY-
cred. except in the case OF q low dip, or
small valley, from 100 to 16O yards wide.
about half way up the ridge. This dip
was exposed TO direct fire from the sum
nit OF the cliffs. As the Ghurkaa, sup
ported by the Derbyshlres and Dorset
shires. reached this fire zone the top OF
the cliffs burst out into flame, for a
thousand trlbesmen had reserved their
fire until that moment Though deci-
mated, the Ghurkas struggled across
the dip and reached the shelter OF a few
rocks, where they law down under cover
for moment in order to recover their
breath
Then, led by their officers, they made
a rush for the cover OF the cliff side.
But the others could not follow and
the enemy, with true military instinct,
reserved their fire. Though the re-
malnder of the Ghurkas. the Derby
shlres and the Dorsetshires appeared
on the fringe OF the dip, yet to step into
the fire zone was to court death. But
the Dorsetshires again tried TO advance
to the support OF the GhurSas and thlr-
teen men struggled into the open space.
only to drop before the far side was
reached.
Then reluctantly the senior officer
photographed down to the main body
OF the British troops that the passage
could not be made.
At this tunetuFe Gen. Kempster or
dered the Gordon Hlghlanders TO the
front.
The time had arrived for desperate
action, for II was then 4 o'clock In the
afternoon and the dead and wounded
we're lying thick on every side. Over
100 men had already fallen, and the
enemy were shouting their defiance and
waving their battle flags and beating
their drums, confident OF the impreg-
inability OF their position and condition
OF their success.
But the Nordon Highlanders had yet
to ibe reckoned with. Rapidly forming
his men. and after his now historic
speech, "Men Of the Gordon Highland
ers, our general says that position must
be thken at all costs. The Gordon
Highlanders will take It," Col. Matthias,
the commander OF the Highlanders,
dashed out at the head Of his gallant
regiment and in a moment they were
across, carrying everyone with them In
their onrush, storming the ridge with
a resolution that was resistless and
beating down all opposition.
When Col. Matthias gave the order to
advance he and his officers leaped into
the open and the plpers OF the High
landers followed, striking UP Cock Of
the North" and with a shout the lead
Ing company of Killed men was into the
fire zone. A stream OF lead swept over,
through and past them, bullets churn-
ing up the dust which half hid the
rushing bodies Piper Findlater. blow
ing his loudest and best, was among the
first to show the way across that dead
ly strip of ground, and when, after
trayerslng but Il few yards, he was laid
low by q shot through both legs. he
managed to prop himself up against a
boulder and continued with unabated
energy TO play Cock Of the North" an
Imating his comrades by the familiar,
stirring music of his piece.
But the fire OF the enemy was most
deadly. The leading line melted away
and II seemed that the Gordon High
lnnders would be annihIlRted. More
men, however, sprang into the passage
and the leaders struggled across to the
cover. There was q lull, and. as one
paper remarks, 'one had time to see
how cruel had been the slaughter"
Then, with q second cheer, the mixed
troops, seeing the barrier had been
swept away, left their loopholes and
rock barrlCndes and fed precipltately
down the reverse slopes without wait
ing for the line OF cold steel which was
then nearly on the crest OF the ridge.
Piper F'indlater has been recommend
cd for the Victoria cross. Capt Robin
son, OF the Ghurkas, also acted with the
greatest Eallantry. After leading his
men ncross the fire zone TO the cover,
and finding the force more than Insult
flclcnt, no returned over the death trap
nlonc and was mortally wounded while
leading the second rush OF Ghurkns TO
support the first body OF that regiment
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Hnusf Ilanwa NIinas