Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-11
GATACRE WHIPPED
BY Beers Even Before He
Attacks Stormberg.
Driven Back After Three Hours Of
Heavy Artillery Fighting.
Beer Position ImpregnabIe- Gatacre's Force
Headed Toward KoIteno.

| London. Dec. 1.-THE war office pub
fishes the following dispatch from
| Gen. ForeStier-W Walker at Cape Town:
| "Gatacre reports: Deeply regret to
inform you that | met serious re-
verse in the attack on Stormberg. I
was mised as to the enemys position
by the guides and found impracticable
ground
Casualties. 50 far as known at
| present, are:
Second Battalion. Royal Irish
Rifies--WOunded. Lieut.. Col. Eager;
Major SeatOn: Capt. Bell; Capt. Kelly;
Lieut.. Stephens: Lieut. Barnardston.
Suffolk Regiment-Wounded, Sec
ond Lieut.. Maynard; u men; missing.
Capt. Weir, Lieut.. Christie, Second
Lieut.. Rodney; 290 men.
" 'Seventy-Fourth Field Battery-Se-
verely wounded, Lieut.. Lewis, three
men; slightly wounded, two men.
:" 'Seventy-Second Field Battery
Killed. one gunner; wounded, Major
Perceval
" Northumberland Fusiliers-Miss-
ing, Major Stevens; Capt. Fletcher;
Capt. Morley; Second Lieut. Wake;
Second Lieut.. COulson; Lieut.. Rad
cliffe: missing. 800 commissioned
officers and men.
Royal Berkshire Regiment-Killed,
one private.
" The remainder of my casualties
will be wired as soon as ascertained.
The Times publishes the following
dispatch from Molteno:
Gen. Gatacre attempted to assault
the Boer position at Stormberg at
dawn, today, Sunday. The guides
led us wrong and we were surprised
while in tours and after a very trying
night march. Our retirement was eff
fected in excellent order, there being
no hurry. even at the most critical
time. The Northumberlands and Irish
Rifles behaved as if on review day. I
fear our losses are heavy. One of our
guns we had to abandon"
Molteno. Cape Colony Dec. 1O.-Gen.
Gatacre has been driven back from
Stormberg, after three hours battle
with the Beers. Gen. Gatacre left
Putter's kraal by train for Molteno.
and then proceeded by forced march II
miles toward Stormberg He had 20OO
men, including the Northumberland
Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Rifles and
The British We're unmolested until
the Boer position was reached, when
q hot fire was unexpectedly poured up
on the advancing column.
The engagement began at AIS. At
: a. NJ. after a sharp artillery duel. the
British retired. They are now march,
ing toward Molteno
Gen. Gatacre found the enemy's po-
L. II
for the British infantry to get at the
Beers.
Gen. Gatacre's movement may be
termed a reconnaissance in force. It's
object was to ascertain the strength of
the position of the Beers. who were
strongly entrenched along the Storm
berg range. He left Putter's kraaI
shortly afternoon. yesterday, with a
fighting force slightly over 1000 men.
Leaving Molteno. at last evening,
he made ii memorable night march over
the rocks and veldt. There was no
sound except a steady tramp and there
We're no distinguishing lights, the
bright moon having gone down at
I130.
The column arrived safely within a
couple of miles of it's destination. the
only incident of the march being an
occasional sudden call of Halt under
the belief that the Beers We're near.
a terrific fire simultaneously
on the British front and right flank.
The Royal Irish Fusiliers. which form
ed the advance, sought shelter behind
a kopje and We're speedily Joined by the
Of the column.
1t was soon found. however, that this
position also was covered by Boer
guns. which We're more powerful than
had been supposed. The troops, there
fore. sought a safer position about half
a mile away, two batteries in the
engaging the Beers and
covering the troops with their with
drawal.
The action now became general at
onS range and a detachment of mount
ed infantry moved northward with a
view Of getting on the enemys right
1ank. Suddenly a strong commando
was seen moving from the north. and
The Royal Irish Rifles and the North
lmberland Regiment were sent out to
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