The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-11-09
BRITISH HEROISM.
REGIMENTS RESISTED UNTIL AM
MUNITION WAS GONE.
Mules Stampede with Artillery and In
fantry Reserve Ammunition British
Fortify a Hill and Fight to
the Last.

London, Nov. 3.-The gloom caused
by the British disaster at Ladysmith
is, in a measure, relieved by an account
of the heroic stand made by the deci-
mated battalions until their last cart
ridges were gone. The British nerve
was momentarily shaken by General
Whites use of the word capitulate in
his first telegram, but now that it is
known that the Gloucesters and Fusi-
leers fought against overwhelming
odds and upheld the best traditions of
the British army, the tension has been
relieved, since there is no longer any
ground to dread that the loss of life
was accompanied by dishonor.
The captured attachments under
command of Colonel Carlton was one
of two sent out to occupy strong posi-
tions. They made night march sue
cessfully until within two miles of the
point they desired to reach, when pass
ing through canyon, boulders were
rolled down the hill stampeding the
/ infantry ammunition mules. The
stampede spread to the battery mules,
which broke loose from their leaders
and ran away with practically the
whole of the gun equipment and the
greater portion of the small arms am.
munition. The reserve was similarly
| lost
Of the fight that succeeded General
| White reports as follows:
THE infantry battallions, however,
fixed bayonets and accompanied by the
personnel of the artillery, seized hill
on the left of the road two miles from
the position they expected to occupy,
with but little opposition. There they
| remained unmolested until dawn, the
time being occupied in organizing the
| defense of the hill and constructing
stone sangers and walls as cover from
| fire.
I" At dawn a skirmishing attack on
our position was commenced by the
enemy, but made no way until $3.50 q.
| IN. when reinforcements enambed them
| to rush to the attack with great energy
Their fire became very searching and
two companies of the Gloucesters in ar
advance position were ordered to fal
back. The enemy then pressed to short
range, the losses on our side becoming
very numerous.
AT 3 p. m. our. ammunition was
practically exhausted, the position was
captured and the survivors of the col
umn fell into the enemy's hands. The
enemy treated our wounded with hu
manity, General Joubert at once dis
patching a letter to me offering safe
conduct of doctors and ambulances tC
remove the wounded. A medical of
ficer and parties to render first aid t
the wounded were dispatched TO thu
scene of action from Ladysmith.
The want of success of the column
| was due TO the misfortune OF the mules
stampeding and the consequent loss o
the guns and small arm ammunition
reserve. The official list of causaltie
and prisoners will be reported shortly
The latter are understood to have beef
sent by rail to Pretoria. The securit!
of Ladysmith is in no way affected"
The full battalions were not engaged
and, therefore, the list of prisoners i
materially reduced, while the disaste
now appears to have been not so mucl
the consequence of defects in the plal
of action as to a misfortune whereof
the column was deprived of its ammu
milton.
Still it seems uncomprehensible VIII
the plight of the luckless column wa
not known at headquarters as TIN
scene of the surrender was only abou
three miles northwest of Ladysmith
and Lieutenant-C Colonel Carlton mus
have expected relief TO reach him, OF
instead of attempting to occupy a de
fensive position he would have retrace
his steps to Ladysmith when he sui
fered the loss of his ammunition.