The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-23
De- TAILS OF THE BATTLE
Beers Fought Bravely at Glen
coe Camp.
A DETERMINED DEFENSE
The Splendid Work of the British Ar
tillery Made Possible the Gallant
Charge Which Carried the
Position.

London, Oct. pa correspondent in
Glencoe Camp. telegraphing on Oct. 90,
and describing the fighting that follow
ed the first engagement in the Boer at
tack upon the British position that day.
says:
1T was after the battle was renew
ed following the lull that ensued upon
the sharp eannonading of the British
which silenced the guns of the Beers
on Smiths Hill, that our casualties
began. The Indian hospital corps of
coolies under Major Donegan Of the
18th Hussars ran out. keeping in the
rear Of the advancing infantry and ar
tillery that had galloped from the sec
ond position through the town amid
the cheers of the citizens
AT this point the Beers became err
ratio. Our artillery was firing on the
hill, where the Beers were stationed in
great numbers, but the return fire did
little damage. The enemy kept up an
incessant shooting, but our shrapnel
began to tell its tale with the result
that the Boer fire visibly sackened Il
From ceaseless rattle the rifle fire
dWindled to struggling shots.
"A corporal Of the Dublin fusiliers
was carried past me to the rear OF, a.
stretcher. Major Davidson of the Irish
fusiliers was shot through both legs
and Color Sergeant Anderson of the
Dublin fusiliers was brought in wound
ed in the right shoulder
The artillery in front was Shelling
the hill and the Kings Royal rifles, on
htNPr
Maxims. making the Beers anxious
about their position. Their artillery
had been silenced by the splendid SER
vice. of ours.
Meanwhile squadron of the 18th
Hussars and mounted company OF
the Dublin fusiliers were creeping
around on the enemy's left flank, while
another squadron of the Hussars and a
mounted company of the Kings Royal
rifles deployed to the right flank at
the corn fields
The artillery continued to play on
Smiths Hill with a range of nearly
1000 yards. Under its cover the Dub
lin fusiliers the King Royal rifles
pressed forward. 1t was in the execu-
tion OF this maneuver 'that the casual
ties TO our infantry occurred, several
men being killed or wounded.
The firing now eased off on our side
and only solitary shot was returned
now and then. General Symons, TAX
ing advantage of this lull, rode for
ward with his staff in front of the
guns, taking cover at the rear of the
plantation. near the base of the hill
All this time our infantry, in extend
ed formation, had gradually pressed
forward watching the Beers from the
rear of the artillery and massing on
the extreme left of the hill.
i saw three shells in quick success
sion cut some Beers to pieces and
drive Others away. The Boer fire was
becoming hot, but the 1st battalion Of
the Kings Royal rifles and the Irish
fusliers, led respectively by Colonel
Cunning and Colonel Carlton. contin-
ued to mount the hill. Gradually they
extended along the ridge. and at 10
o'clock. after four and a half hours
of artillery firing 10 screen them, they
allel with the ridge about 600 yards
from the summit. This position was
gained under cover of some magnifi-
cant shooting by our artillerymen,
who placed shells at points where the
Beers We're massed, with amazing ac-
curacy, compelling them to retire. But
not for long. Once again the deter
mined enemy would come only to be
beaten back again by the excellent
of the 18th and 69th batteries,
under ior Dawkins and Major King
''At H. a. m. the firing had almost
cedseu anu our Infantry were over the
wall i'll tWinkling and. rushing to-
ward the plateau at the base of the
top or secondary ridge. The defense
by the Beers was most determined, the
enemy again and again pouring long
fusilade fire into the British ranks,
which was hotly returned in well ii-
rected volleys by the slowly advancing
Dublin fusiliers and Kings Royal
rifles. A large body of Beers. driven
from Smiths HILL took refuge in
cattle krall intending a cross fire.
Thus far the enemy had displayed
lndoubted courage. perhaps unequaled
by the best European troops. They
lad stood up to our scattering artillery
Ire with the greatest determination
ana then, on the Alana ridge, standing
clearly out on the sky, they still ap-
pear nnbeaten and defiant. The bat
lie had now ragged six and half hours,
when the 69th battery was ordered to
lmber up and advance. The battery
saloped into new position in splen
did form and was in action at the
front in moment.
so effective was the apparent result
Of this close range firing that the 18th
battery was al once ordered up. and
after two rounds from each battery
perfect silence reigned over the en-
emys front. broken only by the whir-
ring of the MaXims served by the Dub
lin fusiliers. who had secured an eX-
cellent position to the right. During
4 momentary cessation the Beers had
taken up a position on a hill to the
right of the road leading to Maima
colliery, but the 1S'h battery soon
opened fire on them and compelled them
to retire.
Meanwhile the two infantry battal-
ions continued the climb up the hill.
ard at 1:3o p. NJ, after eight hours of
desperate fighting, the position was
p1sin lA h1t in init IN faIN