Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-23
BATTLE OF TALANA HILL
Detailed Account Of the British Victory Near
Dundee.
Fight Was Won by Accurate Artillery
Fire Followed by a DASH
ing Charge.


telegraphing on October 70, and describing
ment in the Boer attack upon the British
position that day, says:
1T was after the battle was renewed.
following the hull that ensued upon the
sharp cannonading of the British which
silenced the guns of the Beers on Smith
Hill, that our casualties began. The In
dian hospital corps of coolies under Major
Donegan of the 18th Hussars ran out
keeping in the rear of the advancing in
fantry and artillery that had galloped from
the second position through the town. amid
the cheers of the citizens
At this point the Beers became cratic.
Our artillery was firing on the hill where
the Beers were stationed in great num-
berS, 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 slacken-
ed From ceaseless rattle the rife firing
dWindled to struggling shots.
"A corporal of the Dublin Fusiiers was
carried past me to the rear on stretcher.
Major Davidson of the Irish Fusilers was
shot through both legs and Color Sergeant
Anderson of the Dublin Fusliers was
brought in wounded in the right shoulder.
The artillery in front was Smelling the
hill, and the Kings Royal Rifles, on the
right front We're busy with the Maxims
ton. Their artillery had been silenced by
the splendid service Of ours.
Where Casualties Occurred
Meanwhile a squadron of the 18th Hus-
sars and mounted company of the Dublin
Fusiliers were creeping around on the enc
my's left flank, while another squadron of
the Hussars and mounted company of the
Kings Royal Rifles depioyed to the right
flank, at the cornfieIds
me artillery continued to play on
Smiths Hill with a range of nearly 5000
yards. Under it's cover the Dublin Fusiliers
and the Kings Royal Rifles pressed for
ward. 1t was in the execution of this ma
neuver that the casualties 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. Gen. Symons. taking advantage of
this lull, rode forward 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 extended for
nation, had gradually pressed forward
watching the Beers from the rear of the
artillery and massing on the extreme left
of the hill.
Il saw three shells in quick succession
cut some to pieces and drive others away.
The Boer fire was becoming hot, but the
nrst battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles
and the Irish Fusiliers led respectively
by Col. Cunning and Col Carlton, con
tlnued to mount the hill. Gradually they
extended along the ridge. and at 10
o'clock, after four and a half hours of ar
tillery firing to screen them they man
aged to reach a wall running parallel
with the ridge about 600 yards from the
summit
This position was gained under cover of
some magnificent shooting by our artillery
men, VINO placed shells at points where the
Beers were massed with amazing accuracy
compelling them to retire. But not for
long. On again the determined enemy
would come only to be beaten back again
by the excellent shooting of the 18th and
cath Batteries, under Mai. Dawkins and
Maj. King.
BOcrS' Determined Defense
AT 11:45 am the firing had almost
ceased, and our infantry were over the
wall in twinkling and rushing toward
the plateau at the base of the top or see
ondary ridge. The defense made by the
Beers was most determined. the enemy
again and again pouring a long fusillade
fire into the British ranks, which was hot
~ returned in Well-drected volleys by the
Kings Royal Rifes
"A large body of Beers, driven from
ohlth am, took refuge in a cattle kraal
intending to cross fire. The 18th Battery
opened fre, however, and poured in such
a nan or bullets as caused them speedily
to shift the position.
Thus far the enemy have displayed un
doubted courage perhaps unequaled by the
best European troops. They had stood
up to our scattering artillery fire with the
greatest determination, and then, on Ia
lana ridge, standing clearly out on the sky
line. they still appeared unbeaten and de
hant. The battle had now ragged six and a
half hours, when the Goth Battery was or
dered to timber up and advance. The bat
terry Salloped into a 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 Bat
terry was at once ordered up, and after
two rounds from each battery perfect ST
Ience reigned over the enemy's front bro
ken only by the Whirring of the MaXms
served by the Dublin F'usiiers, who had
secured an excellent position to the right |
during a momentary cessation the Beers
had taken up position on a hill to the
right of the road leading to Mama coll |
iery, but the 18th Battery soon opened fire
on them and compelled them to retire.
Meanwhile the two infantry battalions
continued to climb the hill, and at 1:3O
p m, after eight hours of desperate fight
Ing, the position was carried, the Beers
having precipitately evacuated the hill |
Thus, what had commenced with a battle
at Dundee, ended in glorious victory for
British arms at what must be known as
the battle of Talana Hill.
Just as the Kings Royal Rifles and the
Dublin Fusiliers gained the hilltop. the
infantry could be seen working
around the left flank of the Boer position
and actually getting in their rear, without
any attempt on the part of the enemy to
check the movement, while the bulk of the
volunteers, well hidden in the
plantation to the right, were ready to fall
upon the retreating enemy in that direction
when the moment came.
Infantry's Gallant Charge.
FINALLY our batteries ceased their muir
aerous fire, and the infantry charged I'D
the rocky heights, still separating them
from the enemy, and reached the SUBMITS
Of both peaks of Smiths Hill and of the
Neck between without check or halt
1T was gallant work on both sides. and
scores of men fell within a distance of a |
couple of hundred yards, but the situation |
soon became too hot for the Beers who |
broke and fled for their horses which thew
had left at the foot of the hills on the |
northeast. There, however, they were re- |
,eived with a fusillade from the Hussars.
who had captured stampeded all the !
horses.
1.-The enemy swerved In their line of re-
treat. Some surrendered there and then.
others made for Hating SpruIt, while some
moved toward Landmarks Drift
IAN who fled were closely pursued nv
our cavalry and field battery