The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-02

London, Nov. 1.-The British war Of
flee today made public a dispatch re-
ceived from General White, describing
tie operations of Monday, II was as
'.Ladysmith. oct. 81, $50 p. m.-Took
out from Ladysmith a brigade of
mounted troops, two brigade divisions
of the Royal artillery, the Natal heid
battery ard two brigades of infantry,
10 reconnoitre in force the enemy 3
main position to the north and If the
opportunity should offer TO capture the
hill behind Farquhars farm, which had
on the previous Gay been held in
strength by the enemy.
In connection with this advance a
column, consisting of the Tenth noun
tain artillery. four half companies of
the Gloucesfers and six companies of
the Royal Irish Fusileers. the whole
under Lieutenant Colonel Carlton and
Major Adye, deputy assistant adjutant
general, was dispatched at II p. m. Of
the 29th to march by night up Bells
pruit and seize Nicholasons Neck or
some position near Nicholson's Neck,
thus turning the enemy's right flank.
Loss to the Enemy.
THE main advance was uccessfully
carried out the objective attack being
found evacuated, an artillery duel be-
tween our field batteries and the
enelny's guns of the position and Max
inns is understood TO have caused heavy
loss TO the enemy. The reconnaissance
forced the enemy to fsIily-discsGse his
position and after a strong counter at
tack on our right the infantry brigade
and cavalry had been repuised the
troops were slowly Withdrawn to camp,
pickets being left or observation Late
in the engagement the naval contin-
\ T.o1 hlpr Of n Nj
s Powerful, came into action and 81
fenced. with their extremely accurate
fire. the enemy's guns of position.
the circumstances which attended
the movement of Lieutenant colonel
Cartons column are not yet fully
known. but from reports received the
column appears to have carried out the
night march unmolested until within
two miles OF Nichclson's Neck. At this
point two boulders rolled from the hill
and a few rife shots stampeded the in
fantry ammunition mules. The stampede
spread to the battery mules, whlch
broke loose from their leaders and ran
away with practically the whoie or ihe
gun equipment and the greater portion
of the small arm ammunition. The re-
serve was similarly lost.
Still the British Fought.
The infantry battalionl however,
personnel of the artillery. seized a hill
on the left Of The road two miles from
the Neck with but little opposition.
There they remained unmoIested until
dawn the time being occupied in or
ganiZing the defense of the hill and con-
structing stone sargars and walls as
cover from ire.
At dawn a Skirmishing attack on our
position was commenced by the enemy,
hut made no way until 9:30 a. M when
reinforcements enabled them TO rush
TO the ettack with great energy. Their
fire became very searching and two
companies of The Gloucesters in an ad-
vance position were ordered TO fall
back. The enemy then .ressed to short
range the losses on our side becoming
very numerous.
Ammunition All Gone.
AT 3 p. N. our ammunition was
practically exhausted. the position was
captured and the survivors of the col
lImn fell into the enemy's hands The
enemy treated our wounded with hu-
manity. General JoubsrJ at once dis
patching a letter TO me Offering a safe
conduct of doctors and ambulances to
remove the wounded. 4 medical officer
and parties TO render first aid TO the
wounded were dispatched to the scene
of action from Ladysnith last night
and the ambulance at dawn this morn
ing.
THE want of success of the column
was due to the misfortune of the mules
stampeding and the consequent loss of
the guns and small arm ammunition re-
serve. The official list of casualties
and prisoners will be reported shortly.
The latter are understood to have been
sent by rail to Pretoria. The security
OF Ladysmith is in no way affected"