The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-11-30
Fighting Was Desperate Until
10 a. m, When the Heights
Were Carried BY British.
Gen. LORD METHUES WAS IN COMMAND
Beers Retreated on the Line Where
the Ninth Lancers We're Placed
to Intercept Them.
I'm the battle the Beers showed the orsas-
sU stubbsrnes,, aad Must Have SAT-
fered besviiy-Ia Thursday's Fight
Eigh,y-Ons Besrs wsrs Killed.

Si@i uioPotcnco ucScrioiug the oaLtlc o.
Belmont bear a stereotyped character
proving that the hand Of the censoI
had been at work upon them. They
are too incoherent 10 enable the reader
TO form n accurate idea OF the even
or to place IA proper estimate upon tn,
value of the victory.
All the accounts agree respecting the
splendid fighting qualities exhibited
on both sides. Nothing could have
exceeded the steady courage and pluck
OF the British infantry in the face OF
terrific fire, while the Beers gun,
were splendidIy served. the gunner.
standing by them with dogged deter
min alton, exposing themselves until
the very last moment, and only becom.
ing wild and inaccurate in their aim
during the final deadly charge OF the
British infantry.
All admit however that the victory
could not be properly followed up and
utilized, owing to the want of sufi.
cient cavalry. The pursuit of the de-
feated enemy by the Fifth lancers
was evidently not very effective and
curiously enough while the cores
pondents report the capture of Boer
guns, Lord Methuen's own report
omits any mention of such achieve
nent
LONDON, Nov. 2S Sunday afternoon
the war office posted the following dis
patch, dated Cape Town, 1920 p. m.
Sunday, from Cen Forester Walker:
Lord Methuen reports that no
moved yesterday Saturday at $50
a. m, with the 9th brigade. the mount
ed corps the naval brigade and two
batteries the guards follovin. with
the baggage Near Gras Pan (about
ten miles north of Belmont, on the
railway line to Kimberley and ., 500
Beers with six guns and two machine
guns opposed him. The action began
at a. M. Our batteries fred shrapnel
very accurately till the heights seemed
clear. Then the naval brigade and in
fantry advanced to the assault The
fighting was desperate until 10 a. M.
when the heights were carried. The
Beers retreatcd on the line where the
9th lancers were placed to intercept
them. The result was not known at
the time of telegraphing. The artil-
lery took immediate advantage of the
enemy's retirement.
Early in the action 800 Beers at
tackled our rear guard. The brigade
met this and also protected the ianks.
The naval brigade acted with the
greatest gallantry and suffered heavi-
ly, but no particulars are yet known.
THE enemy showed the greatest /
stubbornness and must have suffered
greatly. Twenty were buried. 1t is
known that 81 were killed and 4s
More than so horses were /
'ound dead in one place. One battery /
fred 500 rounds
"Our force must halt one day at Gras |
Pan to rest and replenish ammunition.
The force worked splendidly and is
prepared TO overcome many diff
,ulties.
"The naval brigade, the royal ma
ines, the light infantry and the 6rst
battalion OF the North Lanca shire reg
men. especially distinguished them
elves.
Regarding Thursdays fight, 81 Beers
.illed are accounted for; 81 wagons
we're burned; a large quantity OF pow
err so, 900 rounds OF ammunition and
so shells were blown up. Command
mt Albrecht. chief OF the Orange Free
tate artillery, commanded the Boer
rtillery. Gen. Rolewy was in chief
ommand."
CAPE TowS. Nov. 2s.-The Beers oc.
upied Stormberg, Cape Colony. Sunday