The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-19


Tugela river, and it was my intention to
force passage through at one Of them.
They are about two miles apart.
"My intention was TO force one or the
other with one brigade, supported by
central brigade. General Hart was to
attack the left drift, General Hildyard
the right road and General Lyttleton
was to take the centre and to support
either. Early in the day saw that
General Hart would not be able to force
passage and / directed him to with
draw. He had, however, attacked with
great gallantry and his leading battalion,
the Connaught Rangers, fear, suffered
a great deal. Colonel l. G. Brooke was
seriously wounded.
II then ordered General Hildyard to
advance, which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied
Colenso station and the houses near the
bridge. At that moment l heard that
the whole artillery l had sent to sup
port the attack-the Fourteenth and
Sixty sixth field batteries and six naval
12-pounder qurckfirers under Colonel
Long, had advanced close to the river
in Longs desire to be within effective
range. It proved to be full of the
enemy, who suddenly opened CALLING
fire at close range, killing all their
horses and the gunners were compelled
to stand to their guns. Some of the
wagon teams got shelter for the troops
in a donga, and desperate efforts were
being made to bring out the field guns.
"The fire, however, was too severe
and only two were saved by Captain
Schofield and some drivers, whose names
will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer,
whose name ! will obtain. OF the Is
horses 13 were killed. and, as several
drivers were wounded, would not al
low another attempt, as it seemed that
they would be shell mark, sacrificing
life in gallant attempt to force the pas
sage. Unsupported by artillery, 1 di-
rected the troops to withdraw, which
they did in good order.
Throughout the day a considerable
force of the enemy was pressing On my
right flank, but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonald
and part of General Barton's brigade.
The day was extremely hot and most
trying on the troops, whose conduct was
excellent. We have abandoned ten guns
and lost by shell fire one.
1.-The losses in General Hart's brigade
are, fear, neavy, although the proper
ton Of severely wounded is, hope, not
large. The Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth
field batteries also suffered severe losses.
We have retired to our champ at
Chievely."
On receiving the news the war Office
decided to mobilize still another division
and to replace the losses of .artillery.
The necessary reinforcments will be
hurried off as speedily as possible.
Fifteen transports are due to arrive at
Cape Town between Dec. II and Jan. s
with about $1,000 troops of all arms, but
unless General Butler is able to renew
the attack, which is exceedingly doubt
full, the British generals will be COM
PEELED for another fortnight or more to
remain practically on the defensive.
Late dispatches indicated the contin-
ued bombardment of Ladysmith, whose
position is now perilous.
The list of casualties among the nom
commissioned officers and men in the
fight at Magersfontein showed 55 killed,
253 wounded (2l severely and 70 miss
ing. This. however, was apparently
not complete list.
LONDON, Dec. 16. - The following
named officers Of the Highland brigade,
who wero reported missing after tho
battle of MagersfonJeln, were killed:
Captain the Hon. Cumming Bruce,
Captain MacFarlane, Lieutsnant Ram.
say md Captain Brodie. and the fol.
lowing subsequently died Of their
wounds:
Colonel Dovnman and Msltenant
CAmpbell.
The war ofies received dispatch ooA-
tanning ths following:
From ths ofi1oer sommandinE at
Orange river, Thursday, Dec. IA:
yesterday part OF the mouHted
infantry under Captain Bradshaw, and
the Ysrkshiros' and Lancashires' guides,
under Lsutenans MacFarlane. patrolled
In the direction OF Ramah aud Zout-
span Drift. about ten miles cast Of
Orange river, to reconnoiter and report
the strength Of the enomy reported to
10 holding she Drift. The mounted IN
kAlaAES fsAAA a sEoAG Gstaehnoat sf