The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-12-16
GEN. EULER DEFEATED Tries to Force TugeIa River and Is RepuIsed With
 Heavy Losses.
HE RETIRES ON CHIEVELEY
TEN GUNS ABANDONED AND ONE
 LOST BY SHEEL FIRE.
British Troop. Surprised at an Im- portant Point Close to the River Calling Fire Opened by the BOers Killing All the HOrses-Gunncrs Conn pelled to stand to Their Guns-Grcat Gallantry Displayed.

Gallantry Displayed.
 London, Dec. 16-12:47 a. m.-The
 war office has received dispatch an
 nouncing that General Butler has met
 with a serious reverse, losing eleven
 guns. General Butler was attempting
 to cross the Tugela river. Eip1'ng it
 impossible to effect his object he O.
 dered retirement in order to avoid
 greater losses. He left eleven guns be-
 hind
 a. m.-The following is the text of
 General Buffers dispatch announcing his reverse:
 Butler to Lansdowne: Chieveley camp, Dec. 15, 6:20 D. m.-I regret to report serious reverse. I moved in full strength from our camp near Cbie- veley at o'clock this morning. There are two fording places in the Tugela river and it was my intention to force a passage through at one of them. They are about two miles apart. My iA.en- tion was to force one or the other ith 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 center and to support either.
 Early in the day I saw that General Hart would not be able to force pas sage, and I directed him to withdraw. He had, however attacked with great gallantry and his leading battalion, the Connaught rangers. I fear, suffered great deal Colonel l. G. Brooke was seriously wounded.
 q then ordered General Hilyard to advance, which he did, and his leading regiment, the East Surrey, occupied Colenso station and the houses nearer the bridge. At that moment I heard that the whole artillery I had sent to support the attack-the Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth field batteries and six naval two-pounder quick firers, under Colonel Long, had advanced close to the river in Longs desire to be within effective range. It proved to be full of the enc my, who suddenly opened a galling 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 donga, and desperate efforts were made to bring out the feld guns.
 "The fire, however, was too severe, and only two were saved by Captain Schofield and some drivers whose names I will furnish Another most gallant attempt with three teams was made by an officer whose name I will obtain Of the eighteen horses thirteen were killed, and as several drivers were tempt, as it seemed that they would | be a shell mark sacrificing life to a gallant attempt to force the passage.
 Unsupported by artillery I directed | the troops to withdraw, which they did | In good order.
 "Throughout the day considerable force of the enemy was pressing on my right flank, but was kept back by | men under Lord Dundonald and part of General Barton's brigade. The day was intensely hot and most irving to the troops, whose conduct was excellent We have abandoned ten guns and lost by shell fire one. The losses in General Harts brigade are, [ fear, heavy, although the proportion If severely wounded is, I hope, not arge. The Fourteenth and Sixtieth ield batteries also suffered severe osses. We have retired to our camp at ;o,,o1oxy !