The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-02

tain artillery, four half companies of
Gloucesters and six companies of Roy
a Irish fusiliers, the whole under Lieu
tenant Colonel Carlton and Major
Adye, deputy assistant adjutant gen
eral, was dispatched at II p. m. on
the 29th to march by night up Bell
Spruit and seize Nicholson's Mex OF
some position near Nicholson's Mex,
thus turning the enemy's right flank.
The main advance was successfully
carried out, the objective point Of at
tack being found evacuated. An ar
tillery duel which ensued between our
field batteries and the enenlys guns
is understood to have caused heavy
loss to the enemy. The reconnaissance
forced the enemy to fully disclose his
position and after strong counter
attack on our right, the infantry bri-
gade and cavalry had been repulsed,
troops We're slowly withdrawn to the
camp, pickets being left on observa-
ton.
Late in the engagement the Natal
contingent under Captain Lambler
came into action and silenced, with
their extremely accurate fire, the enc
my's guns Of position
The circumstances which attended
the movement Of Cartoons column are
not yet fully known but from reports
received the column appears to have
carried out the night march unmoest-
ed, until within two miles of Nichol-
sons Mex. At this point two boulders
relied from the hill and a few rifle
shots stampeded the infantry ammuni-
ton mules. The stampede spread to
the battery mules, which broke loose
from their leaders and ran away with
practically the whole of the gun equip
ment and a. greater portion of the
small arm ammunition. The reserve
was similarly lost.
The infantry battalions, however
fixed bayonets and, accompanied by the
personnel Of the artillery, seized the
hill on the left Of the road two miles
from the Mex, with but little opposi-
tion. There they remained unmolested
until dawn, the time being occupied in
organizing defense of the hill.
AT dawn skirmish attack on our
position was commenced by the enemy,
but made no way until 80 a. M, when
reinforcements came in a rush to the
attack with great energy Their fire
became searching and two companies Of
the Gloucester in an advanced position
were ordered to fall back. The enemy
then pressed to short range. the losses
on our side becoming very numerous.
AT p. m. our ammunition was prac-
tically exhausted, the position was cap
tured and the survivors of the column
fell into the eneny's hands. The enemy
treated our wounded with humanity.
General Joubert at once dispatched a
letter to me offering safe conduct to
doctors and ambulances to remove the
wounded. A medical officer and parties
to render first aid to wounded We're dis
patched to the scene of action from
Ladysmith last night and an ambulance
at dawn this morning.
The want of success of the column
was due to the misfortune of the mules
stampeding and consequent loss of guns
and small arm ammunition reserve 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"
The gloom caused by the British dis
aster at Ladysmith was in a measure
relieved by to-day's story giving an ac-
count of the heroic stand made by the
decimated battalions until their last
cartridges were gone. The British
nerve was momentarily shaken by Cen
eral Whites use of the word "capitu-
late" in his first telegram, but now that
it is known that the Gloucesters and
fusiliers fought against overwhelming
odds and upheld the best traditions OF
the British army, the tension is relieved
since there is no longer any ground to
decide the loss was accompanied by
dishonor
Details to-day show the catastrophe
in brighter aspects. -Four battalions
We're not engaged and therefore the list
Of prisoners is materially reduced. while |
the disaster now appears to have been |
not so much the consequence of de- !
fects in plan Of action as to the misfor- I,
tune whereby the column was deprived
of its ammunition Still, it seems in
comprehensive why the plight of the
lnckless column was not known at |
headquarters, as the surrender was |
only about three miles northwest Of |
Ladysmith, and Carleton must have ex- |
pected relief to reach him or instead of |
attempting to occupy defensive po- |
sition, he would have retraced his steps I
to Ladysmith when he suffered the loss
Of his ammunition.
Apart from Whites statement that
the losses are very numerous. there js |
nothing to indicate the extent of them
except vague report that a soldier
VINO brought news to Ladysmith said
hat the British dead and wounded were
ylng IN heaps and that hundreds need
I'd doctors. This, however. is hardly
1orne out by the long list of captured
The concluding sentence of Whites
dispatch relative to the safety of Lady
smith was received here with a certain
'eserVe, in view of the fact that similar
'tt1clal assurances We're given recently
1t Dundee and Glencoe, and there IS
intense anxiety for news of a renewed
attack. Which Is not mentioned in the
dispatches.
The Standard sums up the feeling of
he nation. saying: From the United
states and our colonies alone We hear
he voice Of friendly sorrow and en-
But that suffices. All
,thers are welcome to congratulate
themselves over the misfortunes OF
Treat Britain
1t was learned to-day that the Brit