The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-02
LADYsMITH DISASTER.
Gen, Whites Detailed Report OF AZ
Received at London War once.


Received at London War Omce'
LONDON. Nov. 1.-The British war or
fee today made public dispatch re-
ceived from Gen. White describing tne
onerations of Monday. 1t Is as follows:
Tadvsmith. Oct. 31.-Took out from
T,advsrnith a brigade of mounted troops
two brigade divisions of the Royal ar ar
tiilery, the Natal field battery ana TWO
brigades of infantry to reco H1I t +h 1n
north, and If the opportunity snouao 9.tee
to capture the hill behind Farqunars
farm. which had on the previous oa Tg C Con-
nection with this advance, a column, con
sisting of the Tenth mountain arulIeIy,
four half companies of the GlouceYT rtaS
Fusileers the whole under Lieut.; Coi;
Carlton and Maj. Adye, deputy asslstal1I
ad1utant general, was dispatched a. -
RelTs Spruit and seize Nioholson's Mex,
or some position near Nicholson Mex
thus turning the enemy's right nank.
The main advance was sucessIuly caa
ried out, the objective of the attack pc
duel between our field batteries and the
enemy's guns of the position and MaXlns
to the enemy. The reconnaissance forced
the enemy to fully disclose his position,
and, after a strong counter attack on
our right, the infantry brigade and
cavalry had been repulsed the troops
were slowly withdrawn to camp, plckets
being left on observation. Late In the
engagement the naval coonti99gent, un nflei
came into action and silenced, with their
extreme accurate fire, the enemy's guns
of position. .
movements Of Lieut.. Col. Cartons col
lumn are not yet fully known, but from
reports received, the column appears to
have carried out the night march unmo-
Tested, until within two miles of Nichol-
sons Mex At this point two boulders
rolled from the hill and few rifle shots
stampeded the infantry ammunition
mules The stampede spread to the bat
terry mules, which broke loose from their
leaders and got away with practically the
whole of the gun equipment, ana the
greater portion of the regimental small
arm ammunition. The reserve was SINH
larly lost. The infantry battalion, how
ever, fixed bayonets, and, accompanied
by the personnel of artillery, seized, a
hill on the left of the road, two miles
from the Mex, with but little opposition.
There they remained unmolested Till
ling the defense Of the hill and con-
structing stone sangers and walls as COW
er from fire.
position was commenced by the enemy,
but made no way until $3.50 a. M, when
strong achievements enabled them to
rush, the attack with great energy: Their
panies Of the Gloucesters, in an advanced
position, were ordered to fall back. The
enemy then pressed, to short range, the
losses on our side becoming very num-
erous. At p. M. our ammunition was
practically exhausted, the position was
captured. and the survivors of the column
fell in the enemy's hands. The enemy
treated our wounded with humanity, Gen.
Joubert at once dispatchng q letter to
me, offering a safe conduct to doctors and
ambulances to remove the wounded. A
medical officer and parties to render first
aid to the wounded were dispatched to
the scene Of action from Ladysmith last
night, and the ambulance at dawn this
morning.
1.-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.
1.-THE official list Of casualties and pris-
oners will be reported shortly. The latter
are understood to have been sent by rail
to Pretoria.
THE. security Of Ladysnith is in no
way affected"