The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-12-21

London. Dec. 1.-THE war office has
received dispatch announcing that
Gen. Butler has met with serious re-
verse, losing ten guns. Gen. Butler was
attempting To cross the Tugela river.
Finding it impossible to attain his OBJ
iect he retired in order TO lyoir greater
losses. He left eleven guns behind.
The following is the text Of Gen. Bull
cr'S dispatch announcing his reverse:
"Buller TO Lansdowne: Chieveley, Dec.
-, G:20 p. MI regret to report seri-
rus reverse. | moved in full strength
from our camp near Chieveley at o'clock
this morning. There are two fordable
olaces in the Tuegla river, and 1t was my
intention to force passage through at
me of them They are about two miles
apart. My intention was to force one or
The other with one brigade. supported by
u central brigade. Gen, Hart was to at
lack the left ford, Gen Hidyard the
right ford and Cen Lyttleton was to take
the center and to support either.
Early in the day | saw thai Gen. Hart
would not be able to force passage and
] directed him 70 withdraw.
HE had, however. attacked with great
gallantry, and his leading battalion, the
Connaught Rangers. I fear, suffered
great deal. Col. l. c.. Brooke was seri-
Dusly wounded / then ordered Gen.
Hildyard to advance, which he did, and
occupied Colenso station and the houses
near the bridge. That moment j heard
that the whole artillery / had sent to
support the attack, the One Hundred and
Sixty-fifth and One Hundred and Sixty
sixth field batteries and six naval twelve
FOUNDER quick firers, under Col. Long,
had advanced close to the river In Longs
desire TO be within effective range.
ut proved to be full of the enemy, who
5, 6denly opened CALLING fire at close
range, killing all their horses and the
gunncrs we're compelled to stand to their
guns.
Some of them took shelter in donga,
and desperate efforts were made to bring
out the field guns. The fire, however,
was too severe, and only two were saved
by Capt Scofed and some drivers, whose
names / will furnish.
Another most gallant attack with
three teams was made by an officer,
whose name l will obtain. OF the eight
cen horses, thirteen were killed, and as
several drivers were wounded. i would
not allow another attempt, as 1t seemed
they would be a shell mark, sacrificing
life TO gallant attempt to force the
passage.
Unsupported by artillery, ordered 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
mounted men under Lord Dundonald and
part Of Gen. Bartons brigade. The day
was intensely hot and most trying on the
troops, whose conduct was most excel
lent. We have abandoned ten guns and
lost by shell fire one. The losses in Gen.
Harris brigade are, / fear, heavy, al
though the proportion or severely wound
ed. hope, is not large The Fourteenth
and Sixty-sixth field batteries also sur
fered severe losses. We have retired 20
our camp at Chieveley."
London, Dec. 1.-THE news of Gen.
Buffers reverse was received so late
that general comment Of the morning
papers is confined to perfunctory re-
marks Of regret and hopes that Gen.
Butler will be able to regain his posi-
ton. This last check Is regarded as
the most serious check to British arms
since the Indian mutiny. The Times
says:
Since the days of the Indian mutiny
the nation has not been confronted
with so painful and anxious situa-
ton. Plainly Gen. Buffers advance Is
paralyzed for the moment, as are also
Lord Methuen's and Gen. Gatacre's."
The depression oyer the defeat Of
Great Britain's trusted and idolized
commander is all the greater rs, dur
ing the last forty-eight hours there has
been reports Of the relief of Ladysmith.
On receiving the news the war office
decided to mobilize still another divis-
ion and to replace the lost artillery.
The reinforcements will be rushed off
as speedily as possible. Fifteen trans
ports are due to arrive at Cape Town
between Dec. 10 and Jan. 3. with about
5000 troops Of all arms. but unless
Gen. Butler Is able to renew the attack,
which is extremely doubtful, the Brit
ish generals will be compelled for an
other fortnight or more to remain prac-
tically on the defensive. The latest
dispatches indicate the continued bonn
parchment of I.adysmith, whose posi-
ton is now perilous.