The age-herald., 1899-10-24
BAYONET CHARGE
 CARRIED THE DAY

Iadysmith, October 22-Realzing that the first attack on Glencoe was part of a gen. eral combined attack by three columns
 and that the situation was still serious so long as the Boers had the railway at
 Elandslaagte severfng communication be-
 tween Lady and Dundee, Sir George
 Stewart White on Friday resolved to give battle with view of recapturing Elands- lcagte.
 n the morning of that day all of the
 mounted troops here, supported by two
 battalions of infantry and two batteries of artillery, reeonnoitered some twelve
 miles along the Newcastle road. an open
 rolling country, very suitable for cavalry
 operations. although the going was heavy
 after the recent rains.
 On approaching within three miles or so of the break in the railway line. our men
 saw tine Boer outposts falling back appa- rently in no great force. We captured four
 who had mistaken out men for Boers.. un- til we were zoo near for them to get away Then our men returned, and, late Friday night General White determined to ad- vance in force on Elandsaagte at an early hour the folio wing morning.
 It was imperative to dislodge the Boers from Elandslaagte. as we had learned that the Orange Free State burghers were de- scending from Haeir positions on the slope Of the Drakenberg from Tlntwa and other western passes to cooperate with those al- ready posted at Elandslaagte.
 At early hour our forces moved out by road and rail. Is was computed that there were about 1,20O Boecs with big guns and Maxims covering the front and occu- oil a hill some little distance~soutn of EIands- laagte. On both Hanks were strong kep- | jos. on which were fhree big guns strongly posted and commanding a wide sweep on all sides, leaving an opening fer retreat British armored train, supported by | two train loads of infantry, immediately on approaching the enemys position was | shelled by the Boers. Our artillery was al | once brought up and drove the Boers | from their guns, making a series of bril- | liant dashes into the valley and up the suc- cessive heights to get nearer to the Boer | main position.
 Thrice were the Boer batteries on the way senced by our artillery, although the Boers fought with great pluck and deter nina ton, returning each time our guns moved, and raining shrapnel and Max l i'm bullets against our advance.
 | At 4 O clock a tremendous artillery duel was in progress. Two Boer guns, splen- didly placed were fought for two hours and | a quarter. while mounted Boers endeavored | to come in contact with men on the | left and on the right.
 Then at 6:15 D. m. the Devonshire regi- ment, half the Gordon Highanders, nall | the Manchester regiment and the Imperial | Light Horse advanced on the position and stormed the enemys front. A bayonet charge was sounded the roar of artil- lery on both sides suddenly ceased, and our men, the Devonshire leading, made superb dash against bhe main body of the | Boers, undaunted by facing fearful lire. | Once the advance quivered for moment, | but then, with ringing, roaring cheers, the | whole of our force hurled itself forward 1 like an avalanche and swept over the l kopjes, bayoneting the broken enemy in all directions.
 The Boers were overwhelmed and as- | founded. They paused then retreased, then raised the white flag and surrendered. TWO or three hundred broke and ran, pursued | by the Fifth Lancers, who charged through l and through them.
 It was quite dark by this time, but the slaughter must have been great. The Cor don Highlanders say the storming of Rar- gai Ridge was mere child's play compared with this attack. The Boer loss must | shaye been heavy. The best estimates place it at certainly over 400 killed. One of the captured Boers told me that, if he had known English soldiers could shoot as our l men did, he never would have come Az other Boer said he krew he was fighting for a lost cause. Yet third expressed surprise that he had to shoot at men wear l ing khaki. He was terribly dejected lie | had been told to shoot at men with red coats and white collars. His impression seemed to be that the men who fought against him were not Englishmen. A heavy rain, heavier than 1 had ever seen fell immediately after the battle, mak- | ing a piteous scene on the battleiied, where many wounded were lying.
 The Devonshire regiment captured three Boer flags Commandant De Meelion, Of | Johannesberg, was taken prisoner It is re- | ported that Piet Joubert, who was wounded | and captured, has succumbed to his wounds | A bugler boy of the Fifth Lancers only Il | years of age, shot three Boers with his re- l volver On returning after the fight he was l carried shoulder high around the camp 1 Everybody testifies to the splendid fight | ing and stubborn bravery of the Boers, but 1 this tribute requires some qualification, as | I have learned today that while the Gordon | Highlanders were bringing in the wounded l last night sharp fire was opened on them l by some Boer parties in hiding. Our losses, 1 considering the desperate nature of the en- | gagement, are regarded as light.
 l l RAPID GROWTH OF BIRMINGHAM | From the Alexander City Outlook. | Birmingham is growing so fast that l land company has advertised an auction | sale of 100 lots in 100 minutes.