The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-23


Ladysmith, when the British. under General
French. routed the Transvaal forces under
General Jan II. NJ. Kock. second in COM
mand in the Transvaal army, who was him
self wounded and captured and has since
died:
"Ladysmith. Oct o. Filed 1880 a. m)-
In the action at Elandslaagte yesterday the
troops engaged were the following:
"Cavalry-Fifth Lancers. squadron of
the Fifth Dragon Guard. the Imperial
Light Horse and two squadrons of Natal
Carbineers.
".Artillery-Twenty- first Field Battery,
Forty-Second Field Battery and the Natal
Field Battery.
"Infantry-The Devonshire Regiment half
a battalion of the Gordon Highlanders and
the Manchester Regiment.
"The whole force was under General
French, with Colonel Ian Hamilton COM
manding the infantry. / was present in
person from $3.50 y. m. to $50 p. m., but did
not assume direction of the fight. which was
left in the hands of General French.
Although desultory fighting took place ear
lier in the day, the real action did not be-
gin until 3:30 p. m. At that hour the Beers
held position of very exceptional strength.
consisting of rock hill about mile and
half southeast of Elandslaagte station.
AT $3.50 p. m. our guns took position on
ridge 4.1o0 yards from the Beers. whose
guns at once opened fire. This fire was
generally we'll directed but somewhat high
This time. contrary to previous experiences,
their shells burst we'll.
THE imperial light horse moved toward
the left of the enemy's position, and two
squadrons of the Fifth Lancers toward his
right. During the artillery duel mounted
Beers pushed out from their left and en-
gagged the Imperial Light Horse. In a few
minutes the enemy's guns ceased firing and
cur artillery was turned on the mounted
Beers. who opposed the Imperial Light
Horse. The latter at once fell back. After
the artillery preparations, our infantry ad-
yanced to the attack supported by our guns
in the second position. The Devonshires
held ths enemy in front while the Manches-
ter regiment and the Gordon Highlanders
turned his left flank.
1.-The Boer guns. although often tempor-
arily silenced, invariably opened fire again
on the slightest opportunity and were
fighting infantry carried the position. AT
$50 y. m. this was accomplished the enemy
standing his ground to the last with cour-
age and tenacity. The Fifth Lancers and
a squadron of the Fifth Dragon Guards
charged three times through the retreating
Beers IN the dark, doing considerable exc
cut;on.
I'VE captured the Boer camp, with tents.
wagons, horses and also two guns. The
Boer losses were very considerable, includ-
ing number of wounded and unwounded
kock and Pet Joubert, nephew Of Com
maHdant General Joubert.
"One goods train, with supplies for Glen
cce camp, and nine English prisoners were
recovered.
Our loss, regret to say, was heavy. 1t
Is roughly computed at 80 killed and
wounded. The collection of the wounded
over a large area in the dark and the ar
Tangements for sending them in have thus
far occupied our time aiid attention. A full
list will go to you later.
"Our wounded and those of the enemy
are now arriving by trains. Besides Beers. We
have many Hollanders. Germans and pris-
oners of mixed nationalities.
'The behavior of our troops and of the
colonial forces was admirable
Everybody testifies to the splendid fight
ing and stubborn bravery of the Beers, but
this tribute requires some qualification. as
/ have learned to-day that while the Cor
don Highlanders were bringing i'm the
wounded last night a sharp fire was opened
upon them by some Boer parties in hiding.
Our losses. considering the desperate nature
of the engagement. are regarded as light.