The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-23
LIGHT ON THE GLENCOE FIGHT.
Beers Plans Were wsil Made Hut They
Were Not Carried out.
Special Cable D,s,stch to The sur.


LONDON. Oct 22.-Much that was puzzlnR
concerning Fridays battle at Glencoe ia now
explained, and light Is especially thrown on tho
reasons why the Beers with such an army in
that district apparently had only about 1000
men engaged. Their plan was really devised
with considerable skill. 1t contemplated a
simultaneous attack on Glencoe by three
different columns, nggregating 5000 burghers.
The first column. under Gen. Erasmus. left
the great Boer camp. Oh the lnRagane river,
and halted at Hattingspruit on the main road
between Baunhausen and Glencoe. on Thurs
day. The second column. which was the
largest and most powerful was commanded
by Gen. Lucas Meyer This column made
long detour and took up position on Smiths
Hill. commanding the Glencoe camp. The
third column, consisting chiefly Of Free State
burghers. under Commandant Nljoen
marched from Waschbank on the railway
south Of Glencoe. This last column destroyed
railway and telegraphic communication be-
tween Glencoe and Ladysmth.
Con. Jouberts instructions were that Cen.
Erasmus should lure the whole British force
on the northern road toward HattinGspruit.
While the British were engaged in tho APP
parently easy task OF destroying Gen. Eras-
muss forces, Vijoen and Meyer would attack
their flank and rear and annihiate them.
Gen. Symens foresaw what was intended
and took measures accordingly. Tho plan
OF the Beers failed. however They lost
| telegraphio touch between the three
columns. which proceeded regardless OF
time. with the result that Gen. Meyer
prccipitated battle before tho column from
Hattingspruit was even in striking distance.
while Commandant Viljoen was a long way
| south. Thus Meyers 1000 men. with six
guns. bore the chief brunt Of the battle.
With the other Boer columns in view only
| half OF Gen. Symons's 1000 mon attacked the
| hill. the remainder being in position behind the
camp watching events. After two and one-half
| hours fighting advanced detachments OF the
| Hattngspruit column were seen lining the
hill west Of the camp. A battery behind
| the camp opened FIRE and made good practice
scattering the Beers. Thus the Hattngspruit
column really did not get into the action. OK
cept as it was fired upon by tho artillery and
later when it came in contact with the hussars
and mounted infantry. who were pursuing
| Gen. Meyers column as the Beers fled from
| the hill.
The first incident OF the battle OF Glencoe
| occurred at A. NJ. when the pickets eI-
| changed few shots two miles outside the
camp. which all night had been awaiting action
| At $3.50 the Beers fired the opening shot from
a battery on the hill. This shot fell in Dundee.
but did no damage Then all the Boer guns
got to work. Shell after shell whizzed into
the camp and town. The range at first was
good. but none OF the shells burst and no one
was injured. Tho British meanwhile stood
to arms or lay prone on tho ground
At $40 the British battery opened
and Hanted shell after shell among
the lr>srs. Each exploded to perfection and
wrougie havoc The Beers range and aim
steadily became worse
Tho artillery fight was most unequal. The
Thirteenth. Sixteenth and Sixty seventh field
batteries have no superiors in the British Army
The range at Hrst was 5000 yards. ye
scarcely a shot failed to reach the top the
hill A majority burst right ON the mark
and the best disciplined troops in the world
would have been tried to the utmost to with.
stand such a Are. At G:15 several oil
the Boer guns had been silenced. either
put out OF action or deserted. In
another half hour all were silent.
The Beers could be seen MOVING
over the crest Of the hill. but a majority re.
manned protecting the probable lines Of as.
sault.
Gen. Symons now ordered the infantry to ad
vance. The Kings Royal Rifles and the Dublin
Fusilisrs od the advance. Meanwhile there wal
strange lull in the battle The British
covered two miles Of broken ground and thor
rested for five minutes on a foothl. TheI
they started on the stiff ascent
The Thirteenth and SiIty-seventh batteric.
were moved to new position and again tool
up the night. For full hour terrific fire Wal
poured upon tho hill and the slope where tn,
Beers were located.
1t is wonderful how they withstood such al
awful fire. but they brought their MaIims tC
bear and kept up steady rife fire also. The
British. however. had splendid cover. OF which
they took the fullest advantage.
They never haulted again until they reached
q big shoulder third OF the way up. Her,
they rested under tho shelter until the ma
charge was ordered.
Meanwhile the Hussars had left camp. WORKED
round the hill and taken UP position ready t
fall on tho Beers when they fed before thu
storminG parties.