The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-10-28
GENERAL WHITES REPORT.
Official Account of the Battle and
English Victory Mt EInndsIaagte.

NiCtDEy al
London, Oct. 23.-The war office yes
terday afternoon published the follow
ing dispatch to the secretary of state
for war, the marquis of Lansdowne,
from the general commanding in
Natal, Sir George Stewart White, re-
garding the engagement Saturday at
Elandslaagte, between Glencoe and
Ladysmith, when the British, under
Gen. Jan Ii. NJ. Kock second in COM
mand in the Transvaal army. who was
himself wounded and captured and
has since died.
White, Commander in Natal, to the
Secretary of State for War. Filed
Ladysmith, October %. 1890 a. IN.
In action at Elandstaagte yesterday
the troops engaged were the follow
ing: Cavalry-Fifth lancers, a squad
ron of the Fifth dragon guards, the
imperial light horse and two squad
rons of Natal ~carbineers; artillery
Twenty-first field battery, Forty-sec-
ond field battery and the Natal field
battery; infantry-The Devonshire reg
iment, half a battalion of the Gordon
Highlanders and the Manchester regi-
mcnt. The whole force was under
Gen. French, with Col. Hamilton COM
harding The infantry.
l was present in person from $3.50
p. M. to $50 p. m, but did not assume
direction of the fight, which was left in
the hands of Gen. French. Although
desultory fighting took place earlier i'll
the day, while reinforcements, sen out
later, on a~scertaining the enemy's
strength, were arriving from Lady
smith, the real action did not begin I'M
til $3.50. At that hour the Beers held
a position of very exceptional strength.
consisting of a rock hill about n mile
and a half southeast of Elandslaagte
station.
At 3 p. m. u guns took a posi-
ton on a ridge, 100 yards from the
Bores, whose guns at once opened
fire. This fire was generally we'll di-
rected. but somewhat high. This time
contrary to previous experiences, their
shells burst well.
The imperial light horse moved To-
wards the left of the enemy's position.
and two squadrons of the Fifth Ian
GERS toward his right. During the ar
tillery duel, mounted Beers pushed out
from their left and engaged the i'm
peria, light horse. In a few minutes
the enemy's guns ceasedfiring, and our
artillery was turned on the mounted
Beers, who opposed the imperial light
horse. The latter at once fell back.
After the artillery fire portions of our
infantry advanced to the attack. sup
ported by vi guns in the second po-
sition, the Devonshires held the enemy
in front while the Manchester regi-
mont and the Gordon ~Highlanders
turred his left flank.
The Beers guns, although often 81.
lerced, invariably opened fire again on
the slightest opportunity, and were
served with great courage. After Sc
we're fighting our infantry carried the
position. At $50 p. m. this was ac-
c~omplished, the enemy standing his
ground to the last with courage and
tcnacity. The Fifth lancers and a
squadron of the Fifth dragon guards
charged three times through the re-
treating Beers in the dark, doing con
siderable execution.
We captured the Boer camp, with
tents, wagons, horses and also two
guns. The Boer losses were very con-
siderable including a number of
wounded and unwounded prisoners.
Among the former are Gen. Jan Kock
and Piet Joubert, nephew of COM
mandant-General Joubert.
One goods train, with supplies for
Glencoe camp, and nine English pris-
oners were recovered. Our loss, l re-
greet to say, vas heavy. 1t is roughly
computed at $50 killed and wounded. |
The collection of the wounded over
large area in the dark and the ar
rangements for sending them in have
thus far occupied III time and atten-
ten. A full list will go to you later.
Our wounded and those of the enc
my are now arrived by trains. Besides
Beers, We have many Hollanders, Ger
mans, and prisoners of mixed nation
The behavior of our troops and
of the colonial forces was admirable.