The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-04
THAT AWFUL FIGHT.
First Detailed Account of the Battle
of Modder River.

London, Dec. 4.-The Daily Chronicle
publishes the following dispatch dated
Wednesday, November 29, morning.
from it's correspondent at Modder river
camp:
The severest engagement our col
umn has yet had and probably the Sc
Verest of the whole campaign was
fought yesterday on the banks of the
MOdder river. The battle was waged
fercely for nearly IA hours.
The enemy occupied a strongly en-
trenched position. their front extending
five miles along the bank of the stream.
They were we'll supplied with artillery
and fought desperately.
Our force consisted of the British
Second battery of the Coldstream
guards, the First battalion of the Scots
guards, the Third battalion of the Gren-
adler guards, the First battalion of the
Northumberland F'usihers, the Second
battalion of the Yorkshire light infan-
try (the Kings Own, a part of the First
battalion of the Loyal North Lanca-
shire regiment, the Ninth Lancers, the
mounted infantry, three batteries of
field artillery and the First battalion OF
the Argyll and Sutherland Highland
ers Princess Louise's)-
The latter reinforced US from Gen.
WauchOpe'S brigade and arrived just in
time for the fight. The battle started
at daybreak, our guns shelling the
Beers left.
THE enemy replied with artillery,
HOtchl6iss and Maxims. and the artil-
lery duel lasted some hours. Then there
was a brief lulI in the enemy's opera
tiOns of which the general Immediate
" took advantage. Our infantry ad-
vanced across the plain towards the
river in two brigades. The guards, on
the right. We're met by an awful hail
of bullets from the enemy's sharp
shooters, posted closer to the river on
the opposite bank. Ours had no cover
whatever and were simply moved down.
It seemed impossible to live through
the terrible fire but the brave fellows
fTf Of r-feNrs inch
was horribly accurate: and they must
have numbered at least 10000.
THE Scots guards advanced six hun
dred yards before they were fired on.
the deadly fusillade which lasted without
intermission throughout the day
The Highlanders made several at
tempts to force a passage of the river
but they We're exposed to such mu--
derous inhlading fire that they had to
Nretire after they had suffered terri
bly,.
subsequently a party of the guards
got over and held their own for hours
against a vastly superior force.
The general opinion of the staff is
that there had never been sustained a
fire in the annals of the British army
such as that which our troops had to
face yesterday. Our men fell in dozens
while trying to rush the bridge.
Among the many heroic deeds one
of the most conspicuous was that of
Lieutenant Colonel COedringtOn of the
COldstream guards Captain Sellprin OF
the Queensland contingent and a dozen
members of the COldstream guards, who
jumped into the river and swan nearly
to the other side in the face of a steady
fire; but who were forced to retire and
joining hands swan back two of their
number being nearly drowned in the
retreat.
THE British guns kept up a heavy
fire all day and fearful havoc was
wrought on the BOer position, the enc
n fiy-
trenchments. Night put an end to the
terrible bIOOdshed. The infantry brig
ade was dreadfully cut up.
The Beers retreated at night taking
their guns with them and we are now
occupying their positions. The enemy's
loss was tremendous