The San Francisco call., 1899-10-23
ROUT OF THE BURGHERS
BECAME A SLAUGHTER

LADYSMITH, Oct. 22-Realizing that
the first attack on Glencoe was part of
a general combined attack by three col
umns, and that the situation was still Sc
rious so long as the Beers held the rail-
road at Glands Laagte, severihg commun-
ication between Ladysmith and Dundee
Sir George Stewart White on Friday re-
solved to give battle with a view of re-
capturing Glands Laagte.
On the morning of that date all the
mounted troops here, supported by two
battalions of infantry and two batteries
OF artillery, reconnoitered some twelve
miles along the Newcastle road. an open,
rolling country. very suitable for cavalry
operations, although the going was heaYy
after the recent rains.
On approaching within three miles or
so Of the break in the railway line our
men saw the Boer outposts falling back,
apparently in no great force. We cap
tured four, who had mistaken our men
for Beers until we were too near for them
to get away. Then our men returned and,
later Friday night, General White deter
mined to advance in force on Elands
Laagte at an early hour the following
morning It was imperative that we dis
lodge the Beers from Glands Laagte, as
we had learned that the Orange Free
State burghers were descending from
their positions on the slopes OF the Dra-
kenburg from Tintwa and other western
passes, to cooperate with those already
posted at Glands Laagte.
AT an early hour our forces moved out
by road and rail. It was computed that
there were about 1900 Beers, with big guns
and Maxims covering their front and oc-
cupying a we'll chosen position at the
base of a hill, some little distance south
of Glands Laagte. On both TANKS were
strong kopjes, on which were three big
guns strongly posted and commanding a
wide sweep on all sides, leaving an open
ing for retreat.
A British armored train, supported by
two trainloads of infantry, Immediately
upon approaching the enemy's position,
was shelled by the Beers Our artillery
was at once brought up and drove the
Beers from their guns. making a series
Of brilliant dashes into the valley and up
the successive heights to get nearer the
Beers main position. Thrice were the
Boer batteries on the way silenced by our
artillery although the Beers fought with
great pluck and determination, returning
each time our guns moved and raining
shrapnel and Maxim bullets against our
advance.
At o'clock a tremendous artillery duel
was in progress. Two Boer guns, splen-
didly placed were stubbornly fought for
two hours and a quarter, while mounted
Beers endeavored to come into contact
with our men on the left and on the right.
Then at 6:15 the Devonshire regiment,
half the Gordon Highlanders, half the
Manchester regiment and the Imperial
Light Horse advanced on, the position
and stormed the enemys front. bay
onet charge was sounded as the roar of
artillery on both sides suddenly ceased,
and our men, the Devonshire leading,
made a superb dash against the main
body of the Beers, undaunted by facing
fearful fire. Twice were they checked
by the terrible fusillade Once the ad-
with ringing, roaring cheers, the whole
of our force hurled itself forward like
an avalanche and swept over the kopJes,
bayoneting the brkoen enemy IN all dl-
The Beers were overwhelmed and as
founded. They paused, then retreated,
ed Two or three hundred broke and ran,
nursued by the Fifth Lancers, who
Charged through and through them.
II was quite dark by this time. but the
slaughter must have been great. The
Gordon Highlanders say the stormlng OF
Dargai Ridge was mere child's play com
pared with this attack The @ B9er loss
Inmates place it at certainly over 400
killed One of the captured Beers told me
that If he had known English soldiers
could shoot as our men did he would
never have come. Another Boer said he
knew he was fighting. for lost cause.
Yet a third expressed surprise that he
had to shoot at men wearing khaki He
was terribly detected. He had been told
to shoot at men with red coats and white
collars, and he saw none. His impression
seemed to be that the men who fought
against him were not Englishmen.
a heavy rain, heavier than any l have
ever seen. fell Immediately after the bat
tie, making a piteous scene of the battle
field, where many wounded were lying.
The Devonshire regiment captured
three Boer flags. Commandant de
Meellion Of Johannesburg was taken
prisoner 1t Is reported that Piet Jou-
bert. who was wounded and captured,
has succumbed to his wounds. A bugler
boy of the Fifth Lancers only IA years
old, shot three Beers with his revolver
on returning after the fight he was car
ried shoulder-high around the camp
Everybody testifies to the splendid
fighting and stubborn bravery Of the
ification as 1 have learned to-day that