The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1899-12-16
GATACRE DEFEATED
LED INTO a TRAP BY sosas.
Us AtAaeas mtg Ioses s.A 0.ly Kssapss
Afsss Hss Eight Having Last ESQ


Gataere, commanding the army in Cen
tral Cape Colony, in his first battle met
with . serious defeat early this morn
ing, after IN all-night march, that for
. time looked line complete annihila-
ton. A large part Of his army, how.
ever, by heroic efforts, managed to ex-
tricate itself from the ambush into
which the column had fallen, and re-
treated rapidly and in some confusion
to the main camp at MOlteno, after los
ing over 600 officers and men CAPTURED.
It u feared q great number were left
dead and wounded on the field
The willy Beers led the British into .
neat trap by furnishing General Gaia
ere and spies with information that
enemy's camp at Stormberg could be
easily taken by surprise and captured.
He was told that the Beers there num-
bered only $500 and that they were in
q weak position. General Gatacre de-
termined to make an early morning
march with strong column and strike
q rapid and decisive blow.
The troops chosen for this undertak-
Ing were the Second Royal Irish Rifles,
the Second Northumberland F'usilliers,
the Kings ShrOpshires, the Second
Royal Berkshires, acting as mounted
infantry, and field batteries IA and II.
We marched out smartly, but eau
uously, from Putterskraal, and got
within two miles of Stormberg without
the slightest indication Of Beers. But
IN this hOt-bed Of BOer sympathy there
are hundreds OF colonists ready to give
Information of every British move to
the enemy.
Our forces were proceeding cautious
~ Wh0n gVddantv mot a hail n9
bullets from behind low ridges to the
front and on the right TANKS. The re-
ception was too warm to Withstand,
and the Irishmen leading General Cat
acre quickly sought shelter behind a
kOpje, fortunately near. The other
troops did the same. But even this
shelter was untenable, being covered
by numerous BOer cannon, which were
more powerful than supposed, and the
Beers shelled US out Of the position.
The mounted infantry were some dis
lance of. but by hard riding and .
long detour they succeeded In Joining
the main body behind, and the British
again retreated, this time to a second
kop1e, but still we were poorly covered
from q rain OF rife fire, and the big
Boer guns threw shells unpleasantly
around U.S.
Our field batteries swung into line
and did splendid work keeping the
Beers of while we sought better 20
sition half a mile away. Here we found
good shelter, and the infantry quickly
got Into position and opened IRE ut
long range, while the mounted infantry
wsfe sent out to try to get the Boer's
right flank up.
This time we suffered little loss, but
q new danger suddenly appeared
: The Beers who ambushed were IN
front, and on our right fank. But now
there came down from the north q
strong command, all mounted, who
n,enaced the British left hank. General
GAtacre sent the Irish and Northun-
berland regiments to meet them, and
the result was disastrous defeat
They dashed straight into the dead
ly nre Of number of machine guns
which the Beers had placed in a con-
cealed position. 1t was evident that we
were caught in a nasty position, and
the Irishmen and Northumberland got
back as best they could, each with 300
men gone, many Of whom were cap
tured.
How many were killed and wounded,
we do not know.
The disclosure of such strong force
at Stormberg was quite unexpected.