Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-01
EXPLAINS TIE DEFEAT.
Gen. White Sends Details of the
Movement in Which Regiments
We're Captured.
Circumstances Which Mitigate the
Singing Blow Stampede of
the Artillery Mules.
Ammunition and Guns Lost Before
Fight Commenced Wounded
Humanely Cared For.

~se@s
London, Nov. 1.-The war department
oday made public the following dis
patch from Gen. White, at Ladysmith
lnder date of 8 p. m, Oct. 81:
Took out from Ladysmith brig
ade of mounted troops, two brigades
of the divisions Royal Artillery, the
Natal field battery and two brigades
of infantry, to reconnoiter in force
the enemy's main position to the
north. and, if opportunity should
offer. capture the hill behind Far
quhar's farm, which had on the pre-
yious day been held in strength by
the enemy. In connection with this
advance column, consisting of the
Tenth Mountain artillery, four half
companies of the Gloucesters and
six companies OF the Royal Irish
Fusileers, under Lieut.. Col. Carlton
and Maj. Adye, deputy assistant ad-
jutant general, was dispatched at IL
p. m. on the 29th to march by night
up Bellspruits and seize Nicholson's
Mex, or some position near Nichol-
sons Mex, thus turning the enemy's
right flank The main advance was
successfully carried out, the object
i've of the attack being found evac-
uated, and the artillery duel be-
tween our field batteries and the
enemy's guns of position and max
inns is understood to have caused
heavy loss to the enemy. The re-
connoisance forced the enemy to
fully disclose his position and after
counter attack on our right the in
fantry brigade and cavalry had
been repulsed and the troops slowly
withdrawn to camp, pickets being
left on observation. Late in the en-
gagement a naval contingent, un-
der Capt. Lambton. of H. II. S.
Powerful, came into action and sill
enced, with their extremely accurate
fire, the enemy's guns of position.
THE circumstances which attend
ed the movements of Lieut.. Col.
Carleton's column are not yet fully
known, but from reports received
the column appears to have carried
out the night march unmolested
until within two miles of Nichols
sons Mex. AT this point two boul-
ders rolled from a hill and a few
rifle shots stampeded the infantry
ammunition mules. The stampede
spread to the battery mules, which
broke loose from their leaders and
got away with practically the whole
of the gun equipment and the
greater portion of the regimental
small arm ammunition. The reserve
was similarly lost.
The infantry battalions, how
ever, fixed bayonets and accom-
panied by the personnel of the artil-
lery, seized the hill on the left of
the road two miles from Neb, with
but little opposition. There they
remained unmolested until dawn,
the time being occupied in organic
ing defense of the hill and con-
structing stone sangafs and walls
as covers from fire. AT dawn a
sklrmishing attack on our position
was commenced by the enemy, but
made no way until $3.50 a. m., when
strong reinforcements enabled them
to rush to the attack with great
energy Their fire became very
searching and two companies of
the Gloucesters in the advance po-
sition were ordered to fall back.
The enemy then pressed to short
range, the losses on our side becom-
ing very numerous. At p. m. our
ammunition was practically ex-
hausted, the position captured and
the survivors of the column fell into
the enemy's hands. The enemy
treated our wounded with human
ity. Gen. Joubert at once dis
patched letter to me Offering safe
conduct to doctors and ambulances
to remove the wounded. Medical
officers and parties to render first
aid to the wounded We're dispatched
to the scene of action from Lady
smith last night and ambulances at
dawn this morning. The want OF
success of the column is due to the
misfortune of the mules stampeding
and the consequent loss of guns and
small arm ammunition reserve. The
official list of casualties and prison
ers Will be reported shortly. The
latter are understood to have been
sent to Pretoria by rail.
THE security of Ladysmith is in
no way affected"