The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-21
BATTLE OF TUGELA RIVER.
A War Correspondents Story-Re-
cOvery OF Gums.

covery Of Guns.
LONDON, Dec. 2O.-It still seems doubt
full that the guns which General Butler
abandoned at Colenso are in the possession
of the Beers. According 10 a dispatch to
the Associated Press from Durham, sent off
on the evening of the battle and which has
just been received here. the guns remained
where they were left by the British troops
and were covered by the heavy guns of
General Hildyard's brigade, occupying an
intrenched position. The dispatch adds
that the Beers have thus far not at
tempted to cross the river and carry off
the guns, while advices to the Associated
Press from Pretoria under the same date
say that an official Boer dispatch reports
that two guns, thirteen wagons and a
quantity of ammunition were captured, be-
sides 20S prisoners. A special dispatch from
Durham, Natal. dated Sunday, Dec. 16, says
1t is rumored General Butler called for
volunteers to recover the abandoned guns
and that party issued from the camp
after midnight and brought in the guns
which were uninjured.
Revised lists of the British casualties at
the battle of Colenso show that 137 nom
commissioned officers and men were killed
Further accounts of the battle emphasize
the ignorance Of the British intelligence
department in regard to the disposition of
the Boer forces. The British were not
aware that the Beers were intrenched
along a series OF low-lying hills immedi-
ately northward Of Colenso bridge until
treat, when the attack seemed about to
| he
strength than anticipated.
The Daily Telegraph's war correspondent
thus describes the battle: 1.-The action
which was fought to-day between the Brit
ish forces and the Beers was a very Sc
verely contested affair Losses on both
sides were heavy. General Butler, who
commanded was repeatedly under a deadly
fire. Surgeon Major Hughes, of his staff.
was killed, while Lieutenant the Hon. F.
II. s. Roberts was wounded. Other officers
had narrow escapes. their horses being
shot under them. The object Of General
Buffers advance to force the passage
of the Tuge!a, carry the Boer intrench-
ments and open up a road to Ladysmith
across the ridges.
General Hart's brigade, comprising the
first battalion of the Connaught Rangers
the first battalion of the Royal Innskillin
Fusiliers, the first battalion of the Border
Regiment and the first battalion of the
Royal Dublin Fusiliers, was sent to ford
what is known as Bride drift situated
west of Doornkop Spruit.
General Hildyard's brigade, consisting
of the second battalion of the Devonshire
Regiment, the second battalion of the
Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment, the
second battalion of the West Yorkshire
Regiment and the second battalion of the
East Surrey Regiment. was directed to
proceed to Colenso and cross the river at
the iron bridge.
General Lyttleton's brigade. which was
composed OF the second battalion of Cam
eronians. the third battalion of the Kings
Royal Rife Corps, the first battalion of
the Durham Light Infantry and the first
battalion of the Rifle Brigade was or
dered to support either Hildyard or Hart,
occasion might arise, while General
Barton's Union Fusiiiers brigade consist
ing of the second battalion of the Royal
Fusiliers, the first battalion OF the Royal
Welsh Fusiiers, the second battalion of
the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the second
battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. pro-
ceeded to the east OF the railway toward
Mount Dangwane TO protect the British
flank and threaten that OF the enemy
"Our cavalry and field guns were sta
toned on either wing. The naval guns
were posted in a central position on the
west SIDE of the railway. while Colonel
CONTINUED ON SECOND PAGE.)