The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-14

North of Modder River. Dec. H.
Early yesterday evening the guards of
the Highland brigade moved from the
Modder river camp. marching in the
night. in northeasterly direction The
objective of the Highlanders was the
eastern spur of the Boer position, the
guards following the bank of the river.
while the Yorkshire light infantry
moved along the river side.
just before daybreak the Highland
ers arrived with 200 yards of the Beer
entertainments at the foot of hill A
number of Beers were in the vicinity.
The British were still marching quar-
ter column. in close order when they
met a terrible fire from the fianks and
were forced TO retire. with heavy loss.
The troops re-formeg. cnder the shell
ter of some rising ground and gallantly
held their position Later the Gordons
arrived. and the troops gradually work.
ed their way until within 800 yards of
the Boec position. displaying the great
est gallantry.
Opened Terrific Fire.
In the meanwhile a naval gun at the
Modder river and two hOwitze< bat
teries and the horse artillery opened
a terrific fire. e;lfilading the trenches,
and searching every portion of the
Boer position. The Boer guns were en-
tireiy silenced. In the meanwhile the
Beers on the open ground directly in
front moved. with the object of making
a flank attack. But this was frustrated
BY the guards and artillery.
The Beers recommended shelling in
the evening" but no damage was done.
The British slept on their position. II
is expected there will be a renewal of
tho fighting tomorrow. The losses on
both sides were heavy.
Hundreds Moved Down.
Tuesday-The British casualties in
cluded the Marquis of Winchester. ma
jor of the Second battalion CoIdstream
guards, who was killed, and Colonel
Downham of the First battalion Cor
don Highlanders. who was mortally
wounded.
When the Highlanders met the muir
derous point-blank fire of the Beers,
about 200 were moved down. The
Black Watch regiment, on reforming,
was able to muster only 160 men. The
Beers lost heavily in the trenches and
also in the wire ENHANCEMENT when
they came into the open in an attempt
to make a flank attack on the Brit
ish
Made a Gallant Attack
The terrific British artillery fire pro-
NOktU llD ltSROlSE except itOltl the
Roers' rifles until nearly 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. when the Gordon High !
landers formed to renew the attack on |
the entrenched kopje. They advanced
with the utmcSt gallantry to attack the
Beers, close to the place where lay their
dead and wounded comrades of the
Highland brigade.
The enemy opeEeJ1 with a heavy |
sslrapnel fire as the British advanced, |
and it was found physically impossi- !
BILE to take the Boer trenches The |
British got within 200 yards. but could |
not get. nearer. 1t was here that Colonel |
Downham fell. The Beers had free |
recourse to barbed wire entanSienents, |
which offered great obstacles. even af- |
ter the damage was inflicted by the /
British artillery fire.
This morning (Tuesday) both sides /
occupied the positions they held before /
the battle The greatest bravery was !
displayed by both officers and men, The /
wounded iTaclude Lieutenant Colonel A /
E. Codrington and Captain Sterling. |
both of the First battalion of the /
Coldstream guards.
Beers In the Thickst.
A detachment of Beers posted among +
some thick bushes to the east main /
tanned most destructive fire on our
right With the remarkable talent Tor
taking cover which the Boer always
they were. generally speaking.
virtually invisible. and, although the
enemy's artillery was practically 81
fenced, his rifle fire was so persistC at'
and concentrated as we'll as usually
we'll aimed. that il was absolutely inl-
possible for the British infantry TO
take the position by assault
At the first advance of the High
landers the Boer shooting. probably
owing to the darkness, was somewhat
high Otherwise the British lesSes
would have been still hsavie-'.