Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-16
BUTLER REPULSED,
Another Serious Reverse for
British Arms.
ELEVEN GUNS ARE LOST,
len Abandoned and One Destroyed by
Shell Fire.
ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE TUGELA
" Is Met by the Boers With "a Calling
Fire. Killing Nearly All the
Artillery HOrscs-Hesyy Loss OF
Human Lifc-LOndon Amazed

Human Lifc-LOndon Amazed.
LONDON, December left A. EL-The
| War Office has received a dispatch an
nouncng that General Butler has met
| with serious reverse, losing eleven guns.
General Butler was attempting to cross
the Tugela river. Finding it impossible
to effect his object, he ordered a retire
ment in order to avoid greater losses.
He left eleven guns behind
The following is the text Of General
Buffers dispatch announcing his reverse:
\ SERIOUS REVERSE.
Butler to Lansdowne: Chievely Camp,
December 15-6:2O p MI regret to re-
! port a serious reverse. 1 moved in full
strength from our camp mar Chievely at
o'clock this morning. There are two
forbade places in the Tugsls river, and
it was my intention to force a passage
! through at one Of them. They are about
two miles apart
my intention was TO forcs one or tho
other with one brigade, supported by a
central brigade. General Hart was to
attack the loft drift, General Hildyard
/ the right road. and General Jlttleton was
/ 10 take the centre and 10 support either
/ Early in the day | saw that General Hart
! would not be able 20 force a passage and
/ / directed him TO Withdraw. lie had.
! however. attacked with great gallantry,
/ and his leading battalion. the Connaught
| Rangers. | fear. suffered s great deal.
| Colonel 1. G.. Brooke wss seriously
wounded.
81 then ordered General Rildyard 10
! advance. which he did. and his leading
| regiment. the East Surrey. occupied Co
/ lenso station, and the houses near the
/ bridge.
ARTILLERY IN \ TRAP.
at that moment l heard lhet the
whole OF the artillery I had sent 10 sup
| port the attaCk-the Fourteenth and Six
ty-sixth Field Batteries, and six naval
/ 12-pOund quick hrers-under Colonel Long,
! had advanced close to the river in Longs
desire TO be within effective range. 1t
! proved 20 be full Of the enemy. who sud-
| denly opened a calling fire at close
range, killing nearly all the horses, and
| the gunners were compelled TO abandon
/ their guns Some Of the wagon teams
! got shelter for troops in a donga. and
/ desperate effort was made 10 bring on
! the feld-guns The fire, however. was
/ too severe and only two We're saved. by
! Captain Schoheld and some drivers whose
| names / will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt was
made by an officer whose name J viii
| obtain. OF the eighteen horses, thirteen
were killed, and as several drivers were
/ wounded | would not allow another at
/ tempt, as II seemed that they would be
/ a shell-mark, sacrificing life TO a gal
liant attempt to force the passage
RETREAT TO CHIEVELY.
unsupported by artillery. 1 directed
! the troops TO withdraw, which they did
in good order. Throughout the day q
considerable force of the enemy was
| pressing on my right flank. but was
kept back by mounted men under Lord
Dundonald and part Of General BartOn's
brigade. The day was intensely hot and
most trying on the troops whose con-
duct was excellent We have abandoned
ten guns and lost by shell-fire one. The
losses i'm General Harris Brigade are, 1
fear. heavy. although the proportion OF
severely wounded is, l hope. not large.
The field batteries also suffered severe
loss. We have retired 10 our camp al
Chievely."
M'DONALD TO SUCCEED WAUCHOPE.
LONDON. December l5.-General Hector
Dervishes by a flank attack at Omdur-
man turned a critical situation into
British victory, has been ordered TO leave
India Immediately. TO succeed The lato
General Wauchope, in command of the
Highland Brigade.
General Tucker. commanding al Zecun-
derabad, has also been ordered 70 report,
to command a division.
COMMANDMENT AT LADYsMITH.
LONDON. December IA special dis
patch received here to-day from Frere
Camp says ,hat simultaneously With the
bombardment of ColensO furious artl-
lory duel commenced between the gar
rison Of Ladysmith and the Beers al
UmDuwan Hill.
BOER DEFEAT At THE ORANGE.
LONDON. December 1.-the War ONCE
has received the following dispatch:
Prom the officer commanding at
Orange river. Thursday December 18th:
Yesterday. part Of the mounted in |
fantrv. under Captain Bradshaw, and the I
Yorkshires and Lancashlres with guides, |
under Lieutenant MacFarane. patrolled |
in The direction Of Rainah and Zoutspan /
Drift. about ten miles east Of the Orange /
river. 10 recOnnOiter and report the |
strenath Of the enemy, reported to be |
holding the Drift.
1.-The mounted infantry found u |
strong detachment OF the enemy al the |
Drift. and a sharp engagement ensued. |
The enemy ultimately retreated 10 Goe- |
Captain Bradshaw and three men
were killed. Lieutenant Gregson. OF the |
East Kents. and seven men were wound /
ed The Beers had five men killed and |
several wounded.
FIGHTING AT THE MODDER
PRETORIA, December IA telegraph !
onerator at the Modder river wires:
"Gun and Maxim firing has been pro- !
ceeding since $3.50 this morning. Al w. /
caunonading was proceeding and AT the
Gqbtine was reported 10 be very severe.
,rbe Boer force along the river bank was
heino heavily attacked. and is receiving |
assistance irom the other Boer forces"
II IL nor known whether the operator
refers 10 the fghting Of Monday or TO
renewed fighting on Tuesday.
FRESH METHUEN ENGAGEMENT.
LONDON. December ia special dis
,,tch from the MOdder river says the
dr,ne reported by a telegraph operator
,,,as the resumption Of fighting between
General Methuen's forces and those u
the Beers
FIGHTING NEAR MAFEKING.
PRETORIA, Monday, December lit
t. oficially announced that Moopo west
az Mafeking. was bonbarded December
nh. Sharp lighting occurred
The Beers attacked British post at
Nafeking during the night of December