Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-11-03
BATTLE OF LADYSMITH.
AN ENGAGEMENT IN WHICH ROTH
SIDES SUFFERED BIG LOSSES.
Ihghsh Casualties Number About 1OO...
Beers Loss Thought to Have Been Con.
4, siderably Larg Ability Of the Ar.
ricandcr as a Warrior,

Ladysmith, Natal = Firing com.
menced at $50 Monday morning, the
Beers shelling Ladysmith with 40
Founders. After several shots the Brit
ish guns succeeded in silenoing the
Beers fire.
The naval brigade arrived Monday
morning at half past 8 o'clock and be-
gan firing with SIX quick firing guns
with great precision. The Boer 40
Founders which had again begun to
shell the town wore temporarily dis
abled at the third and fifth shots.
Inc advance was made at dawn with
the object of shelling the Beers from
the position where they had mounted q
number OF guns On reaching the spot,
however, it was found that they had
evacuated the positions.
The British continued to advance
and the movement developed into re-
connoisance in forcc. The enemy were
posted on range of hills having a
frontage Of about sixteen miles. The
British force was disposed in tho fol-
lowing order: On tho right three regi-
ments OF cavalry, four batteries of the
royal field artillery and five battalions
OF infantry; in the centre three batter
les Of the royal field artillery. two reg
iments OF cavalry and four of infantry,
and on the left the royal Irish fusileers,
the Gloucestershire regiment and the
Tenth mountain battery.
Gen. Whites plan Of operations was
That ss the movement developed the
force constituting our centre, which
was disposed under. cover of kopje
sbout four miles. from the town, should
throw itsolf upon the eremy while the
eft flank was being held by the fusi-
lce-s and the Gloucestershires. The
ioheme WAS we'll devised but failed in
tive, was evacuatod.
Our artillery quickly reduced the vol
ume Of the enemy's fire but the attack
delivered on our right flank was the
principal one and the column was COM
PEELED to, change. THE Boer attack had
been silenced for time and our infan-
Try advanced, covered by cavalry.
The enemy now began to develop a
heavy counter attack and as they were
In great numerical superiority Gen.
White gave orders for the infantry to
De gradually withdrawn. The move
ment was carried out with great stead
lness and deliberation under cover of
our guns which made excellent prac-
tice.
Some shells were thrown into the
town from the enemy's forty Founders
at range Of over 5000 yards. but no
damage was done. The, engagement
lasted several hours and resulted, on
bur side, In casualties estimated at from
DO to 100. The Beer loss must have
largely exceeded this total. The attack
was admirably delivered by our right
ind the Beers were fairly driven out
pf one Of their strongholds near Lom-
bardskop.
II was not possible. however, to push
the success much further, as beyond
that point was long broken ridge,
affQyding every kind Of natural cover
OF this the enemy took the fullest
advantage. Our shells failed to dis
lodge the Beers and as our infantry
moved forward in excellent order they
came under heavy and we'll directed
ire, the effect of which was soon appa-
rent. Gen. White, who was with the
centre, seeing that the troops on the
right we're somewhat pressed, sent to
their assistance the whole centre of the
column, With the exception OF the De-
vonshire regiment. The battle had
then lasted four hours. during which
the artillery FIRE on both sides had been
almost incessant
The eighteenth brigade which landed
ct Durham, had arrived on the scene to-
ward the end Of the fight, and lmme-
diately brought their heavy guns into
play. Their practice was magnificent,
At the fourth shot the enemy's forty
FOUNDERS had been knocked out OF
action.
The town is now freed from appre-
tensions OF bombardment.
Throughout the engagement the
Beers held their ground with courage
md tenacity, and considering the in
fsusity Of cur artillery lire they must