Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-16
Gen. Butler Meets Reverse
at Tugela River.
HE LOST MANY SOLDIERS
And Besides This the Beers Captured
Eleven of His Large GunS-HiS
Report of the Affair Sent to the
War Office.

London, Dec. Is, 12:47 a. m.-The war
Office has received a dispatch announc-
ing thai General Butler has met with a
serious reverse, losing 10 guns.
General Butler was attempting to
cross the Tugela river. Finding it inn
possible to effect his object he ordered
a retirement in order to avoid greater
losses. He left II guns behind.
The following is the text of General
Buffers dispatch announcing his re-
verse:
Butler to Lansdowne:
'Chievely Camp, Dec. Is, 500 p. NJ
4 regret to report a serious reverse. l
moved in full strenth from our ann
near Chievely at 4 o'clock this morn
ing. There are two fordable places in
the Tugela river and it was my inten-
tion to force a passage through at one
of them. They are about two miles
apart.
My intention was to force one or the
other with one brigade supported by a
central brigade. General Hart was to
attack the left drift, General Hildyard
the right road and General Littleton
was to take the center and ito support
either. Early in the day l saw that
General Hart. would not be able to
force a passage and I desired him to
withdraw. He had, however, attacked
with great gahlantry and his leading
battalion, the ~Connaught Rangers, I
fear. suffered a great deal. Colonel l..
C. Brooke was seriously wounded.
Il then ordered General Hildyard to
advance, which he did and his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied Co.
lenso station and the house near the
bridge, A that moment l heard that
the whole artillery / had sent to sup
batteries and six naval 12-pounder quick
tirers under .Long-has advanced close
to the river in Longs desire to be within
effective range. 1t proved to be full
of the enemy, who opened a CALLING fire
at close range killing all their horses
and the runners were compelled to stand
to their guns. Some Of the wagon teams
got shelter for troops in a donga and des-
perate efforts were being made to bring
out the field guns.
'"Hhe fire, however, was too severe and
only two were saved by Captain Schol-
field and some drivers whose names I
will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer whose
name l will obtain. OF the Is horses IL
We're killed and as several drivers We're
wounded I would not allow another at
tempt as it seemed that they would be a
shell mark, sacrificing life to a gallant
attempt to force the passage. Unsup-
ported by artillery, 1 directed troops to
withdraw, which they did in good order,
Throughout the day a considerable
force of. the enemy was pressing on my
right flank, but was kept back by mount
ed men under Lord Dundonald and part
of General Barton's brigade.
1.-The day was intensely hot and most
trying on the troops, whose conduct was
excellent We have abandoned 10 guns
and lost by shell fire one. The losses in
General Harris brigade are, I fear, very
heavy, although the proportion of Sc
yerely wounded, l hope, is not large. THE
14th and 69th field batteries also suffered
severe losses. We ave retired to oul
camp at Chievely.'
4:3O a. m.-The news of General Bull
ler's reverse was received so late tina
many newspaper today are
confined to ~perfunctory expressions OF
extreme regret and disappointment and
of the necessity of calmnes and re-
81 doubled efforts to retrieve the position