The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-02
OFFICIAL NA.RNENS
Description Of Mondays Operations
Given by General White.
SHOWN By. TRE BOFPS
Toward Wounded Engliah Ammupi-
ion Practically Exhausted, and the
Survivors Of the Column Fell Into
Enemy'S Hands-om Casualty
List Net Made KnownS

LONDON. Nov. 1.-The British war
once to-day made public a dispatch re-
caived from General White. describing
the operations OF Monday. II was as
follows;
Ladysmlth, Oct. 81, 1850 p. NIL took
out from Ladysmith' brigade OF
mounted troops, two brigade divisions
OF the Royal artillery, the Natal field
battery and two brlgades Of infantry.
to reconnoitre in force the enemy's
main position to the north and II the
opportunity should offer to capture the
hill behind FarQuhar's farm, which had
on tho previous day been held in
strength by the enemy. In connection
With this advance column. consisting
OF the Tenth mountain artillery, four
half companies Of the Gloucesters and
six companies OF the Royal Irish Tusi-
Tiers; the whole under Lieutenan: Colo
mel Carlton and Major Adye, deputy
assistant general, was dispatched, at II
pi M. on the Goth to march by night up
Bellsssprult and seize Nicholson's Mex,
Or some position near Nlcholson's Mex.
thus turning the enemy's right flank.
The main advance was successfully
carried out the objective Of the attack
being found evacuated, and an artillery
duel between our field batteries and the
enemy's guns of the position and Max
inns is understood to have caused heavy
loss to the enemy. The reconnaissance
forced the enemy to fully disclose his
position and, after a strong counter
attack on our right the infantry bri-
gade and cavalry had been repulsed. the
troops were slowly Withdrawn to camp.
pickets being left on observation. Late
in the engagement the naval rpptin-
gent, under Captain Lambton 4 Der
majesty's ship Powerful, came into acL
ton and sllenced with their extremely
accurate fire. the. enemy'g guns Of posi-
ton.
The circumstances which attended
the movements Of Lieutenant Carle-
toms column are not yet fully known.
but from reports received the column
appears to have carried out the night
march unmolested until within two
miles Of Eicholson's Mex. At this
point two boulders rolled from the hill
and a few rife shots stampeeed the In
fantry ammunition mules. The stam-
pede spread to the battery mules,whIch
broke loose from their leaders and got
away with practically the whs;e Of the
gun equipment and the greater portion
OF the regimental small-arsa ammuEI-
ton. The reser 'e was similarly lost.
The Infantry battalIons. however, fix
cd bayonets and, accompanied by the
personnel OF the artillery. seized hill
on the left of the road two miles from
the Mex with but little opposition.
There they remained unmolested till
dawn, the time being occupied In organ
izing the defense Of the hill and con-
structlon stone sangars and walls as
covei from fire. At dawn sklrmlnsh-
ms attack on our position was COM
menced by the enemy. but made no
way until $3.50 a. M. when strong rein
forcements enabled them to rush to the
attack with great energy. Their fire
became very searching anl two COM
panies of the Gloucesters in an advance
position were ordered to fall back. The
enemy then pressed to shor range. the
losses on our side becoming very num-
erous,
AT p. m. our ammunition was prac-
tlcany exhausted, the position was cap
tured and the survivors OF the column
fell into the enemy's hands The enc
my treated our wounded with humanity
General Iouher. at once dlspatchlng a
letter to me Offering safe conduct to
doctors and ambulances to remove the
wounded. a medical officer and parties
to render first aid to the woundedss&ySeeftSf
dispatched to the scene Of action from
Ladygmith last night and the ambu-
lance at dawn this morning.
The want Of success of the column
was due to the misfortune Of. the mules
stampedlng and the consequent loss of
the guns and small-arm ammunition
resurve. The official list OF casualties
and prisoners will be reported shortly.