The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-10-27

telegram from General Sir Archibald
Hunter, dated Ladysmith, Oct. p, $40
p. NJ, in which, after stating that a
force under General French left Lady
smith at 2:3O p. NJ, going toward
Elandslaagte, he says: "At 7:45 a re-
port was received by telephone saying
we had carried the enemy's position,
capturing their camp, equipment,
horses and wagons. The cavalry are
in pursuit. The operators on the in
struments say we have some wounded,
but have no details yet" The details
OF the fight, which was another hard
won victory for British arms, were
receive by the war office yesterday
afternoon, in a telegram from Gen
eral White, dated yesterday at 1870
q. N.
''In the action at Elandslaagte yes
terday the troops engaged were the
following: Cavalry-Fifth lancers,
squadron of the Fifth dragon guards,
the Imperial Light Horse and two
squadrQns of Natal carbineers; artil
lery-Twenty-f first field battery, Forty
second field battery and the Natal
field battery; infantry - the Dev-
onshire regiment, half a battalion
of the Gordon Highlanders and the
Manchester regiment. The whole force
was under General French, with Col
Onel Ian Hamilton commanding the in
fantry. / was present in person from
$3.50 p. m. to $3.50 p. NJ, but did not as
sumo direction of the fight, which was
left in the hands of General French.
"The real action did not begin until
3 80 D. m. At that hour the Beers held
a position of very exceptional strength,
consisting of a rocky hill about a mile
and half southeast of ElandSlaagte
station. At $3.50 p. N. our guns took a
position on a ridge 400 yards from
the Beers, whose guns at once opened
fire. This fire was generally well di-
rected, but somewhat high. And con-
trary to previous experiences their
shells burst we'll. The Imperial Light
Horse moved towards the left of the
enemy's position, and two squadrons
Of the Fifth lancers toward his right.
During the artillery duel mounted
Beers pushed out from their left and
engaged the Imperial Light Horse
"In few minutes the enemy's guns
ceased firing and our artillery was
LuIucu On IuC oOCIS w 1O
posed the Imperial Light Horse The
latter at once fell back. After the ar
tillery preparations our infantry adj
vanced to the attack, supported by our
guns in the second position. The Dew
onshires held the enemy in front while
the Manchester regiment and the Cor
don Highlanders turned his left flank.
The Boer guns, although often tempo
rarily silenced, invariably opened fire
again on the slightest opportunity and
were served with great courage. After
severe fighting our infantry carried the
position.
'At $50 p. m. this was accomplished,
the enemy standing his ground to the
last with courage and tenacity. The
Fifth lancers and a squadron of the
Fifth dragon guards charged three
times through the retreating Beers in
the dark, doing considerable execution.
We captured the Boer camp, with
tents, wagons, horses, and also two
guns. The Boer losses were very con-
siderable, including a number of
wounded and unWOunded prisoners.
Among the former are General Jan
KOck and Piet Joubert, nepheWs of
COmmandant Joubert.
zone goods train, with supplies for
Glencoe camp, and nine English pris-
oners, were recovered. Our loss, re-
greet to say, was heavy. 1t is roughly,
computed at $50 killed and wounded.
The collection of the wounded over a
large area in the dark and the arrange
ments for sending them in have thus
far occupied our time and attention. A
full list will go to you later. Our
wounded and those of the enemy are
now arriving by trains. Besides Beers
we have many Hollanders, Germans
and prisoners of mixed nationalities.
The behavior of our troops and of the
colonial forces was admirable"