The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-16

War Office has received a dispatch an
nouncing that General Butler has met
with a serious reverse, losing ten 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.
lie left eleven guns behind.
The following is the text of General
Buffers dispatch announcing his re-
verse:
Butler to Lansdowne: Chievely
Camp, December 10Th, 6:20 p. MI re-
gret to report a serious reverse.
moved in full strength from our camp
near Chievely at o'clock this morning.
There are two fordable places in the
Tuge1a 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 force one or the
other with enc brigade, supported by a
central brigade General Hart was to
attack the left drift, General Hildyard
the right road, and General Lyttleton
was ito take the centre and to support
either. Early in the day / saw that
General Hart would not be able to force
Il passage and / directed him to with
draw He had, however, attacked with
great gallantry, and his leading battal-
ion. the Connaught Rangers, | fear
suffered a great deal. Colonel /. q.
Brooke was seriously wounded.
II then ordered General Hildyard to
advance, which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surrey, occupied
Colenso station and the houses near the
bridge. AT that moment / heard that
the whole artillery / had sent to support
The astack-the Fourteenth and Sixty
sixth field batteries and six naval Il
Founders quick firers-under Colonel
Long-had advanced close to the river in
Longs desire to be within effective
range Tt proved TO be full of the
enemy, who suddenly opened a CALLING
fire ait close range, killing all their
horses, and the gunners were compell-
ed to abandon their guns. Some of
fhe wagon teamsters got shelter for
troops in a donga, and desperate efforts
were made TO bring out the field guns.
''The fire, however, was too severe,
and only two were saved by Captain
Schofeld and some drivers whose names
1 will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer
whose name / will obtain. OF the Is
horses 13 were killed, and as several
drivers We're wounded | would not al
low another attempt, as it seemed that
they would be a shell mark, sacrificing
life to a gallant attempt to force the
passage. Unsupported by artillery, I
directed the 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
mounted men under Lord Dundonad
and part of General Barton's brigade.
The day was intensely hot and most
trying on the troops. whose conduct was
excellent. We have abandoned ten
guns and lost by shell fire one. The
losses in General Harris brigade are,
fear, heavy, although the proportion of
severely wounded IS, | hope, not large.
The Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth field
batteries also suffered severe losses. We
have retired to our camp at Chieyely."
BRITISH SMELLING COLENSO.
Frere Camp, Wednesday, Dec. 13.--
Nooll)-The expected artillery duel be
tween the British and the Boer forces
did not come off today. The British
bombar1ed positions around Colenso, but
the Beers did not reply.
FURIOUS ARTILLERY DUEL
London, Dec. 15.-A special dispatch
received here today from Frere Camp
says that simultaneously with the hom-
bardment Of Coenso a furious artillery
duel commenced between the garrison of
Ladysmith and the Beers on UInbIIlwaa
HILL"
REPULSED AT MAFEKING.
Pretoria, Monday, Dec. 11.-It is Off
cially announced that Mo!opo, west Of
Mafel1ing, was bombarded December ] ].
Sharp fighting occurred
The Beers attacked 4 British POST at
Mafeking during the night OF December
10th. After severe fighting the Boers
We're repulsed and retired to Supmans
Fort.
A SMALL BRITISH SUCCESS
oLndon, Dec. 15.-The War Office has
received the following dispatch
.F'rom THE officer commanding at
Orange River Thursday, December 18th:
Yesterday part of the mounted in
fantry. under Captain Bradshaw, and