The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1899-11-03
Big Guns Met the English Troops
as They Advanced at
Ladysmith Monday.
WILD RUSH WAS MADE on THE BOERS
Joubert Was in Command of the
Forces and Showed White
That He Was Master.
After u Hundred Brnons Had Fallen the
English Returned "In Order" They
Assert-Ths Beers Loss L. Re-
ported as Heavy.

LADYsMrrH Oct 81 Inc naval
brigade arrived Monday morning at
half-past nine and commenced firing
with six quick firing guns with great
precision. The Boer forty-pounders,
which had again begun to shell the
town, were temporarily disabled at the
third and fifth shots. Brisk fighting
is in progress on the right and left
TANKS.
| The advance was made at dawn
with the object of Smelling the Beers
from the position where Sunday they
had mounted a number of guns. On
reaching the spot, no wever, 1t was
found that they had evacuated the pc.
sition. The British continued to adj
vance, and the NOV ement developed
into a reconnaissance in force. The
enemy were posted on range OF
hills having frontage of about 10
miles. The British force was dis
posed in the following order:
ION the right three regiments
of cavalry, four batteries of the Royal
field artillery and five battalions Of
infantry; in the center three batteries
of the Royal field artillery. two regi-
ments of cavalry and four infantry
battalions, and on the left the Royal
Irish fusiliers, the Gloucestershire regi-
ment and the 10th mountain battery.
This force had been detailed to guard
our left flank at a late hour Sunday
night Gen. Whites plan of
operations was, as the movement de-
veloped, the force constituting our GEN.
ter. which was disposed under cover OF
a kopje about three miles from the
town, should throw itself upon the en-
envy, while the left flank was being
held by the Fusiliers and the Glouces-
tiers. The scheme was we'll devised,
but failed in execution owing to the
fact that the Boer pos ition which
formed our objective was evacuated.
Our artillery quickly reduced the
volume of the epemy's fire, but the at
tack delivered on our Fight nsnk was
the principal one and the column was
compelled to change. The Boer at
tack had been silenced for a time and
our infantry 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 be gradually with
drawn. The movement was carried
out with great steadiness and delibera-
ton, under cover of our guns, which
made excellent practice. Some shells
were thrown into the town from the
enemy's 4O-pounders at a range of over
6, 900 yards, but no damage was done.
The engagement lasted several hours
and resulted on our side in casualties
estimated at from 90 to 100 Boer
losses must have largely exceeded this
total The attack was admirably de-
livered by our right and the Beers
were fairly driven out of their strong
holds near Lombard's kopje. 1t was
not possible, however, to push the
success much fur ther, as beyond that
point lay a long, broken ridge, afford
ing every kind of natural cover OF
this the enemy took the fullest advan-
tage.
Our shells failed to dislodge the
Beers. and as our infantry moved for
ward in extended order, they came
under heavy and well directed rifle
fire, the effect of which was soon APP
parent. Gen. White, who was with
the center, seeing that the troops on
the right were somewhat pressed, sent
to their assistance the whole center
column, with the exec ption of the
Devonshire regiment.
The battle had tn en- lasted four
hours, during which the artillery fire
on both sides had been almost inces-
SAINT. The naval bigade, which landed
at Durham, had arrived on the scene
toward the end of the fight and imme-
diately brought their heavy guns into
play. Their practice was magnif-
cent. At the fourth shot the enemy's
4o-pounders had been knocked out Of
action.
The town is now freed from appre.
hension of bombardment. Through
out the engagement the Beers held
their ground with courage and tenacity
and. considering the intensit y Of our
artillery fire, they must have suffered
severely.