The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-23
GALLANT WORK
Dono by Both Sides In the Rccapture
orElandslaagte- The Charge ofthe
Deyonshire Regiment.

DeVOnshire Regiment.
LADYsMITH oct. 92.-Realizlng
that the hrst attack on Glencoe was
part Of a general combined attack by
three columns and that the situation
was TIL serious 50 long Us the Beors
held the railway at Elandslaagte, sew
erlng communication between Lady
smith and Dundee, Sir George Stewart
White on Friday resolved to give bat
tie with a view of recapturlng Elands-
Iaagte.
on the morning OF that day all the
mounted troops here. supported by two
battallong OF infantry and two batter
les Of artillery, reconnoltered some u
miles along the New Castle road, an
open, rolling country, very suitable Tor
cavalry operations.
on approaching within three miles
or SO OF the break in the railway line
our men saw the Boer outposts railing
back apparently in no great force. we
captured four, who had mistaken our
men for Beers until we were too near
for them to get away. Then our men
returned and late Friday night General
White determined to advance IN EorCe'
on ElandsIaagte at an early hour the
following morning.
out by rail and road. II was computed
that there were about 1900 Beers. with
big guns and Maxims covering their
front, and occupying well chosen po-
sltinn at the base Of hill, some llttle
distance south OF Elandslaagte. Oh
both tIanks were strong koptes, on
which were three big guns strongly
posted and commanding vide sweep
on all sides, leaving an opening Tor re-
treat, A British arnlOred train, sup
ported by two train loads OF infantry
Immediately on approaching the enc
my's position. was shelled by the hoers.
Our artillery was nt once Drousht up
and drove the Beers from theiF GuHs, t,
making series Of brilliant dashes into
the Valley and up the successive
heights to get nearer the Boer MAN
positiOn. Thrice we're the Boer Dat
ferles ON the way silenced by our ar
tillery although the Beers fought with
great pluck and determination, return
ing each time our guns moved and rain
ing shrapnei and Maxim bullets against
our advance. .,,,l...
At 4 o'clock a tremendOuN artillery
duel was In progress. Two Boer guns,
spiendItiy placed, were stuhbOrnly
fought for two hours and a quarter,
while mounted Beers endeaVOred 10
come into contact with our men on the
left and on the right.
Then at CTS the Dey0nShiFe regimen
half the Gordon Highlanders, half the
Manchester regiment and the Imperial
light horse advanced on the posilon
and stOrmed the enemy's front. A bay.
onct charge was sounded 0s the roar OF
artillery on both sides suddenly ceased,
and our men. the Devonshire's lending,
making superb dash against the mai;
body nf the Beers, undRunted by facing
fenrful fire.
Twice were they checked by the ter
rihle flIsllade, Once the advance qulv-
cred for moment. but then, with
ringing. roaring cheers, the whole OF
our force hurled itself forward like an.
avalanche and swept over the k0p1es.
bayoneting the broken enemy In all d.
recttons. The BOerg were overwhelIn-
ed and hstounded They paused then
retreated then raised the white flag
and surrendered. Two or three hun.
dred broke and ran. pursued by the
Fifth lnncers who charged through and
through them.
The Beer loss according TO best esti
killed. One Of the captured Beers told
me thnt. He said that II he had known
English soldiers could shoot as our men
did. he would never have come. Anoth-
er Boer said he knew he was fighting
for a lost cnuse Tl'o DeYonshire regl-
ment captured thre, ! Iner flags, Com
mandant De Meelcon. Of Johannesburg,
was taken prisoner II Is reported that
Piet joubcrt, who was wounded and
captured. has succumbed to his wounds.
Our losses considering the desperate
nature Of the engagement, nre consld-
cred light
1t was gallant work on both sides.
Scores OF men fell within distance of
couple Of hundred yards. but the sltu-
alton soon became too hot for the
Beers. who broke and hed for their
horses, which they had left 1t the foot
OF the hill on the northeast. There,
however. they were received with
fuRIlade from the hussnrS. who had
captured or stnmpeded all the horses.
The enemy swcrved In their line Of re-
treat Some surrendered there md
then: others made for Hating Sprult,
white some moved towards Landmarks
Drift. All who fed were closely pur-
sued by our cavalry and field battery,
II seems pretty clear that, when the
main fight was drawing to n close, part
at least OF the Dannhnuser contingent,
Under COmmandant Erosmus came up
on the ground. as well MS a detachment
from Free State contingent which had
made forced march from the south.
The chief portion Of the Free State
troops are made. It appears, in
strong position at BIggarberg, whence
It viii be necessary to dislodge them, II
they should wait for our attack, which
In the circumstances, IS not thought
probable.
All the hussRr sQundrons except one
have returned and the whereabouts Of
that one is known. Severe punishment
has been inflicted upon the retreating
Eoers.