Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-23
engagement in the Boer attack upon the
British position that day, says:


Smiths Hill, that our casualties began.
The Indian hospital corps of coolies,
under Major Donegan, OF the Eigh-
tenth Hussars, ran out, keeping in the
rear of the advancing infantry and ar
tillery that had galloped from the sec.
ond position through the town amid
the cheers of the citizens.
cat this point the Beers became err
ratio. Our artillery was firing on the
hill where the Beers were stationed in
great numbers. but the return fire did
little damage. The enemy kept up an
incessant shooting. but our shrapnel
began to tell its tale. with the result
that the Boer fire visibly slaekened.
From ceaseless rattle the rife fire
dwindled to struggling shots.
"a corporal of the Dublin Fusiliers
was carried past me to the rear on a
stretcher. Major Davidson, of the Irish
Fusiliers, was shot through both legs,
and Color Sergeant Anderson. of the
Dublin Fusiliers. was brought in
wounded in the right shoulder.
''The artillery in front was Smelling
the hill. and the Kings Royal Rifles.
on the right front, were busy with the
maxims, making the Beers anxious
about their position. Their artillery
had been silenced by the splendid ser
vice of ours.
Meanwhile a squadron of the Eigh-
tenth hussars and a mounted COM
pany of the Dublin fusiliers were
creeping round on the enemy's left
flank, while another squadron of the
hussars and mounted company of the
Kings royal rifles deployed to the
right flank at the cornfields.
1.-THE artillery continued to play on
Smiths hill with a range of nearly
5000 yards Under its cover the Dub
lin fusiliers and the Kings royal
rifles pressed forward. 1t was in ex-
ecution of this manouever that the
casualty to our infantry occurred, sew
eral men being killed or wounded.
1.-THE firing now eased off on our
side and only a solitary shot was re-
turned now and then. Cen. Symons,
taking advantage of this lull, rode
forward with his staff in front of the
guns, taking cover at the rear Of the
plantation, near the base of the hill.
All this time our infantry, in extended
formation, had gradually pressede for
ward, watching the Beers from the
rear of the artillery and massing on
the extreme left of the hill.
81 saw three shells in quick success
sion cut some to pieces and drive 9TH
ers away. The Boer fire was becoming
hot, but the first battalion of the
Kings royal rifles and the Irish fusi-
Tiers, led respectively bT Col. Cunning
and Col. Carlton, continued to mount
the hill. Gradually they extended
along the ridge, and at 10 o'clock, af-
ter four and half hours of artillery
firing to screen them, they managed
to reach wall, running parallel with
the ridge, about six hundred yards
from the summit.
"This position was gained under COW
er of some magnificent shooting by our
artillerymen, who placed shells at
points where the Beers were massed
with amazing accuracy, compelling
them to retire But not for long. On
again fine determined enemy would
come, only to be beaten back again by
the excellent shooting of the Thirteenth
and Sixty-ninth batteries, under Major
Dawkins and Major King.
cat Has a. m. the firing had almost
ceased and our infantry were over the
wall in a twinkling and rushing toward
the plateau at the base of the top or
secondary ridge. The defense made by
the Beers was most determined, the en-
envy again and again pouring long
fusilade fire into the British ranks,
which was holly returned in well-di-
rected volleys by the slowly advancing
DuDlll uS4ltfS anu nhaS ? ASoy a
Rifles.
"A large body Of Beers, driven from
Smiths hill. took refuge in cattle
kraal. intending a cross fire. The Thir-
teenth battery opened fire. however, and
poured in such a hail Of bullets that
caused them speedily to shift their posi-
ton.
"Thus far the enemy have displayed
undoubted courage unequaled by the
best European troops. They had stood
up to our scattering artillery fire with
the greatest determination and then on
Talana ridge, standing clearly out on
the sky line. they still appeared I'M
beaten and defiant The battle had now
ragged six and half hours. when the
Sixty-ninth battery was ordered to linz
Der ND and advance. The battery gall
Hoped into a new position in splendid
form and was in action at the front in
moment.
so effective was the apparent re-
suit Of this close range firing that the
Thirteenth battery was at once order
ed up. and after two rounds from each