The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-05
BATTLE AT MoDDFR RIVER.
The Fire of the Boer Forces Was
Horribly Accurate.

b London, Dec. 4.-The Daily Chronicle
publishes the following dispatch, dated
! Wednesday, Nov. 90, morning, from its
correspondent. at Modder river camp:
The severest engagement our column
has yet had and probably the severest
OF the whole campaign was fought yes
terday on the banks of the Modder
river. The Battle was waged fiercely
for nearly fourteen hours. The enemy
occupied strongly entrenched posi-
ton, their front extending five miles
along the bank of the stream. They
were we'll supplied with artillery and
fought desperately.
Our force consisted of the Second
Coldstream guards, the First battalion
of the Scots guards. the Third battalion
of the grenadier guards, the First bat
talon of the Northumberland fusiliers,
the Second battalion of the Yorkshire
light infantry (the Kings OWN, a part
of the First battalion of the Loyal Ian
cashier regiment. the Ninth lancers, the
mounted infantry, three batteries of
field artillery and the First battalion of
the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Princess Louise's). The latter rein
forced US from General Wauchope's
brigade and arrived just in time for the
fight az
The battle started at daybreak. our
guns Smelling the Beers left. The en-
envy replied with artillery. Hotchkiss
and Maxims. and the artillery duel last
ed some hours. Then there was a brief
lull in the enemys operations. of which
we Immediately took advantage. In
fantry advanced across the plan to-
wards the river in two brigades.
The guards on the right were met
by an awful hail of bullets from the
enemy's sharpshooters, posted close to
the river on the opposite bank. Ours
had no cover whatever and were sim
ply moved down. 1t seemed impossi-
BILE to live through the terrible fire, but
the brave fellows did not retreat an
inch. The Boer fire,yas horribly accu-
rate. and they musE have numbered at
least 10000. 'H
The Scots guards advanced 500 yards
before they were fired on. Then they
had to lie down to escape the deadly
fusilade, which lasted without inter
mission throughout the day. The
Highlanders made"several attempts to
force a passage of the river, but they
We're exposed to such murderous en-
filading fire that they had to retire af
ter they had suffered terribly. Suisse
quently a party of the guards got over
and held their own for hours against
q vastly superior force.
The general opinion of the staff is
tanned fire in the annals of the British
army as that our troops had to face
yesterday. Our men fell in dozens while
trying 10 rush the bridge.
Among the many heroic deeds, one
of the most conspicuous was that of
Lieutenant Colonel Codington of the
Coldstream guards, Captain Sellpeyn of
the Queensland contingent and a dozen
members of the Coldstream guards,
who jumped into the river and swan
nearly to the other side in the face of
steady fire, but who were forced to re-
tire and, joining hands, swan back,
two of their number being nearly
drowned in the retreat.
THE British guns kept upa heavy fire
all day, and fearful havoc was wrought
on the Boer positions, the army being
forced to fly from their entertainments.
Night put an end to the terrible blood
shed. The infantry brigade was dread
fully cut up.
The Beers retreated at night, taking
their guns with them, and we are now
occupying their positions. The enemy's
loss was tremendous.