Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1899-12-16


Tugela river, and it was my intention to
force passage through at one of them.
They are about two miles apart
"My intention was to force one or the
other with one brigade, supported by
central brigade. General Hart was to
attack the left drift, General Hildyard
the right road and General Lyttleton
was to take the centre and to support
either. Early i'll the day saw that
General Hart would not be able to force
a passage and | directed him to with.
draw. He had, however, attacked with
great gallantry and his leading battalion,
the Connaught Rangers, | fear, suffered
a great deal. Colonel |. G.. Brooke was
seriously wounded.
81 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 sup.
port the attack-the Fourteenth and
Sixty sixth field batteries and six naval
12-pounder quiekfirers, under Colonel
Long, had advanced close to the river
in Longs desire to be within effective
range. 1t proved to be full of the
NhSiiy5 VIM ohNoChAy OPChOo "a
fire at close range, killing all their
horses and the gunners were compelled
to stand to their guns. Some of the
wagon teams got shelter for the troops
in a donga, and desperate efforts were
being made to bring out the field guns.
1.-The fire, however, was too severe
and only two were saved by Captain
Schofield and some drivers, whose names
| will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer,
whose name / will obtain. OF the Is
horses Ii were killed. and, as several
drivers were wounded, | would not al
low another attempt, as it seemed that
they would be shell mark, sacrificing
life IN gallant attempt to force the pas
sage, Unsupported by artillery, | di-
rected the troops to withdraw, which
they did in good order.
Throughout the day 4 considerable
force of the enemy was pressing OH my
right tank, but was kept back by
mounted tnef1 under Lord Dundonald
and part Of General Barton's brigade.
The day was extremely hot and most
trying on the troops, whose conduct was
excellent. We have abandoned ten guns
and lost by shell fire one.
1.-The losses in General Harris brigade
are, / fear, heavy, although the proper.
ton OF severely wounded is, hope, not
large. The Fourteenth and Sixty-sixth
field batteries also suffered severe losses.
We have retired to our champ at
Chieyely"
On receiving the news the war office
decided to mobilize still another division
and to replace the losses of artillery.
The necessary reinforcments will be
hurried off as speedily as possible.
Fifteen transports are due to arrive at
Cape Town between Dec. II and Jan. s
with about $1,000 troops of all arms, but
unless General Butler is able to renew
the attack, which is exceedingly doubt
full, che British generals viii be COM
PEELED for another fortnight or more to
remain practically on the defensive.
Late dispatches Indicated the contin-
uea bombardment of Ladysmith, whose
position is now perilous.
The hist of casualties among the nom
commissioned officers and men in the
fight at Magersfontein showed So killed,
253 wounded G2l severely and rs miss
ing. This, however, was apparently
not complete list.
LONDON, Dec. 16. - The following
named officers of che Highland brigade,
who were reported missing after the
battle of Magersfonuern. were killed:
Captain the Hon. Cumming Bruce,
Captain MacFarlane, Lieutenant Ram
say and Captain Brodie, and the fol-
lowing subsequently, died of their
Colonel Downman and Lieutenant
Campbell.
The war office received dispatch con-
tanning the following:
From the officer commanding at
Orange river, Thursday, Dec. IA:
"'Y Yesterday part of the mounted
under Captain Bradshaw, and
the Yorkshires' and Lancashires' guides,
under Lieutenant MacFarlane, patrolled
in the direction of Ramah and Zout-
span Drift. about ten miles east Of
Orange river, to reconnoiter and report
the strength of the enemy reported to
be holding the Drift. The mounted in
fantry found q strong detachment of