The San Francisco call., 1899-12-23


Az r.ehts reserved IN the United States and
Great Brltainl
LONDON, Dec. z3.-The DHiiy feie-
graph this morning prints the following
further details Of the battle Of Colenso
from Bennett Burleigh. its war corre-
spondent. In cable dispatch which has
taken more than six days 20 come
through. II throws much further light
on the events Of December Is and shows
far more exactly than any previous dis
patch the precise position Of the two field
batteries which suffered so severely.
l There is one point. however. which re-
quircs clearing up. Burleigh speaks OF
the Scottish Fusileers having lost nearly
two companies. something like 220 men.
as prisoners. while the War Office re-
turns mention only six officers and thirty
nine men missing and gives the total
OF the whole force Of prisoners and miss
ing as twenty-eight officers and 203 men.
an eXtraordinary disproportion OF the
rank and file 10 commissioned officers.
Burleigh says:
1t appears that the Beers had con-
structed a dam Al Bride Drift. and there
fore IN consequence of the water being in
deep pools the crossing OF the river was
rendered more difficult. From theli
trenches across the donga the enemy
poured In a crossnrc. The heavy loss sus-
tained by General Harts brigade on its
way from ChieVeley was due 10 It's ad-
Nancirg too close IN column oy half com
pany formation. Unfortunately the Four
teonth and SiNty-siNth field batteries were
sent on beyond the infantry TO within so
yards Of the Boer trenches 10 the east OF
the railway. Our men were shot down
and the position became untenable. the
horses having been killed. While our fei-
lows were trying To eNtricate the bat
teries Captain Schoneld and Captain Con
greve OF the rifles with Lieutenant Rob-
erts. attempted with the aid of gunner
volunteers To drag the guns away. Cap
tain Schoneld succeeding In doing So.
helped by 4 corporal and some men. But
Lieutenant Roberts was hit 10y shell and
Captain ConEreNe was wounded slightly.
Subsequently he. Captain Foster and Ma
jor Baptie brought Lieutenant Roberts
from the open across which the troops
had advanced TO little donga. where
there were fourteen gunncrs and the same
number OF men OF the DeVonshire Regi-
ment with Colonel Bullock. When the re-
tirement was ordered the men, together
with the isolated parties OF Devon. SCOTS
Fustleers and queens Royal West Surrey,
We're cut Of and captured. Many OF them
fought on until late IN the afternoon. \
party of Irishmcn Of Hart's brigade ran
the gauntlet OF the Boer mausers from
their hiding place on the river bank.
AT about ) o'clock in the afternoon a
party OF forty Beers approached the ten
abandoned field guns. and spying Colonel
Bullock. Captain CongreNe and others in
the donga called TO them 10 surrender
Colonel Bullock declined TO do So and
threatened TO shoot. though his party had
only fourteen rifles among them. unless
the Beers retired from the guns par
ley ensued. during which over a hundred
Beers rode up To within a few yards OF
the party. Colonel Bullock swore that he
would not be made prisoner. but Boer
knocked him down with the butt OF his
rife. Afterward the enemy gave our
wounded water and cordials and took
from them all their arms ammunition and
Held glasses and let them return In our
ambulances. Colonel Bullock. Colonel
Hunt of the Royal Artillery, Major Wal
ter and Captain GOODWIN OF the Devons
were made prisoners. The Scottish Fusi-
leers lost nearly two companies In pris-
oners''