Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-11-09
BRITISH HEROISM.
REGIMENTS RESISTED UNTIL AM.
MUNITION WAS GONE.
Mules Stampede with Artillery and In
fantry Reserve Ammunition British
Fortify "a nm and Fight to
the Last.


London. Nov 3.-The gloom caused
by the British disaster at Ladysmith
is, in measure, relieved by an account
of the heroic stand made by the deci-
mated battalions until their last cart
ridges were gone. The British nerve
was momentarily shaken by General
Whites use of the word capitulate in
his first telegram, but now that it is
known that the Gloucesters and Fusi-
leers fought against overwhelming
odds and upheld the best traditions of
the British army, the tension has been
relieved, since there is no longer any
ground to dread that the loss of life
was accompanied by dishonor.
The captured detachments under
command of Colonel Carlton was one
of two sent out to occupy strong posi-
tions. They made a night march sue
cessfuliy until within two miles Of the
poiut they desired to reach, when pass
ing through canyon, boulders were
rolled down the hill stampeding the
infantry ammunition mules. The
stampede spread to the battery mules,
which broke loose from their leaders
and ran away with practically the
whole of the gun equipment and the
greater portion of the small arms am
munition. The reserve was similarly
lost
OF the fight that succeeded General
White reports as follows
The infantry battalhons, however,
fixed bayonets and accompanied by the
personnel of the artillery, seized a hill
on the left of the road two miles from
the position they expected to occupy,
with but little opposition. There they
remained unmolested until dawn, the
time being occupied in organizing the
defense of the hill and constructing
stone sangers and walls as cover from
fire.
{" At dawn a sllirmishing attack on
our position was commenced by the
enemy, but made no way until $3.50 a.
m when reinforcemcnts enambed them
to rush to the attack with great energy.
Their fire became very searching and
1 two companies of the Gloucesters in an
/ advance position We're ordered to fall
back The enemy then pressed to short
range, the losses on our side becomming
very numerous
At p IN. our ammunition was
i practically exhausted, the position was
captured aud the survivors of the col
umn fell into the enemy's hands The
enemy treated our wounded with hui
manity, General Joubert at once dis
patching a letter TO me offering safe
conduct of doctors and ambulanees &c
remove the wounded. A medical Of
fcer and parties TO render first aid tt
the wounded were dispatched TO the
scene of action from Badysmith.
THE want of success of the column
was due to the misfortune of the mulei
stampedin, and the consequent loss O
the guns and small arm ammunition
reserve. The ofiicia! list of causaltiei
and prisoners will be reported shortly
The latter are understood to have beer
sent by rail to Pretoria. The seeurit.
of Ladysmith is in no way affected"
The full battalions were not engage
and, therefore, the list of prisoners
materially reduced, while the disaste
now appears to have been not SO mucl
the consequence of defects ia the plal
of action as to misfortune whereof
the column was deprived of its ammu
milton.
Still il seems uncomprehensible VIII.
the plight of the lucSless column wa
not known at headquarters as tn,
scene of the surrender was only abou
three miles northwest of Ladysmith
and LieutenantC Colonel Carlton mus
have expected relief TO reach him, OF
instead of attempting to occupy de
fensive position he would have retrace
his steps to Ladysmith when he sui
fered the loss of his ammunition.