Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-15
ANOTHER BRITISH REVERSE.
Gen. Methuen's Division RepuIsed with
Great Loss
In an Attack Monday on the Position
Held by the Beers Near Modder River
---Gen. Wauchope Among the slain

In an Attack Monday on the Position
Held by the Beers Near Moddsr River
---Gen. WauchOpe Among the slain.
The British sustained another severe
reverse from the Beers Monday, when
Gen. Methuen's division, estimated at
1900 men, was repulsed at Magersfon-
tein, near Modder river. Methuen tele-
graphs that the loss was great" but gives
no figures. 1t is believed TO have been at
least $50. The British shelled the position
of the Beers on long, high hill from
o'clock to dusk Sunday, and the Highland
brigade made an attack at daybreak Mon
day. Gen. Methuen's despatch says:
The guards were ordered to protect the
Highlands right and rear. The cavalry
and mounted infantry, with howitzer
artillery battery, attacked the enemy on
the left and the guards on the right sup
ported by field artillery and howitzer ar
tlery. They sheled the position from
daybreak and at IS sent the Gordons to
support the Highland brigade. The
emy's intrenchments until dusk, the DO.
sition extending, inciudit z the kop1e, for
distance Of six miles toward the Modder
river. today am holding my position
and intrenching myself.
The British casualties in the battle of
Magersfontein included the marquis of
Winchester, major of the I'd battalion,
Coldstream guards, who was killed, and
Col. Downham of the LIST battalion, Cor
don High!anders, who was MORALLY
wounded. When the Highlanders met the
murderous point blank fire of the Beers,
about 200 were moved down The Black
Watch regiment, on reforming, was only
able to muster 100 men. The Beers also
lost heavily in the trenches, and also in
the wire entanglements, when they came
out into the open in an attempt to make a
flank attack on the British.
The terrific British artillery fire prOvok-
ed no response, except from the Boer rifles,
until nearly o'clock in the afternoon,
when the Gordon Highlanders formed up
to renew the attack on the intrenched kop-
je. They advanced with the utmost gal
lantry to attack the Beers, close to the
place where lay their dead and wounded
comrades of the Highland brigade. The
enemy opened with heavy shrapnel fire
as the British advanced, and it was found
physically impossible to take the Boer
trenches. The British got within 200
yards, but could not get nearer. 1t was
here that Col. Downham fell. The Beers
hal free recourse to barbed-wire entangle-
ments, which offered great obstacles even
atleT tue damage lnHlCbeu Ny INC Diitish al
tillery fire.
The most distinguished officer who fell
was Gen. Wauchope, who had served in
Asanti, Egypt and the Soudan. He twice
contested the Midlothian district for Par
lament, once against Mr.. Gladstone. BE
was great favorite in the army.
Julian Ralph, in a special despatch tc
the London Daily Mail, says: "The Beers
were intrenched at Magersfontein, foul
miles north of Aodder river. At dawn
Monday the Highlanders advancing acros:
the veldt were suddenly subjected to a
murderous fire from the trenches about 20C
yards in front. The greater part of the
fearful loss of the day was thus suffered in
a single minute. Startled and overwhelm
ed, the brigade retired quickly, but soOr
rallied and retained their position. This
was on the left. On the right the guards
brigade advanced across the veldt against
other trenches and fought an invisible foe
for Is hours. At IL in the morning the
Gordon Highlanders we're sent forward
The Beers allowed them to pass one line
of trenches and then enfiladed them. W.
raked the Boer trenches with ARTILLERY
throughout the day. The fighting ONLY
ceased with nightfali"