The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-23
STUBBORN
DEFENSE
OF B0ERS
In thc Fighting that Followed the
First Engagement With Brit.
ish Near Glencoe.
IHB WORK OF THE ARTILLERY.
The Transvaal Troops Displayed
Undoubted cOurage-.storm.
ing otthe Ridge.

LON4JOEtt fOCIs NSs@-4A uuITSHPOHuGuS
In Glencoe Camp, telegraphlng on octo-.
ber 20. and describing the fighting that
followed the first engagement in ths
Boer attack upon the British position
that day, says:
"It was after the battle was renewed
following the lull, that ensued upon the
sharp cannonading of the British which
silenced the guns Of the BoerS on
Smiths ELL, that our casualties began.
The Indian hospital corps OF coolies un-
der Major Donegan, of the Eighteenth
Hussars. ran out, keeping in the rear
of the advancing infantry and artillery
that had galloped from the second post
tIon through the town amid cheers Of
the citizens,
"At this point the Beers became err
ratio. Our artillery was firing on the
hill where the Beers were stationed in
great numbers, but the return fire did
little damage. The enemy kept up an
incessant shooting, but our shrapnet
began to tell Its tale, with the result
that the Boer fire vIsibly slackened.
From n ceaseless rattle the rifle flre
dwindled to struggling shots.
"a corporal of the Dublin Fuslllers
was carried past me to the rear on
stretcher. Major Davidson, Of the
Irish Fuslllers. was shot through both
legs and Color Sergeant Anderson. of
the Dublin Fuslliers, was brought in
wounded in the right shoulder.
"The artillery in front was Smelling
the hill. and the Kings Royal Rifles, on
the right front. were busy with the
Maxlms, making the Beers anxious
about thei:, position. Their artillery
had been sllenced by the splendid scr.
vice of ours.
Meanwhile squadron OF the Elgh-
teenth Hussars and a mounted COM
pany OF the Dublin Huslliers were
creeping round on the enemy's left
flank, while another squadron OF the
Hussars and mounted company OF the
Kings Royal Rifles deployed to the
righ. flank at the cornNelds.
Hot Fighting.
THE artillery continued to play on
Smiths hill with range Of nearly
5000 yards. Under its cover the Dub
lin Fusillers and the Kings Royal
Rifles pressed forward. It was in tho
execution of this manoeuvre that the
casualty to our infantry occurred, sew
eral men being killed or wounded.
"The firing now eased of on our side
and only solitary shot was returned
now and then. General symons. TAX
ing advantage of this lull, rode forward
with his stan in front of the guns, talk
ing cover at the rear Of the plantation,
near the base of the hill All this tir:.e
our infantry, in extended formation,
had gradually pressed forward, watch
Ing the Beers from the rear Of the ar
tlllery and masslng on the extreme left
of the hill.
81 saw three shells in quick success
sion cut come to pieces and drive others
away. The Boer fire was becoming
hot, but the first battalion OF the Kings
Royal Rifles and the Irish Fuslliers. led
respectively by Col. Cunning and Col.
Carlton. continued to mount the hlu.
Gradually they extended along the
ridge. and at 10 o'clock, after four and
a half hours OF artillery firing to screen
them they managed to reach wall,
running parallel with the ridge, about
GOO yards from the summit.
"Thls position was gained under
cover of some magnificent shooting by
our urtIllerymen, who placed shells at
points where the Beers were mussed,
with amazing accuracy. compelling
them to retire. But not for long. ON
again the determined enemy would
come, only to be beaten back again by
the excellent shooting of the Thirteenth
and slxty-nInth batteries under Major
Dawkfns and Major King.
Determined Defense,
at l1;45 a. m. the firing had almost
ceased and our infantry were over the
wall in twInkllng and rushing toward
the plateau ut the base of the top or
secondary ridge. The defense made by
the Beers was most determined, the
enemy again and again pouring long
fusilade fire Into the British ranks,
which was hotly returned in well d.
rected volleys by the slowly advancing
Dublin Tuslllers and Kings Royal
Rifles.
"a large body Of Beers. driven from,
Smiths hill. took refuge in cattle
kraal, Intending cross Gre. The Thir-
teenth battery opened fire, however,anG
poured In such hail Of bullets rs
caused them speedily to shift their posi-
tion.
"Thus far the enemy have displayed
undoubted courage unequalled by the
best European troops. They Ind stood
up to our scattering artillery fire with
the greatest determination and then on
Talnnn ridge standing clearly ou: on
the sky line they stIll appeared un.
beaten and defiant. The battle had
now ragged six and half hours, when
the slxty-nlnth battery was ordered to
Timber up and advance. The battery
galloped Into n new position in splendid
form and was In action at the front In
a moment.
80 effective was the apparent result
of this close range firing that the Thir-
tcenth battery was at once ordered uD,
aud after two rounds from each ba'-
terry, perfect silence reIgned over the
cnemys front, broken only by the