The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-04

London, Nov 1.-The British war Of
flee today made public dispatch re-
ceived from General White, describing
the operations of Monday. It was as
follows:
'Ladysmith, Oct. 81, 1850 p. m.-Took
out from Ladysmith a brigade of
mounted troops, two brigade divisions
of the Royal artillery, the Natal field
battery and two brigades of infantry,
to reconnoitre IN force the. enemy's
main position to the north and if the
opportunity should offer to capture the
/ hill behind Farquhar's farm, which had
on the previous day been held in
strength by the enemy.
In connection with this advance a
column, consisting of the Tenth noun
tain artillery four half companies of
the Gloucesters and six companies of
the Royal Irish Fusileers, the whole
under Lieutenant Colonel Carlton and
Major Adye, deputy assistant adjutant
general, was dispatched at II p. m. of
the 18th to march by night up Bells
pruit and seize Nicholasons Neck or
some position near Nicholsons Neck,
thus turning the enemy's right flank.
Loss to the Enemy.
'The main advance was uccessfully
carried out the objective attack being
found evacuated. an artillery duel be-
tween our field batteries and the
enemy's guns of the position and Max
inns is understood to have caused heavy |
loss to the enemy. The reconnaissance !
forced the enemy to fully disclose his |
position and after strong counter at |
tack on our right the infantry brigade !
and cavalry had been repulSed the |
troops were slowly withdrawn to camp, |
pickets being left on observation. Late |
in the engagement the naval contin
gent under Captain Lambler of H. M.
S. Powerful, came into action and ST
fenced, with their extremely accurate
fire, the enemy'S guns of position. !
"The circumstances which attended
the movement of Lieutenant Colonel
Cartons column are not yet fully
known, but from reports received the
column appears to have carried out the
night march unmolested until within
TWO miles of Nicholson's Neck. AT this
point two boulders rolled from the hill
and a few rife shots stampeded the in
antry ammunition mules. The stampede
spread to the battery mules, which
broke loose from their leaders and ran
away with practically the whole of the
run equipment and the greater portion
If the small arm ammunition. The re-
serve was similarly lost.
Still the British Fought.
THE infantry battalions, however,
lxed bayonets and accompanied by the
personnel of the artillery, seized hill
n the left of the road two miles from
he Neck with but little opposition ;
here they remained unmolested until {
avn the time being occupied in or {
anizing the defense of the hill and con-
stone sangars and walls as t
over from fire.
"At dawn skirmishing attack on our I
osition was commenced by the enemy, t
ut made no way until $3.50 a. m. when :
enabled them to rush Y
D the attack with great energy. Their
re became very searching and two s
of the Gloucesters in an ad-
ance position were ordered to fall
ack. The enemy then pressed to short
ange the losses on our side becoming S
cry numerous. 5
Ammunition All Gone. t
cat p. m. our ammunition was +
ractically exhausted, the position was y
aptured and the survivors of the col c
mn fell into the enemy's hands The /
lemy treated our wounded with hu- i,
anity, General JoubxrU at once dis a
atching a letter to me Offering a safe
lnduct of doctors and ambuiances to
smove the wounded A medical officer
nd parties to render first aid to the Z
ounded were dispatched TO the scene
action from Ladysmith last night
I'd the ambulance at lawn this morn
g. :,
THE want of success of the column =
as due to the misfortune of the mules
and the consequent loss of a
e guns and small arm ammunition re- a
rye The official list of casualties E,
I'd prisoners will be reported shortly
he latter are understood to have been d
mt by rail to Pretoria. The security e
Ladysmith is in no way affected" f,