The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-21

the Royal Scots Fusiliers, and the Second
battalion Of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
proceeded to the east OF the railway to-
ward Mount Dangwane. to protect the
British fiank and threaten that OF the
enemy.
Our cavalry and field guns were sta
toned on either wing Naval guns were
posted In central position on the west
side OF the railway. while Col. Long, with
his artillery, went to the east side Of the
railway on the right OF the infantry.
'Hiidyard sent ahead the Queens Royal
West Surveys on the right and the Dew
ons on the left Of his front. while Gen.
Hart pushed on the Inniskillcns. Con-
naught Rangers and Dublin Fusiliers.
Our front extended for distance OF about
six miles. The Beers had evidently fully
extended their line. Their extreme mo-
biiity almost gives them front in the
air. The guns were booming around
Ladysmith when ours broke the silence Of
Colenso by Smelling the foothills north of
Tugela river. and Fort Wiley, which
stands upon the ridge near the bridge.
With skill and labor the Beers had
built walls and forts and had dug success
sfve trenches on the road commanding
every line Of approach from Estcourt to
Colenso. The country IL bare and gen.
orally undulating, similar to our downs.
Our troops therefore had to advance to
Tugela wl.hout any cover.
The battle commenced before o'clock
in the morning, but the Beers made no re-
ply to the cannonade which our bluejack-
cts directed upon them. Few OF the enc
my were visible. They lay hidden behind
their hill works, but on our infantry and
batteries and cavalry nearing Colenso a
sharp musketry fire was opened on them
by Beers from houses on the river
banks, behind which many of the enemy
had been concealed for hours. 1t was
20 minutes after when the Boer bat
teries opened fire at our field artillery,
cavalry and infantry on the east OF the
railway. Their cannon included Greco
suit 50-pounder, Krupps and a Hotchkiss.
THE enemy's shells were soon splashing
in all directions. but our indomitable In
fantry. In the face OF fusillade which
really was one continuous roar Of shot
and shell, fought CALAMITY on and gained
Colenso. Col. Long rushed In his batter
les in order to get at close range, when
suddenly the Beers sprang up and opened
a destructive fire with Mausers at range
of only 600 yards. Gunners and horses
were rapidly shot down. With the utmost
pluck our private soldiers took teams to
recover the cannon, but the animals were
killed and ten field pices were not recov-
cred. despite the heroic efforts OF our fell
lows to get them back. It was then
that Lieut.. Roberts was hit.
Barton sent in some companie- Of
Scots and Irish Fusiliers to assist. Mean
while Harris brigade, shelled by the en-
envy and pelted from hill to hill with
Mauser bullets, and from trenches on the
river bank, met with an equally terrible
opposition. But despite the great losses
which were sustained, the boys Of the
Irish brigade grandly won their way
across the river, though a few OF them
were drowned in the passage. But they
found the position untenabfe. and were
ordered to retire.
'At noon our troops withdrew to their
former positions. the Beers evincing no
disposition to follow us up. During the
action the enemys reinforcements gal
Hoped up to occupy the trenches