El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-02
Caused The Defeat And Sur
render Of Whites
Left Wing.
SUPPLIES EXHAUSTED
And The Survivors Of The
Unfortunate Column Fell
Into The Enemy's
Hands.

LONDON. Nov. 2.--Tbe British wa
Office late yesterday afternoon mad'
public the dispatch received from Gen
White describing his operations on
Monday. 1t follows:
LADYSMITH, Nov. 2.-I took ou
from Lsdysmith one brigade of mount
ed troops, two brigade divisions OF the
Royal artillery, the Natal field battery
and tao brigsdes of infantry to recon
noitre in force the enemy's main posi-
tion to the north, and, if 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, the ad-
vance column, consisting of the Tenth
mounted artillery, four and one half
com panies of the Gloucesters and six
companies of the Royal Irish Fusileers.
the whole being under Lieut.. Col.
Carlton and Major Adye, deputy as
sistant adjutaut general, was dispatch
ed at IL D. m. on the twenty-ninth to
march by night up Bellspruit AMI
seize Nicholson Mex, or some posi-
tion near it, thus turning the enemy's
right flank.
OBJECT OF THE DEFEATED COLUMNS
ADVANCE.
The main advance wss successfully
carried out, the objective point being
found evacuated. An artillery duel
between our field batteries and the en-
emy's guns ensued, and our Maxims
are understood to have caused heavy
loss to the enemy.
The reconnaissance forced the enc
my to fully disclose their position, and
after a strong encounter and attack on
our right. in which the infantry bri-
gade and cavalry had been repulsed,
the troops were slowly withdrawn to
camp, pickets being left on observation.
Late in the engagement the naval
contingent under Capt. Lambley, OF
the Powerful. came into action and
silenced with their extremely accurate
fire the enemy's guns of the position.
The circumstances which attended the
movement of Lieut. Col. Cartoons col
umn are not yet fully known, but from
reports received the column appears to
have carried out the night march un-
molested until within two miles of Nj
cholson's g Mex.
THE STAMPEDE OF THE BATTERY AND
AMMUNITION MULES.
At this point big boulders we're roll
ed down from the hill and few rifle
1o6 "a orfi
mules. The stampede |
spread to the battery mules, which |
broke loose from the leaders and got
away with practically the whole of
gun equipment and the great
er part of the regimental |
small ammunition. The reserve was
} ,lmilarly lost. The infantry battalions,
however, fixed bayonets. and accom-
D anied By personn.l of the artillery |
seized the hill on the left OF the road
Two miles from Mex with but little op-
position. There they remained un-
molested until dawn, the time being
occupied in organizing defense of the
hill and constructing stone angles and
walls as q cover from the enemy's fire.
At dawn skirmishing attack on
our position was commenced by the
enemy, but made no way until 9:3O a.
10 =, when reinforcements enabled them
TO rush an attack with great energy
Their fire became very searching,
md two companies of Gloucesters inj
advanced position were ordered to fall
back.
THE SURRENDER.
The enemy then pressed to short
ranpe and the losses on our side were
becoming very numerous.
At3p. NJ. our ammunition was prac-
,ically exhausted, the position was
captured and the survivors OF the col
nmn fell into the enemy's hands. The
enemy treated our wounded with
humanity, General Joubert at once dis
patching letter to me offering a safe