The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-27
BATTLE Of TALANA HILL.
Notable Victory for the British
Arms After a Most Determined
Resistance by the Beers.
EIGHT HOURS or DESPERATE FIGHTING.
Magnificent Artillery WorI-TheT tug
of Wnr-UneGualIed Courage of
the BOers-The Battle Began at
Dundee, but Ended at TnIana Hill
Flight of the Beers.

LONDON, oct. "a correspondent II
Glencoe camp, telegraphing on Octobe
20, and describing the fighting tina
followed the first engagement of tn
Boer attack on the British position
says:
where the Casualties Began.
1t was after the battle was re
newed, following the lull that ensue,
upon the sharp cannonading of tn,
British which silenced the guns of tn,
Beers on Smiths hill, that our casual
ties began. The Indian hospital corp.
OF coolies under Maj. Donegan, of In,
Eighteenth hussars, ran out, keeping
in the rear of the advancing infantry
and artillery that had galloped from
the second position through the town
amid the cheers of the citizens.
The Beers Gradually sIIenced.
AT this point the Beers became er.
ratio. The artillery was firing on the
hill where the Beers were stationed
in great numbers, but the return fire
did little damage. The enemy kept ul
an incessant shooting. but our shrap-
mel began to tell it's tale. with the re-
suit that the BOer fire visibIy slack
cned. From ceaseIess rattle the rife
fire dwindled to struggling shots.
~ corporal of Dublin fusileers was
carried past me to the rear on n
stTetcher. Maj. Davidson. of the Irish
fUsiliers was shot through both legs.
and Color Sergeant Anderson, of the
Dublin fusilieTs was brought in wound
ed in the right shoulder.
The artillery in front was shelling
the hill, and the Kings Royal Rifles,
on the right front, were busy with the
MaXims, making the Beers anxious
about their position. Their artillery
had been silenced by the splendid serv-
ice of ours.
FIankinE the Enemy.
Meanwhile squadron of the Eigh-
tecnth huSsars and a mounted com
pany of the Dublin fusiliers were
creeping around on the enemy's left
flank, while another squadron of the
hussars and a mounted company of
the Kings Royal Rifles deplOyed to the
right flank, at the cornfields.
Several Men Killed or wounded.
The artillery continued to play on
Smiths hill with a range of nearly
5000 yards. Under its cover the Dub
lin fusiliers and the Kings Royal Rifles
pressed forward. 1t was in the exc
CUtiOn of this maneuver that the cas-
ualties to our infantry occurred, sever
al men being killed or wounded.
Rode I'm Front of the Guns.
The firing now weased off on our side.
and only solitary shot was returned
now and then. Gen. Symons. taking
advantage of this IulI, rode forward
with his staff. in front of the guns,
taking cover at the rear of the planta.
tion, near the base of the hill. All this
time our infantry, in extended fOrma-
tion, had gradually pressed forward,
watching the Beers from the rear of
the artillery and massing on the ex-
treme left of the hill.
Cut to Pieces or Driven Away
Il saw three shells in quick success
sion cut some to pieces and drive 9th
ers away The Boer fire was becom-
ing hot. but the first battalion of the
Kings Royal Rifles and the British
fusiliers. led respectively by Col. Gun
ming and Col. Carlton, continued to
mount the hill.
Gradually they extended along the
ridge, and at one o'clock. after four
and a half hours of artillery fighting |
To screen them, they managed TO reach |
a wall, running parallel with the ridge |
about 600 yards from the summit.
Magnificent Artillery Work.
This position was gained under Gov
er of some magnificent shooting by our /
artillerymen, who placed shells at /
points were the Beers were massed, |
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 Thir-
teonth and Ninth batteries under Maj.
DawlIins and Maj. King.
The Tug Of War.
AT 11:45 a. IN. the firing had almost
ceased. and our infantry were over the
wall in a twinkling, and rushing to-
ward the plateau at the base of the top
or secondary ridge. The defense by the
Beers was most determined, the enc
my again and again pouring a long
fuSillade fire into the British ranks.
which was hotly returned in well-di-
rected volleys by the slowly-advancing
Dublin fusiliers and Kings Royal
Rifles.
"a large body of Beers, driven from
Smiths hill, took refuge in a cattle
kraal, intending a cross fire. The
battery opened fire, how
ever, and poured in such a hail of bull
let's as caused them to shift their posi-
tion.
UnequaIled Courage of the Beers.
Thus far the enemy have displayed
IndOubted courage, perhaps unequalled
By the best European troops. They | {
have stood up TO our scattering artii- {
cry fire with the greatest determina-
ion, on Talana ridge, standing clear
" out on the sky line they still ap- I
Deared unbeaten and defiant.
The Si1ty-NInth Pushed Forward.
The fighting had now ragged six {
nd half hours, when the SiXty-ninth
'attery was ordered TO timber up and {