The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-21
SURPRISED IN THE NIGHT.
The British Retreated Under the + ire
of the Beers at StormberG--Six
Hundred Killed, Wounded and
IN liaainU


OF the Beers at Stormberg--six
Missing,
Gen. Gatacre, In command Of a
British force, mot with serious re
verse on Sunday morning, Dec. 10th,
in making an attack on Stormberg,
and claims that he was misled as to
the enemy's position by the guides.
His total loss Is reported at elk hun
dred, including the killed, wounded |
and missing. A large proportion of |
officers are r>p)rted In the casualties. |
Gen. Gatacro's movement may be |
termed d recon nO!smnce in force. Its |
object was TO ascertain the strength OF |
the position of the Doors, who were |
strongly entrenched along the Storm
berg range. He left Putter's kraal
shortly after noon Saturday with a
fighting force slightly over 1000 men.
Lssving Molteno at 8 o'clock he made
memorable night march over the
| rocks and veldt. There was DO eound
except sturdy. tramp, and there were
no distinguishi1 lights, the bright
moon having goue down about half
| past II. The column arrived safely
within couple of miles OF Its destina-
tton, the only incidents Of the march
being an occasional sudden call Of
"halt" under the belief that the Beers
| were near.
Suddenly terrific fire opened stimuli.
taneously on the British front and rig ht
flank. The Royal Irish Rifles, which
forced the advance, sought shelter be-
hind o neighboring kopje and were
speedily joined by the remainder of the
column. 1t was soon found, however,
that this position also was covered by
Boer guns, which were more powerful
than had been suppo ed. The troops,
therefore, sought safer position about
half mile away, two batteries in the
meantime engaging the Beers, and
covering the troops in their withdraw
al. The action now became general at
long range and a detachment Of mount.
ed infantry moved nOrthward with o
view OF cutting off the enemy's right
J Il .nk. Suddenly a strong commando
: was seen moving from the north and the
Royal Irish Rifles and the Northum-
berand regiment were sent out to
[ meet it.
, 1t was soon discovered, however, that
, the Beers had machine guns we'll
l placed and the British were compelled
: &c lace q terrible fire. Finding Il In
} possible to hold the position in faco of
} an enemy apparently in superior posi-
! tion, num- bers and artillery, the British
{ retired on Moleno, the Beers following
4 up the retirement closely and bringing
I Two big guns to bear on the retiring
= column.
3 1t Is hardly too much to regard Gen.
Gatacre's repulse near SOrmberg as
= the most serious defeat British arms
/ have yet sustained in the whole cam
x paign.
: Already the official advces show that
+ two men were killed, 10 officers and II
Z men were wounded and 500 M ,n are
n ;aissine. Hat 1t is evident that the
/, worst ia not known. The proportion of
i wounded and killed is 80 small, when
o compared with the missing-who are
!. ndoubtedly prisoners In the hands OF
the Boers-that the supplementary lis.
r % casualties is awaited with ssFiOus
/. misgiviIgs. 1t is also feared that there
y | were serious losses Of guns and equip
. ment.
) The most serious aspect of the affair
Q is the effect it Is likely to have on the
y Dutch in Cape Colony, who have been
). their lot with the Beers. III )sts OF .th q
l. northern farmers are now likely to join
e the rebellion. The defeat Ia also seri-
8 Gus because 1t will delay the junction
3 OF Gen. Gatacre with Gen. French at
l., Naauwpoort. The plan was for their
J. combined forces to relieve the pressure
l.. on Lord Methuen's column.
u The disclosure of such strong force
" at Stormberg was quite unexpected.
B. ouhtless Gen. Gatacre was the victim
D of treacherous guides. But the result
ID points also to the absence Of proper
n cavalry &C OUTS.
q The British troops VINO recently oc-
3. cupied Arundel are advancing. They
n have had several skirmishes but no cas-.
q ualtes. Three miles north of ArundeI
IT they found the Beers 1000 -trong.
Il The Pretoria reports of removed
~ fighting at Modder river originate
/ from the fact that the British, with g
:, team OF 80 oxen, hauled a naval gun tC
- the top of high ridge north Of Mod
!. der River town, whence they fired
=, - Lyddite shells on the Boer position al
,e q range OF 8, 100 yards, whore the enemy
70 was apparently constructing an .em
20 placement for 40 FOUNDER. The Lyd
dlte shells appeared to do immense
- damage. The Beers retired, but the
- incident is interesting as showing that
% the Boers are still In position quite
20 close to Modder river. The engineere
20 report that 1t will take two months tc
" rebuild the iron bridge.
% Lord Methuen Is still compelled tC
- ride about In dog cart, as his wound
u Should the rains destroy the tempo
- - rary bridge, there Is enough rolling
10 stock on the north side of the river t(
a serve Lord Methuon's purpose.
1t Is reported that tho Boers arc
busy making entrenchmcnts at Soy
- fontein. Several tiers of works are
II beginning to appear at the foot Of ,ht
heights. The force fired on by tbe
u British naval gun ia believed to form
70 the right wing OF the enemy's body
r thrown forward for patrolling anC
:, scouting purposes. 1t is reported tha
% tho bad water at Spyfontein threatens
. . an epidemic OF typhoid.
n ------~4azsS .tzzas.---
q The sheriff OF Navajo County, Ari.
IL zona, has sent out the following uniuue
> Invitation You are hereby cordial,
| invited to attend tho hanninn nf On q