The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-24
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SPLENDID COURAGE
SHOWN BY BOERS
Magnificent GalIantry Shown at
Talana Hill.
STOOD A WITHERlNG FIRE
Stubborn Defense by Dom Paurs Men,
Who Contested Every Inch of
the Battle Ground-Much
Favorable Comment
STOOD A WITHERlNG FIRE

London, October pa correspondent in
Glencoe camp, telegraphing on October p,
and describing the fight that followed tlne
first engagement in tae British attack upon
the Boer position that day, says:
at was after the battle was renewed,
following the lull THAT ensued after the
sharp cannonading of the British which
siieneed the guns of the Beers on Smiths
hill, taat our casualties began. The Indian
hospital corps of coolies, under Major DON
egan, of the Eighteenth Hussars, ran out,
keeping in the rear of the advancing in
fantry and artillery that mad galloped from
the second position through the town, amid
the Cheers of the citizens.
AT unis time the Beers became erratic.
Our artillery was firing the hill, where
the Beers we're stationed in great numbers,
but the return fire did little damage. The
enemy kept up an incessant shooting. but
our shrapnel began to tell its tale, with the
result that the Boer fire visibly slackened.
From a ceaseless rattle the rifle fire dwin-
died to struggling shots.
"a corporal of the Dublin Fusileers was
carried past me to the rear on a stretcher.
Major Davidson, OF the Irish Fus.leers, was
shot through both legs, and Color Sergeant
AHucISoil, OI lhle DuDllHl u uSlitSTS, was
brought in wounded in the right shoulder.
The artillery On front was Smelling the Hill,
and the Kings Royal Rifles, on the right
front, were busy with the Maxims, making
the Beers anxious about their position
Their ariHerey had been silenced by the
splendid service of ours. Meanwhile, u
squadron of the Eighteenth Hussars and
mounted company of the Dublin Fusi-
leers were creeping around on the enemy's
a tnnr adrn,, oJf
HuSsars and a mounted company of The
Kings Royal Rifles deployed to the right
flank at the corn fields.
The artillery continued to play on
smiths Till with range of nearly 5000
yards. Under its cover the Dublin Fusi-
leers and the Kings Royal Rifles pressed
forward. 1t was in the execution of this
maneuver that the casualties to our infan-
try occurred, several men being killed or
wounded.
THE firing now eased off on our side and
only solitary shot was returned now and
then. General Symons, taking advantage
of this lull, rode forward with his staff in
front of the guns, taking cover at the rear
of the plantation near the base of the hill
All this time our infantry extended forma-
ton, had gradully pressed forward, watch
ing the Beers from the rear of the artillery
and massing on the extreme left of the
hill.
Il saw three shells in quick succession
cut some to pieces and drive others away
The Boer fire was becoming hot, but the
first battalion of the Kings Royal Rifles
and the Irish Fusileers, led respectively by
Colonel Cunning and Colonel Carlton, con-
tinued to mount the hill. Gradually they
extended along the ridge and at 10 o'clock,
after four and half hours of artillery
firing, to screen them they managed to
reach wall running parallel with the
ridge about 600 yards from the summit.
THE position was gained under cover of
some magnificent shooting of our artillery
men, who placed shells at points where the
Beers were massed with amazing accuracy,
compelling them to retire, but not for long
ION again the determined enemy would
come, only to be beaten back again by the
excellent shooting of the Thirteenth and
Sixty ninth batteries, under Major Dawkins
and Major King
"At Has a. m. the firing had almost
ceased and our infantry were over the wall
in a twinkling and rushing toward the
plateau at the base of the top or secondary
ridge. Defense made by the Beers was
most determined, the enemy again and
again pouring a long fusillade fire into the
British ranks, which was holly returned in
well-directed volleys by the slowly advanc-