Iron County register., 1899-10-26
GENERAL WHITES REPORT.
Official Account of the Battle ana
English victory Mt ElandsIaagte.

Eng iiSh victory at EfonusiaaEte.
London, Oct. 23.-The war office yes
terday afternoon published the follow
ing dispatch to the secretary of state
for war, the marquis of Lansdowne,
from the general commanding in
Natal, Sir George Stewart White, re
garding the engagement Saturday at
Elandslaagte, between Glencoe and
Lady smith, when the British, under
Gen. Jan III. NJ. Kock second in COM
mand in the Transvaal army, who was
himself wounded and captured and
has since died.
White, Commander in Natal, to the
Secretary of State for War. Filed
Ladysmith, October %, 10: 80 a. IN.
In action at Elandstaagte yesterday
the troops engaged were the follow
ing: Cavalry-Fifth lancers, squad
imperial light horse and two squad
rons of Natal carbineers; artillery
Twenty-frst field battery, Forty-sec-
ond field battery and the Natal field
battery; infantry-TheD Deyonshire reg
iment, half battalion of the Gordon
Hiehlanders and the Manchester regi-
ment. The whole force was under
Gen. French, with Col. Hamilton COM
mardipg the infantry.
l was present in person from $3.50
p. M. to 6: 80 p. m, but did not assume
direction of the fight, which was left in
the hands of Gen. French. Although
desultory fighting took place earlier i'll
the dav, while reinforcements, sent out
&c
strength, were arriving from Lady
smith, the real action did not begin un-
til $3.50. At that hour the Beers held
a position of very exceptional strength,
consisting of a rock hill about a mile
and half southeast of Elandslaagte
station.
At p. m. our guns took posi-
ton on a ridge, 100 yards from the
Bores, whose guns at once opened
fire. This fire was generally well oi-
rected, but somewhat high. This time
contrary to previous experiences, their
shells burst we'll.
The imperial light horse moved To-
wards the left of the enemy's position
and two squadrons of the Fifth Ian
GERS toward his right. During the ar
tillery duel, mounted Beers pushed out
from their left and engaged the inn
peria, light horse. In a few minutes
the enemy's guns ceased firing, and ouI
artillery was turned on the mounted
Beers, who opposed the imperial light
horse. The latter at once fell back
After the artillery fire portions of our
infantry advanced to the attack. sup
ported by our guns in the second po-
sition, the Devonshires held the enemy
in front while the Manchester regi-
mont and the Gordon Highlanders
turEed his left flank
The Beers guns, although often ST.
lerced, invariably opened fire again on
the slightest opportunity, and were
serN ed with great courage. After Sc
we're fighting our infantry carried the
position. At $50 p. IN. this was ac-
comFlished, the enemy standing his
ground to the last with courage and
tCnacity. The Fifth lancers and
squadron of the Fifth dragoon guards
charged three times through the re-
treating Beers in the dark, doing con-
siderable execution.
We captured the Boer camp, with
tents, wagons, horses and also two
guns. The Boer losses were very con-
siderable including number of
wounded and unwounded prisoners.
Among the former are Gen. Jan kock
and Piet Joubert, nephew of Com
mandant-General Jouhert.
One goods train, with supplies for
Glencoe camp, and nine English pris-
oners were recovered. Our loss, | re-
gret to say, was heavy. 1t is roughly
computed ct $50 killed and wounded.
The collection of the wounded over
a large area in the dark and the ar
ransements for sending them in have
thus far occupied our time and atten-
tion. A full list will 60 to you later.
Our wounded and those of the ene-
my are now arrived by trains. Besides
Beers, we have many Hollanders, Ger
mans, and prisoners of mixed nation.
alities. The behavior of our troops ant
of the colonial forces was admirable.
A BRILLIANT FEAT OF ARMS.