Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-05

LONDON, December 4.-The Daily
Chronicle publishes the following dis
patch, dated Wednesday, November 20,
from its correspondent at Modder River
camp:
''The severest engagement our col
umns have yet had, and probably the
severest of the whole campaign was
fought yesterday on the banks of the
Modder river The battle was waged
fiercely for nearly IA hours. The enc
my occupied a strongly entrenched po-
sltion, their front extending five miles
along the bank Of the stream. They
were well supplied with artillery and
fought desperately. Our force consist
ed of the Second battalion of the Scots
guards. the Third battalion OF the
Crenadiers guard, the First battalion of
the Northumberland fusiliers, the Sec
ond battalion of the Yorkshire light in
fantry (the Kings Own, part of the
First battalion Of the Loyal North Lam
eashire regiment, the Ninth Lancers,
the Mounted infantry, three batteries
OF the field artillery and the First bat
TALON of the Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders princess Louise's). The
latter reinforced us from Gen. Wan
chope's brigade and arrived just in time
for the fight.
"The battle started at daybreak, our
guns Smelling the Beers left. The en-
envy replied with artillery, hotchkiss
and maxims, and the artillery duel
lasted some hours. Then there was
brief 1ull in the enemy's operations,
of which the general Immediately took
advantage. Our infantry advanced
across the plain toward the river in
two hrigades. The guards, on the
right, were met by an awful hail Of
bullets from the enemy's sharpshoot-
ers, posted close to the river On the
opposite bank. Ours had no cover
whatever and were simply moved
down. 1t seemed impossible to live
through the terrible fire, but the
brave fellows did not retreat an inch.
The Boer fire was horribly accurate,
and they must have numbered at least
10000
1.-The Scots guards advanced 600
yards before they were fired on. Then
they had to lie down to escape the
deadly fusilade, which lasted without
intermission throughout the day. The
Highlanders made several attempts to
force a passage of the river, but they
were exposed to such murderous en-
filading fire that they had to retire
after they had suffered terribly. Sub
sequently a party of the guards got
over and held their own for hours
against vastly superior force.
'"The general opinion of the staff is
there had never been such sustained
fire in the annals of the British army
as that which our troops had to face.
Our men fell in dozens while trying to
rush the Boer position.
Among the heroic deeds one of the
most conspicuous was that of Lieut..
Col Codrington, OF the Coldstream
guards Capt. Sellpien, of the Queen
land contingent. and a dozen mem
bers of the Coldstream guards, who
jumped into the river and swan near
ly to the other side in the face of a
steady fire but who were forced TO
retire, and, joining hands, swan back,
two of their number being nearly
drowned in the retreat.
The British guns kept up a heavy
fire all day. and fearful havoc was
wrought on the Boer positions, the
enemy being forced to fly from their
entertainments. Night put an end TO
the terrible bloodshed The infantry
brigade was terribly cut up. The
Beers retreated at night, taking their
guns with them, and we are now oc-
cupying their positions. The enemy's
loss was tremendous"
The details received from Modder
river seem to show that even the des-
pirate courage : sthe attacking force
displayed all r. / November rs failed
to drive the En- from their strong
entertainments y night fell on an un-
decided battle. But, apparently, during
the course Of the night Gen. COME,
commanding the Beers, who are said
to have numbered 1000 men, decided
that the struggle was hopeless, for the
British found the town and surrounded
the positions evacuated when daylight
broke. and the whole British army
crossed the river and encamped on the
Boer positions The experts here are
unanimous in expressing the opinion
tha. Kimberley's needs must be very