Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-02
The Captured Troops Fight TO Their
Last Cartridge Before
surendering.
MULES FATAL STAMPEDE.

London. NOV 1.-The British war Of
fee. today, made public \ dispatch re-
ccived from Gen. White describing the
operations If Monday. II was as ful-
lows:
"Ladysmith. oct. 31.-7.50 p. Nj
took out from l.adysmith a brigade Of
mounted troops. two brigade divisions
OF the Royal Artillery, the Natal field
battery and two brigadcs of infantry,
to reconnoitre in force the enemy's
main position to the north, and if the
opportunity should offer To capture the
hill behind Farquhar's farm. which had
81 the previous day. been held in
strength by the enemy. IN connection
with this advance. 4 column. consist
ing Of the 10th Mountain Artillery,
four half companies Of the GiouceStcrs
and six companies Of the Royal Irish
Fusiliers. the whole under Lieut.. Col.
carlton and Major Adye, deputy as
sistant adjutant general. was Dispatch
ed at II Z. NJ. on the 10Th. to march
to some position near Nicholson's N"k,
thus turning the cnemy's right flank.
The main advance was successfully
carried out. the objective Of the attack
being found evacuated. and an artillery
duel between our field batteries and
the enemy's guns Of the position and
Maxims is understood to have caused
heavy loss to the enemy. The recon-
Nuisance forced the enemy to fully dis
close his position and after a strong
counter-attack on our right, the IN
fantry brigade and cavalry having been
repulsed. The troops were slowly
withdraw to camps. pickets being left
on observation. Late in the engage
ment. the naval contingent, under Cap
tain Lambton of II. NJ. 5. Powerful.
came into action and silenced. with
their extremely accurate fire, the en-
emy's guns of position.
The circumstances which attended
the movements Of Lieut.. Col. Cartons
column are not fully known yet. but
from reports received. the column APP
peared to have carried out the night
march unmolested until within two
miles of Nicholson's Mex. At this
point two boulders rolled from the hill
and few rifle shots stampeded the in
fartry ammunition mules. The STAN
pede spread to the battery mules which
broke loose from their leaders and got
away with practically the whole Of the
gun equipment and the greater portion
Of the regimental small ammunition
The reserve was similarly lost.
The infantry battalion, however. fix
ed bayonets. and. accompanied by the
personnel Of the artillery seized the
hill on the left of the road. two miles
from the mex with but little opposition.
There they remained unmolested until
dawn, the time being occupied in or
ganiZing the defence of the hill and
sangars and walls as COW
ers from fire.
AT dawn skrmishing attack on our
position was commenced by the en-
envy. but made no way until $50 a. NJ.
when strong achievements enabled
them to rush to the attack with great
enegy. Their fire became very search |
ing and two companies of the Glouces-
tershires in an advance on the position. |
were ordered to fall back. The enemy |
then pressed to short range the losses !
on our side becoming very numerous.
At 3 p. NJ. our ammunition was prac- |
tically exhausted. the position was cap |
tured and the survivors Of the column |
fell into the enemy's hands. The en- |
envy treated our wounded with human /
ity. Gen. Joubert at once dispatching |
a letter to me. offering safe conduct 4
to doctors and ambnlances to remove /
the wounded. A medical officer and /
parties to render first aid TO the 4
wounded were dispatched to the scene |
Of action from Ladysmith. last night,
and the ambulance, at dawn this morn
ing.
The want of success of the column
VAS due to the misfortune of the mules
and the consequent loss of
he gun and small-arm ammunition re
serve.
The official list Of casualties and
prisoners will be reported shortly. The
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