The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-24
GALLANTRY ON BOTH SIDES.
However,, Showed Their SUI
p~erfOrity in q Pitched Battle.

~ S- dilC d1COulllS Va
Saturdays battle at Elandslaagte empha-
sizes the splendid gallantry exhibited on
both sides and the superiority of the British
In a pitched battle, although the Beers
fought with the greatest tenacity to the
last. only yielding when further fighting
was hopeless. An armored train, with the
men Of the Manchester Regiment, appeared
on the left at Ladysmith at daybreak on
Saturday in support of the johannesburg
Imperial Light Horse and the Natal field ar
tillery, with the object of reopening COM
munication with Elandslaagte. The artil-
lery took up a position above the town
and shelled the railway station, from which
the Beers ran out, and the British mounted
infantry. entering the place. released the
English prisoners.
The Beers, numbering some 1000 men,
with three guns, occupied a commanding
position. They poured such a well-directed
fire on the British and their scouts were
so active that the British force steadily
retired until achievements arrived. when
the mounted infantry was sent to drive the
Boer scouts from the ridge on the right.
A large force of mixed cavalry in the
meanwhile swept over the plain and up the
hill on the right. The Lancers met with a
heavy fusilade when on the left a British
battery opened fire with good effect. The
British infantry, who had debarked from
the railway train in the interim, advanced
steadily over the plain and up the rocky
ridge previously cleared by the cavalry.
The Boer artillery dropped shrapnel into
the advancing columns, but the British
finally scaled the hill. whence they over
looked the broad valley to three rocky hills
forming the Beers position, their camp
being in the center. On the left center the
Beers had a battery of three large guns.
The smaller hills were also strongly held.
On the Boer right was the station, in a
valley on the British left. The latter's cav
airy was on both TANKS and a battery on
the right was busy throwing shrapnel at the
Beers batteries.
The British infantry formed for the at
tack in extended order behind the brow
Of a hill, the Devonshire left. with four
companies of the Manchesters and some of
the Gordons on the right. At about S p. m.
the infantry advanced through the valley
as steadily as on field day. Half way dow
the slope they met a terrific infantry and
artillery fire. The men fell rapidly and
the wounded were carried to the rear. But,
in spite of the steady work of the Boer
guns and the sharpshooters concealed be-
nAho tlC io(hS, tAC Il VI luG du-
vancing British infantry gradually gained
the upper hand, and the Manchesters and
the Gordons. edging toward the right.
gained the top of the ridge, thus outflanking
the enemy's left.
AT 6 o'clock the bugles sounded the
charge" and the British swept ahead. The
Beers fought to the last, only attempting TO
escape when further fighting Was hopeless.
In the meantime the DeyOnShires pressing
steadily UP the left. were strongly opposed
at the Boer camp and from the thanking
hills, but they carried both at the charge
with wild cheers and bugle blasts. BY Z
o'clock the British had gained the posi-
ton and cease fire was sounded.
Three observation-disclosures Norden-
feldts were captured, with quantities of mu-
nitions. The Boer dead and wounded among
the rocks. who were numerous, were at
tended TO as far as possible in the dark.
General French thanked the troops on
the field. especially mentioning Col. Ian
Hamilton's splendid handling of the infan-
try.
The British bivouacked on the captured
| position Saturday night. Some estimates
place the Boer losses at 500 men, but this
is probably exaggerated.
Colonel Scott-Chisholm, the highest Brit
ish officer killed. was formerly attached to
the Mini Lancers. He served with distinc-
ton in the Afghan war and organized the
present Imperial Light Horse, a majority
of whom are refugees from the Rand.
The capture of General Viljoen is a severe
blow TO the burghers, and the death of
General Kock and the capture of General
Pretorius will handicap the further move
ments Of this column.