Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1899-12-14
A BRITISH DISASTER.
Gen. Gatacre's Force Suffers So
rious Repulse.
Six Hundred Men Missing Column OF
-Four Thousand Men Utterly Routed
by Cape Colony Dutch and
Free Skaters.

MoLTENo, Cape Colony, Sunday, Dec
10.--Gen Gatacre left Putter's lraal by
train for Molteno, and then proceeded
by forced march twelve miles toward
Stormberg. He had 1000 men, includ-
ing the Northumberland Fusleers. the
Royal Irish Rifles and two batteries of
field artillery.
The British were unmoleSte1 by the
Beers until the Boer position was
reached, when a hot fire was uneX-
pectedly opened upon the advancing
column.
The engagement began at 4:l5 am.
At : I'm. after a sharp artillery duel,
the British retrcated. They are now
marching toward Moltcno. Gen. Gatacre
found the enemy's position impreg-
nable. 1t was impossible for the British
infantry to get at the Beers.
Six Hundred Missing.
LONDON, Dec. 1.-THE war Office pub.
fishes the following dispatch from Cape
Town:
Gatacre reports: Deeply regret to
y
reverse in the attack on Stormberg. |
was misled as to the enemy's position
by the guides and found impracticable
ground.
Casualties. so far as known, are
Second Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Wounded: Lieut.. Col. Eager Maj.
Seaton, Capt. Bell. Capt. Kelley, Lieut.,
stephens, Lieut.. Barnardston.
suffolk Acknowledgements Sec.
ond Lieut.. Maynard, twelve men. Miss.
ing: Capt. w. Ruir, Lieut.. Christie,
Second Lieut. Rodney, two hundred
and ninety men.
Seventy-fourth Field Battery Sc.
verely wounded: Lieut.. Lewis, three
men. Slightly wounded: Two men.
Seventy seventh, old battery
Killed: One gunner; wounded, Maj
Percival.
northumberland Fusileers - Miss.
ing: Maj, Stevens, Capt. Fletcher, Capt.
Morley, Second Lieut.. Wake. Second
Lieut.. Coulson, Lieut.. Radcliffe. Three
hundred and six non-commissioned Of
dcers and men.
Royal Berkshire Regimcnt-Killed:
One private.
Gen. Gatacres movement may be
termed reconnaissance in force. Its
object was to ascertain the strength of
the position of the Beers, who were
strongly entrenched along the Storm
berg range. He left Putters Kraal
shortly after noon yesterday with a
fighting force slightly over 1000 men.
Leaving Molteno at o last evening, he
made memorable night march over
the rocks and veldt. There was no
sound except steady tramp and there
were no distinguishing lights, the
bright moon having gone down about
half past eleven.
The column arrived safely within a
couple of miles of its destination, the
only incidents of the march being an
occasional sudden call of halt" under
belief that the Beers were near. Sud
denly terrific fire opened simultane-
ously on the British front and right
flank. The Royal Irish Rifles, which
formed the advance, sought shelter be-
hind neighboring kopje and were
speedily joined by the remainder of the
column. 1t was soon found, however,
that this position also was covered by
Boer guns, which were more powerful
than had been supposed. The troops, |
therefore sought safer position, about
Il half mile away, two batteries in the |
meantime engaging the Beers and GOV.
ering the troops in their withdrawal.
The action now became general at |
long range and IA detachment of mount |
ed infantry moved northward with |
view of turning a gatling on the enemy's |
right flank. Suddenly a strong com.
mando was seen moving from the north |
and the Royal Irish Rifles and the
Northumberland regiment were sent
out to meet il.
1t was soon discovered, however, that
the Beers had machine guns well-placed |
and the British were compelled to face
a terrible fire.
Finding it impossible to hold the POI
sition in the face of an enemy apparent.
ly superior in position, numbers and ar.
tillery, the British retired on Molteno,
the Beers following up the retirement
closely and bringing two big guns to
bear ON the retiring column.
Body Found In Tennessee River.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec. 10.-A strange
young man was found in the Tennessee