The Grenada sentinel., 1899-11-04

fl oana'tc~1 reconnoiter in force the
ell -- position to the north
af pportunity should offer
th. hture the hill behind Farquahar's
farm, which had, on the previous day,
been held in strength by the enemy.
The nl-Fated Column.
In Connection with this advance,
column, consisting of the Tenth noun
tain artillery, four half companies of
the Gloucesters, and six companies of
the Royal Irish fusileers, the whole
under Lieut.-Col. Carleton and Maj.
Adye, deputy assistant adjutant gem
eral, was dispatched, at II p. M, on
the 29th, to march by night up Bells
Spruit, and seize Nicholson's Mex, or
some position near Nicholson's Mex,
thus turning the nemy's right flank. !
&s The Main Advance.
The main advance was successfully
carried out, the objective OF the at
tack being 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-
naissance forced the enemy to fully
disclose his position and, after a strong
counter-attack on our right, the in
fantry brigade and cavalry had been
repulsed, the troops were slowly with
drawn to camp, pickets being left on
observation. Late in the engagement
n the naval contingent, under Capt.
1ambton of H., NJ. S. Powerful, came
into action and silenced, with their ex-
tremely accurate fire, the enemy's
guns Of position. --r
Cleaned From Reports.
The circumstances which attended
the movements of Lieut.-Col. Carle-
tons column are not yet fully known.
but from reports received, the col
umn appears to have carried out tn.
night march unmolested, until within
two miles of Nicholson's Mex. At this
point two bowlders rolled from the
Y hill, and a few rifle shots stampeded
the infantry ammunition mules. The
q stampede spread to the battery mules,
i. which broke loose from their leaders,
and got away with practically the
4 whole of the gun equipment and the
greater portion of the regimental
small-arm ammunition.
IA The reserve was similarly lost.
They Fixed Bayonets.
V. The infantry battalions, however,
fixed bayonets and, accompanied by
q the personnel of the artillery, seized
4 a hill on the left of the road, two miles
from the Mex, with but little opposi-
I. tion. There they remained unmolest'
i, ed till dawn, the time being occupied
in organizing the defense of the hill
and constructing stone sangars and
walks as cover from fire. At dawn q
\ skirmishing attack on our position
b was comenced by the enemy, but made
v no way until $3.50 a. m., when strong
4 reinforcements enabled them to russ
to the attack with great energy.
+. Under Searching Fire.
Their fire became very searching
and two companies Of the Gloucesters
in an advanced position, were ordered
to fall back. The enemy then pressed
to short range, the losses on our sid
d, be coming very numerous.
Y At 3 y. m. our ammunition WA
5 practically exhausted, the position wa
captured, and the survivors Of the col
e$ unr fell into the enemy's hands.
wounded Humanely Treated.
The enemy treated our Wounds
with humanity, Gen. Joubert at one
dispatching letter to me, offering
safe conduct to doctors and abulancc
to remove the wounded. A med;ca
officer and parties to render first al
to the wounded were dispatched to tn
scene Of action from Ladysmith las
night, and the ambulance at dawn thu
morning. e ,
The want of success for the co
umn was due to the misfortune OF tn
mules stampeding, and the consequer
loss Of the guns and small arm an
munition reserve. -.
The official list of casualties an
prisoners will be reported shortly. IT
latter are understood to have been ser
by rail to Pretoria. >
The security Of Ladysmith is In =
way affected.
. -