The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-03

London, November lit was an
nounced today in a special dispatch
from Ladysmith that the Beers again
closed around shat place on Monday
night, sending shells into the British
camp. The two guns landed from the
British cruiser Powerful opened fire on
the Beers at dawn Tuesday. The Beers
brought up more guns, but some of
them were silenced. 1t is added that
the Beers loss must have been heavy.
The garrison at Ladysmith is de-
scribed as being in good spirits and
confident and the troops are said to
be full of fight. The artillery duel was
still in progress Tuesday night.
Cape Town, Octover 31.-CDelayed in
transmission.)-The guns of the British
naval brigade have knocked the Boer
40pounder clean off it's platform and
have silenced the Boer guns on Hep
worth hill. The Beers abandoned their
positions.
WHITES ACCOUNT OF THE LADY
SMITH DISASTER.
London November 1.-The British
war office today made public dispatch
received from General White describ-
ing the operation of Monday. 1t was
as follows:
''Ladysmith, October 81, 1850 p. m.
Il took out from Ladysmith a brigade
of mounted troops, two brigade divis-
ions of the royal artillery, the Natal
field battery and two brigades of in
fantry, to reconnoitre in force the enc
my's main position to the north and,
if the opportunity should offer, to cap
ture the hill behind Farquhar'S farm,
which had, on the previous day, been
held in strength by the enemy. In con-
nection with this advance, a column,
consisting of the Tenth mountain ar
tillery, four half companies of the
Gloucesters and six companies of the
Royal Irish fuSileerS, the whole under
Lieutenant Colonel Charlton and Ma
jOr Adye, deputy assistant adjutant
general, was dispatched, at IL o'clock
p. m, on the 10Th, to march by night
up Bells Spruit and seize NicholSOn'S
mex, or some position near Nicholson's
mex, thus turning the enemy's right
flank. The main advance was success
fully carried out, the objective of the
attack being found evacuated and an
artillery duel between our field batter
les and the enemyS guns of position
and MaXimS is understood to have
caused heavy loss to the enemy. The
reconnaissance forced the enemy to
fully disclose his position and, after a
strong cOunter-attack on our right, the
infantry brigade and cavalry having
been repulsed, the troops were slowly
Withdrawn to camp, picketS being left
on observation. Late in the engage
ment the naval contingent under Cap
tain LambetOn, of her majeSty'S steam
ship Powerful, came into action and
SilenCed, with their extremely accurate
fire, the enemyS guns of position.
"The circumstances which attended
the movements of Lieutenant Colonel
CharltOnS column are not yet fully
known, but from reports received the
column appears to have carried out the
night march unmoleSted until within
two miles of NicholsOns mex. At this
point two boulders rolled from the hill
and shots Stampeded the ammunition
mules. The stampede spread to the
battery mules, Which broke loose from
their leaders and got away with prac-
tically the whole of the gun equipment
and the greater portion of the regi-
mental smali-arm ammunition. The
reserve was similarly lost.
THE infantry battalions, however,
fixed bayonets and, accompanied by the
personnel of the artillery, seized hill
on the left of the road, two miles from
the mex, with but little opposition.
There they remained unmoleSted till
, dawn, the time being occupied in or
ganizing the defence of the hill and
( constructing stone sangars and walls
kS cover from fire. At dawn a skirmish-
ing attack on our position was COM
menced by the enemy, but made no
headway until $3.50 o'clock a. M, when
strong reinforcementS enabled them to
rush to the attack with great energy.
Their fire became very searching and
two companies of the GlOuceSterS, in
advanced position, were ordered to fall
back. The enemy then pressed to short
~ sid HtYlrr
very numerous.
AT o'clock p. M, our ammunition
was practically exhausted, the position
was captured and the survivors of the
column fell into the enemys hands. The
enemy treated our wounded with hu-
manity, General Joubert at once dis
patching a letter to me, offering safe
conduct to doctors and ambulanceS to
remove the wounded. A medical OFF,
Ger and parties to render first aid to
the wounded were dispatched to the
scene of action from Ladysmith last
night and the ambulances at dawn
this morning.
1.-The want of success Of the column
was due to the misfortune of the mules
stampeding and the consequent loss OF
the guns and small-arm ammunition
reserve.
sners will be reported shortly. The lat
ter are understood to have been sent
by rail to Pretoria.
1.-The security of Ladysmith is in no
way affected"
THE DISASTER NOT AS BAD AS AT
FIRST REPORTED.
The details today show the case in
a brighter aspect. The full battalions
kyere not engaged, and, therefore, the
0st of prisoners is materially reduced.
While the disaster now appears to have
been not so much the consequence of
Aaects in the plan of action as to
Misfortune whereby the column was
dSnr;yed of it's ammunition. Still, it
seems incomprehensible why the plight
Of the Iuckless column was not known
81 La.douartare &c the scene Of the