Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-02
RUSHED THE POSITION.

The 6oers closed in on Carleton's Column
With Great Energy-Gen. " hite Explains
the Disaster.
LONDON, November 1.-The British
war Office to-day made public dispatch
from Gen. White, describing the opera
tons of Monday. 1t was as follows:
BLACKSMITH, October 81, 1850 p. m.
II took out from Ladysmith brigade
of mounted troops, two brigade divis-
ions of the Royal artillery, the Natal
field battery and two field brigades of
infantry, to reconnoiter in force the en-
emys 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
connection with this advance col
umn, consisting of the Tenth mountain
artillery, four half companies OF the
Gloucesters and six companies of the
Royal Irish Fusiliers, the whole under
Lieut.. Col. Carleton and Major Adye,
deputy assistant adjutant general, was
dispatched at II p. m. on the 18th to
march by night up Bells-Spruit and
seize Nicholsons Mex, thus turning the
enemy's right flank. The main advance
was successfully carried out the objec-
tive of the attack being found evacu-
ated, 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 reconnaissance forced the enemy
to fully disclose his position, and, after
strong counter-attack on our right,
the infantry brigade and cavalry had
been repulsed, the troops were slowly
withdrawn to camp, pickets being left
on observation. Late in the engage
ment the naval contingent, under Capt.
Lambton, of H. M. S. Powerful, came
into action and silenced with their ex-
tremely accurate fire the enemy's guns
of position.
"The circumstances which attended
the movements of Lieut.. Cartoons
column are not yet fully known. but
from reports received the column APP
pears 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
a few rifle shots stampeded the infant
ry ammunition mules. The stampede
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-arm ammuni-
ton. 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 until
dawn, the time being occupied in or
ganizing the defense of the hill and
the construction of stone sangars and
walls as cover from fire. AT dawn
skirmishing attack on our position was
commenced by the enemy, but made
no Roadway until $3.50 a. M, when
strong reinforcements enabled them to
rush the attack with great energy. Their
fire became very searching, and two
companies Of the Gloueesters in an adj
vance position were ordered to fall
back. The enemy then pressed to
short range, the losses on our side be-
coming very numerous.
At p. M. our ammunition was
practically exhausted, the position was
captured and the survivors of the coli