, 1899-12-16
BUTLER BEATEN
BOERS LEAD THE BRITISH INTO
ANOTHER DEATH
TRAP.
to Ford the Tugela River Re-
suits Disastrously-Artillery Wing
Meets With Disaster-Eleven Field
Guns and Many Men and Horses
Lost-British in Camp Again.

London; Dec. 16-12:47 a. m.-The
war Office has received a dispatch an
nouncing that Gen. Butler has met
with serious reverse. loosing 10 guns.
Butler was attempting to cross the
Tugela river. Finding it impossible to
effect his object, he ordered a retire
ment in order to avoid greater losses
and he left II guns behind.
Following is the ext of Gen. Buffers
dispatch announcing his reverse:
Butler to Lansdown-Chieveley
Camp, Dec. 15-6:20 p. MI regret to
report a serious reverse. l moved in
full strength from our camp near
C~hieveley at 4 o'clock this morning.
There are two forbade places in the
Tugela river, and it was my intention
to force a passage through at one of
them. They are about two miles apart.
MY intention was to force one or the
other out with one brigade, supported by
a central brigade. Gen. Hart was to
attack the left drift, Gen. Hilyard the
right road, and Gen. Littleton was to
take the center and to support either.
Early in the day | saw Gen. Hart would
not be able to force the passage, and
| directed him to withdraw. He had,
however, attacked with great g~allantry
and his leading battalion, the Con-
naught rangers, l fear, suffered a great
deal. Col. l. G. Brooke is seriously
wounded.
Il then ordered Gen. Hilyard to ad-
vance, which he did, and his leading
regiment, the east Surrey, occupied
Colenso station and houses near the
bridge. At that moment l heard that
the whole artillery I had sent to sup
port the attack, the Fourteenth and
Sixty-sixth field batteries and six naval
IL pound quick flrers, under Col.
Long, had advanced close to the river
in Longs desire to be within effective
range. 1t proved to be full Of the en-
envy, who suddenly opened a CALLING
fire at close range, killing all their
horses, and the gunners were COM
PEELED to stand to their guns. Some Of
the wagon teams got shelter for the
troops in a donga, and desperate eff
forts were being made to bring out the
field guns.
The fire, however, was too evere
and only two were saved by Capt.
Scholfeld and some drivers, whose
names l will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt with
three teams was made by an officer
whose name l will obtain. OF the IS
horses, 10 were killed, and as several
drivers were wounded, l would not al
low another attempt, as it seemed they
would be a shell mark, sacrificing life
to a gallant attempt to force the pass
age. Unsupported by artillery, I di-
rected the troops to withdraw, which
they did in good order.
Throughout the day a considerable
force of the enemy was pressing on my
right flank, but was kept back by
mounted men under Lord Dundonald
and a part of Gen. Barton's brigade.
The day was intensely hot and most
trying in the troops, whose conduct
was excellent. We have abandoned 10
guns and lost by shell fire one. The
losses in Gen. Harris brigade are, l
fear, very heavy, although the proper
ton of severely wounded, 1 hope, are
not large. The Fourteenth and Sixty
sixth field batteries also suffered Sc
we're losses. We have retired to our
camp at Chieveley."
No independent reports of the n
gagement have yet been allowed to
come through, but Gen. Buffers own
dispatch tells a sad tale in sufficient
outline to show the British have been
entrapped again by the astute Beers.
1t is expected he will renew the attack
shortly. Immediately on receiving the
news the war Office decided to mobolize
still another division, and to replace
the losses Of artillery. Necessary REIN
forcements will be hurried of as speed
lily as possible. The latest dispatches
indicate a continued bo%mbardment Of
Ladysmith, whose position is now per-
ilous.
The list OF casualties among the nom
commissioned officers and men in the
fight at Magersfontein, Just issued,
shows IS killed, 1853 wounded (21 Sc
| ~verely), and rs missing. This, how
ever, Is apparently not a complete list.