The Red Cloud chief., 1899-12-22
BOERSBFATBULLFR
British Commander Suffers a
Serious Reverse.
tAGAGtMtHT OCCURS on IUGflA RIVER
Three Forward Movements Made and
Each Time Driven Back-Fsrther
Yishting Useless 80 criacs of
LIfs-Lose Eleven Gass.

A London, December 10th special
says the war Office has received dis
patch announcing that General Butler
has met with a serious reverse, losing
ten guns.
General Butler was attempting to
cross the Tugela river. Finding IL i'm
possible to effect his object. he ordered
Q retirement In order to avoid greater
losses. He left eleven guns behind.
The following is the text OF General
Buffers dispatch announcing his re-
verse:
"Buller to Landsdownc:
'Chievelri Camp, December 15.-6:20
p. nj regret to report serious re-
verse. moved in full strength from
our camp near Chievelri at 4 o'clock
this morning. There are two fordable
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 with one brigade, supported
by central brigade. General Hart
was to attack the left drift, General
Hildyard the right road, and General
Lyttleton was TO take the center and
TO support either. Early in the day I
saw that General Hart would not be
able to force passage, and directed
him to withdraw. He had, however,
attacked with great gallantry and his
leading battalion, the Connaught ran
gers, l fear, suffered n great deal. Col.
I. q. Brooke was seriously wounded.
II then ordered General Hildyard To
advance, which he did, and his leading
regiment, the East Surry, occupied
Colenso station and the houses near the
bridge. At that moment heard that
the whole artillery had sent to sup
port the attack, the Fourteenth and
Sixty-sixth field batteries and six ma.
val twelve-pounder rapid-firers, under
Colonel Long, had avanced close to the
river In Longs desire to be within ef
fective range. II proved to be full OF
the enemy, who suddenly opened 9
CALLING fre at close range, killing al
their horses, and the gunners wer,
compelled to stand to their guns. Some
of the wagon teams got shelter fol
troops In donga and desperate efforts
were being made to bring out the ficl'
guns.
The fire, however, was too sever'
and only two were saved by Captain
Scofleld and some drivers whose name
will furnish.
Another most gallant attempt wit
three teams was made by IN Office
whose name I will obtain. OF tn
eighteen horses thirteen were kille
and several drivers were wounded.
would not allow another attempt, n
Il seemed that they would he She
mark sacrificing life to gallant a
tempt to force the passage. Unsur
ported by artillery, directed tn
troops to withdraw, which they did i
good order.
Throughout the day considerabl
force of the enemy was pressing o
my right flank, but was kept back b
! mounted men under Lord Dundonal
and part of Great Britain's brigad
The day was intensely hot and mo-
trying on the troops, whose condu'
!, was excellent. We have abandone
9 ten guns and lost by shell fire one. TT
, losses in General Hunts brigade ar
: l fear, heavy, although the proportio
e OF severely wounded, hope, is NJ
. large. The Fourteenth and SiXt.
sixth field battalions also suffere
|. severe losses. We have retired in o,
t camp at Chievelri."
d No independent reports Of the e
j. gagemcnt have yet been allowed
: come through to London, but Gener
r. Buffers own dispatch tells the sad tn
: In sufficient outline to show that Il
h British have been entrappcd again
II the astute Beers. 1t was not anti,
l. pated that General Butler would ma
h q frontal attack. No criticisms of i
0, movements are made, however, sin
A, apparently he suffered n repulse rath
IL than n defeat, and did not push I
/ attack home, but broke it off In I
o middle so as to save useless saci
Il fee. II is expected that he will rene
10 the attack shortly. Immediately
70 receiving the news the war Office q
IN cided to mobolize still another divisi'
"a and to replace the losses of artillei
=. The necessary reinforcements will
" hurried off ms speedily as possible