The age-herald., 1900-02-28
HOW I WON MY V. O."
Capt. ConRreve Tells How He Tried to
 Save Longs Cannon at Colenso

From the London News.
 Captain Walter Norris Congreve, V. C., Rifle brigade, in letter to a friend, gives graphic description of the battle of Co., lenso, the loss and subsequent attempted recovery of the guns, and the acts of brave- " for which he and the other officers by whom he was assisted have been decorated. He says:
 'I was galloper to General Clery. who rode all day with Sir Redvers Butler. My first experience was my stick being knocked out of my hand by bullet Then horse beside me was killed by a she'll About 10 o'clock two batteries which had advanced far too close ran short of ammunition. Their wagons were about 800 yards be- hind, horses and men sheltered in deep, narrow nullah. General Butler told them to take the wagons up to the battery, but di- rectly they emerged stream of bullets and shells fell all around. and most of the men got into the nullah again. Generals Clery and Butler stood out in it and said: Some of yeu1go and help Schofefd, A. D. C., Roberts, Gord Roberts son), myself and two or three others went to the wagons, and we three, helped by corporal and six
 
 never seen, even at field firing, the bullets fly thicker. All one could see were little tufts of dust all over the ground, a whist ling noise 'phut' where they hit and an increasing rattle of musketry somewhere in front My first bullet went through my left sleeve, and just made the joint of my elbow bleed, next a clod of earth caught me smack in the right arm, then my horse got one, then my right leg one, my horse another, and that settled us, for he plunged and I fell about 100 yards short of the guns we were going to.
 "A Ettle nullah was close by and into that I hobbled and sat down. It was not much shelter, however, and I had not been in 1t minute before another bullet hit my boot, went into the welt, travelled up, and came out at the toe cap, two inches from the end of the toe. 1t did not even scratch me, but shifted my quarters pretty quick ly to a better place, where I found rolonels Hunt and Long, R. A., dozen or so wound- gunners, a doctor, Colonel Bullock and about fifteen men of his regiment. all that was left of the escort and two batteries The bank of the nullah was not more than three feet high, so we had to lie down. bull lets whisting over ones head directly it appeared. About Il o'clock the fire slack ened, so l went out to see if I could see anything of the rest of the party found poor Roberts badly wounded, and with the doctor, gunner, and a subaltern, got him into the nullah, and there he lay from Il to 4:30; no water, not breath of air, no particle of shade, and sun which I have never felt hotter, even in India. knife could not be held in the bare hand. It was the most beastly day I ever spent, and seemed interminable; what 1t must have been for the badly wounded I hardly like to think. Some of my time was spent in dressing wounds under Baptie's directions. My jacket was taken to shade Roberts face, and what with blood and dirt, I was pretty object by the time got out. About 4:30 the Boers rode up and asked US to surrender, or they would shoot us l all Colonel Bullock was the senior un- wounded officer. and had perhaps twenty rifles all told. He refused, and the Boers at once began fusilade from fifty yards distance, and our people returned it. It was. unpleasant and only question of minutes before they enfladed our trench and bagged the lot. Bullock's men knock ed over two, and then they put up a white flag and parleyed; said we might remove our5 wounded, and the remainder either be taken prisoners or fight it out. E-~ever, while we were talking, one hundred or so crept round us, we found loaded rifles at every mans head, and we were forced to give in. One of our ambulances came in and were gradually collected at one spot, A color sergeant of the Devon regiment carried me upon his back He had bit of skin knocked off his thumb, which he considered wound, and was too fright ened of their changing their mind and send ing me. to Pretoria to have conscience for him. To make long story short, I was eventually put into an ambulance and taken to field hospital, dressed and sent to d tent. where Davies took care of me. went to bed from a. m. to p. m. I drank gallons, chiefly of muddy water, and could only get my thirst under control to- day at midday. My leg hurts a good deal. but 1t is only sight, and hope to Joe back in fortnight. The outlet entered my right leg about three inches below the knee an1 came out at the back of the calf fortunate ly missing the bone. I am now in the hos pital train en route for Maritzburg where I hope this may catch the mail. Good | bye"
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