Iron County register., 1900-02-01
GEN. BULLER,s REPORT.
Dispatch to the WAX Once Giving Reasona
for tlle Withdrawal From
Spion kop.

London, Jan. 29.-Gen. Buffers dis
patch to the war Office states that
Spion kop was abandoned on account
of lack of water, inability to bring ar
hllers there, and the heavy Boer fire.
Gen. Butler gives no list of casualties.
His whole force withdrew south of the
Tugela river with the evident intention
o. reaching Ladysmith by another
route.
Following is the text of Gen. Buffers
dispatch dated Spearman's Camp, Sat
uroay January 27, 30 p. M:
ION January 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession of
the southern crests of the high table
lauG extending from the line of Acton
Homes and Nonger Poort, to the west
err Ladysmith hills. From then to
January % he remained in close con-
tact with the enemy.
THE enemy held strong position
on range of small kopjes stretching
from northwest to southwest across
the plateau from Acton Homes through
Spion kop, to the left bank of the
Tugela.
THE actual position held was per-
fectly tenable, but did not lend itself
to al advance, as the southern slopes
were SO steep that Warren could not
water supply was difficulty.
''On January % l assented to his at
tacking Spion kop, large hill, indeed
mountain, which was evidently the
key TO the position, but was far more
accessible from the north than from
the south.
''O1 the night of January % he at
tacle3 Spion kop, but found it very.
di1ncult to hold, as its perimeter was
too large, and water, which he had
been led to believe existed, in this ex-
tracrdinary dry season was found very
deficient. The crests were held all
day against severe attacks. Our men
fought with great gallantry. l would
especially mention the conduct of the
Second Cameronians and the Third
Kings Rifles, who supported the at
tack on the mountain from the Steep
est side and, in each case, fought their
way to the top; and the Second Lanca-
shire fusiliers and Second Middlesex.
who magnifcently maintained the best
Traditions of the British army through
out the trying day of January "a, and
Tnornycroft's mounted infantry, who
fought through the day equally well
alongside of them.
Gen. Woodgate, who was in COM
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided, on the night of January
2f. tC abandon the position, and did
Sd before dawn January 25. l reached
Narren's camp at a. m. on January
25, and decided that a second attack
upon Spion kop was useless, and the
eEemy's right was too strong to allow
me tC force it.
''Accordingly, | decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela.
At a. m. we commenced withdrawing
the train, and by 8 a. M, January 81
(Saturday), Warren's force was con-
centrated south of the Tugela without
the loss of a man or pound of stores.
''The fact that the force could with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
yards apart-with the enemy in the
dII, Is, L
Evidence of the morale of the troops,
anc. that we were permitted to with
draw our cumbersome OK and mule
across the river, S5 yards
broad with 20-foot banks and a very
swift current, unmolested, is, l think,
prcof that the enemy has been taught
to respect our soldiers fighting pow
ers''