The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-02-01
GEN. BULLER's REPORT.
Dlspateh 10 the war once Giving neasena
tor the Withdrawal Fresn
SPlen Koy,

London, Jan. 2s.--icn. Buller's dis
pLtch to the war Office states that
spicn kop was abandoned on account
ai lack of water, inability TO bring ar
tilierS there. and the heavy Boer tire.
Gan. Butler gives no list Of casuailirs.
Ills whole force Withdrew south Of the
rurcla river with the evident intention
o. reaching Iadysmith by another
route.
Following Is the tex, OF Gen. Builer's
dispatch dated Spearmans Camp, Sat
urdHy january 27, $50 p. M:
"On january 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession of
the southern crcHis Of the high table
land extending from the line 81 Acton
Homes and MonRer Poort, 10 the vest
ern Ladysmith hills. From then to
January rs he remained iD close con-
tao; with the enemy.
''rhc enemy held strong position
OF range Of small koplcs stretching
from northwest 60 southwest across
the plateau from Acton Homes through
spion kop, TO the left bank Cf the
Tuptla.
''l'he actual position held wnH per-
frctly tennhle. but did NOT lend itself
to an advance. as the southern slopes
were so steep that Warren could not
yc. an effective artillery position. and
water supply was difficulty.
"On January % I sgsented 10 his at
tacking Spion kop, a large hill. indeed
mountain, which was evidently the
key TO the position. but was far more
accessible from the north than from
the south.
'On the night Of January - he at
tucked Spion kop, but found II very
iliihcult to hold, as It's pcrimctcr waa
too large. and water, which he had
been led 20 believe existed, in this cx-
truurdinary dry season was found very
deficient. The crests were held alt
Gay against severe attacks. Oar meE
forght with great Rnllantry. ! would
esp, cially mention the conduct Of the
Second CameroniHns and the Third
Kings Rifles, who supported the at
tack on the mountain from the steep
cs- side and, in each case, fought their
way To the top; and the Second Lanca-
shire fusiliers and Second Middlesex.
who mugnifcently 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
mnnd at the summit. having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided, on the night of January
g. To abandon the position, and did
- b, fore dawn January IS. reached
W0rren's camp at 5 a. IN. on January
25, and decided that second attack
upon Spion kop was useless, and the
eutiny's right was too strong 60 allow
M Il force II.
Accordingly, I decided to withdraw
the force to the south Of the Tugela
At g a. m. we commenced withdrawing
the train, and by 4 n. M, January q
| iSaturdny), Warrcn's force was con
ccntrnted south of the TuRela without
the loss Of a man or n pound Of stores
"fhe fact that the force could with
draw from sctual touch-in some casei
| the lines were less than n thousand
yTrds apart--with the enemy in tn,
mnuncr IL did, is, | think, sufficient
evidence Of the morale OF the troops
auG that We were permitted to with
draw our cumbersome OK and mnl'
transports across the river, IS yard
broad with 2O-foot banks and a yer,
swift current. unmolested, Is, think
prtOt that the enemy has been taugh
TO respect our soldiers fighting pow
| ers."