The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-18
GENERAL BULtER'S FORCES
CROSS TUGELA RIVER
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cover the Beers then gradually reached
the crest of the height. Here a body of
light horse was posted. but they were
Forced TO retire before the advance or
the Free Skaters. there being no breast
works Tor defense on the western shoul-
der OF the HILL With little TO impede
their passage the enemy soon came to
an emplacement, where they surprised
WORKING parties of the Gordon High
landeFs and the Sixtieth rifles.
Lieutenant Digby Jones Of the royal
engineers collected a handful OF men
ana made gallant effort TO hold the
position, but the numbers were against
him, and after a stubborn resistance he
was driven back and the enemy got
possession of the summit. Even then,
however, the Free Staters were afraid
70 venture far OF to face the heavy fire
from the Sanger. Here it was that
Lieutenant MeNaughton and thirty Of
the Gordons were captured, although
not until every man among them was
wounded.
AZ o'clock Colonel Edwards, with
two squadrOns of light horse, arrived
upon the scene, and the Twenty-first
battery of the royal field artillery, un-
der Major Blewitt, came into action,
preventing the stormin6 party being re
inf0rced from the BOer camp.
At the same time the Eighteenth
hussars and the Fifth lancers checked
the movement from the spruit on cur
right flank. Nevertheless, our position
at this point had become critical. Our
men had retired for cover behind the
northern slope, while the enemy had
made their way into the pass dividing
them from the hill.
Major Bowen rallied a few Of the
rifles, but fell while leading them to
the charge. His example was at once
followed by Lieutenant Tod, but the
latter met the same fate.
"A pause ensUed for a time. but the
sBOers were not yet finally beaten. TAX
ing advantage of the storm now raging,
they essayed to capture the position by
another rush. Three Of their leaders
reached the parapet, but were shot
down by Lieutenant Digby Jones and
Lieutenant Walnut. the latter Of whom
also fell. The renewed check effectuai-
ly discouraged the assailants, and the
deadly duel was now practically at an
end. Nevertheless, small parties of
the Drawer spirits kept up a murderOus
fire on our men from behind the rocks
The moment had evidently arrived
to strike the final blow, and Colonel
GdTk QUICKLY issued the UtCcSSdly ul
der. Three companies of DevOnshires,
led by Captain Lafone, Lieutenant
Field and Lieutenant MastersOn, made
a brilliant charge across the open un-
der a terrific fire and fairly hurried the
enemy down the hill at the point Of the
bayonet. In the course of the struggle
Captain Bafone and Lieutenant Field
were killed and Lieutenant MasteTs0n
received no fewer than ten wounds.
The Beers lost heavily. They admit
the engagement was the most severe
blow their arms had sustained since
the opening of the campaign. They
were confident of their ability TO cap
ture the town, and had called upon re
Inducements from ColenS0 to assist at
the expected victory. Our losses also
We're considerable.
Early in the morning the Earl Of
Ava was mOrtally wounded while &C
cOmpanying Colonel Ian Hamilton to
the scene of action.
THE garrison can now await the
coming of relief with renewed conf
dence-