Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-29
FOUGHT In THE OPEN
The Beers Advanced Under Fire Up
Spion Kop to Dislodge the
British.
BAYONETS OF NO AVAIL
General Butler Reports Why General War
rem Left Spion Kop and a Retreat
Made Across the Tugela
River.

dispatch from General Butler, received
Sunday, is dated at Spearman's camp,
Saturday. Jahl.lary n, 6:10 p. m.:
ION January 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession of
the southern crest of high tableland ex-
tending from the line of Acton Homes
and Hongerspoort to the western Lady
smith hills. From then to January %
he remained in close contact with the
enemy. The enemy held a strong posi-
ton on a range of small kopjes stretch
ing from the northwest to the southeast
across the plateau from Acton Homes,
through Spion Kop to the left bank of
the Tugela. The actual position held
was perfectly tenable, but did not lend
itself to advance, as the southern slopes
get effective artillery to the position,
and the water supply was difficulty.
January 20 asserted to his attack
ing Spion Kop, a large hill-indeed, a
mountain-which was evidently the key
to the position, but was far more ac-
cessible from the north than from the
south. On the night Of January 23 he
attacked Spion Kop, but found 1t very
difficult to- hold, as its perimeter was
too large, and the water, which he had
been led to believe existed in this ex-
traordinary dry season, was found very
deficient. The crests We're held all that
day against severe attacks and heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. l would especially mention
the conduct of the I'd Cameronians and
Sd Kings Rifles, who supported the at
tack on the mountain from the steepest
side and in each case fought their way
to the top, and the I'd Lancashire Fusi-
leers and the ID Middlesex who mag
nificently maintained the best tradi-
tions of the British army throughout
the trying day Of January "a, and the
Thornycrofts mounted infantry, who
fought through the day equally well
alongside of them. General Woodgate,
who was In command at the summit,
having been wounded, the officer who
succeeded him decided in the night of
January "a to abandon the position. and
did so before dawn Of January Is.
reached Warren's $ camp at 5 a. m. jan
uary 25, and decided that a second at
tack upon Spion Kop was useless, and
the enemy's right too strong to allow
me to force It, Accordingly I decided
to withdraw the force to south of the
Tugela. At a. m. we commenced with
drawing the train, and by a. M of
January 27 Warren's force was concen-
trated south of the Tugela without loss
Of a man or pound of stores. The
fact that the force should withdraw
from actual touch-in some cases the
lines were less than 1000 yards apart
with the enemy in the manner 1T did Is,
1 think, sufficient evidence of the morale
Of the troops, and that we We're per-
mitted to withdraw our cumbrous OK
and mule transports across the river,
IS yards broad, with 2O-foot banks, and
a very swift current, unmolested, Is, ]
think, proof that the enemy has been
taught to respect our soldiers fighting
powers
THE BOER ACCOUNT.
Boer Headquarters, Modderspruitt,
Upper Tugela, January "a, midnight, via
Lorenzo Marques, Thursday. January
25.-Some burghers from the outposts on
the highest hills Of the Spion Kop group
rushed into their laagers, saying the
kop was lost and the English had taken
it. endorsements were ordered up,
but nothing could be done for some
time, the hill being enveloped in thick
mist. At dawn the Heidelberg and Car
olina contingents, supplemented from
other commanders, began the assent of
the hill. Three spurs Of precipitous pro-
jections faced the Boer positions Up
these an advance was made. The horses
were left under the first terrace Of
rocks. Scaling the steep hill, the Beers
found the English had improved the op
portunity and intrenched heavily. Be-
tween the lines Of trenches was an open
veldt, which had to be rushed under
heavy fire, not only from rifles, but of
lyddite and schrapnel from field guns.
Three forces ascending three spurs CO.
ordinately were under cover Of a fire
from the Free State Krups, Creusot and
big maxim. The English tried to rush
the Beers with bayonets, but their in
fantry went down before the Boer rifle
fire as before scytlle. A Boer invest
ing party advanced step by step until
2 in the afternoon, when a white flag
went up and $50 men in the front
trenches surrendered, being sent as
prisoners to the head laager. The Boer
advance continued on the two kopjes