Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-02-03

tlefield yesterday numbered 300
London, Jan. 3O.--General Buller's
dispatch to the war Office states that
Spion kop was abandoned on account
OF lack OF water, inability TO bring the
artillery there, and n heavy Boer fire.
| Butler gives no list OF casualties. His
whole force withdrew south OF the
| Tugela river, with the evident inten-
tion Of reaching Ladysimth by anoth-
er route.
Following is the text Of Buller's
| dispatch, dated Spearman's camp, Sat
urday, January %, G:10 p. m:
"On January 20 Warren drove back
the enemy and obtained possession of
the southern crests of the high table
land extending from the line Of Acton
Homes and llonger's poo"t to the
western Ladysmith hills. From then
to January 25 he remained in close
contact with the enemy.
"The enemy held strong position
on range of small kopjes stretching
from northwest to southeast 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 an advance, as the southern slopes
were so steep that Warren could not
get an effective artillery position and
water supply was n difficulty.
"On January 23 assentcd to his at
tacking Spion kop, large hill, indeed
mountain, which was evidently the
key Of the position, but was far more
accessible from the north than from
the south.
"On the night Of January % he at
tackled Spon kop, but found 1t very
difficult TO hold, as its perimeter was
too large and water, which he had
been led to believe existed, in this eN-
traorGinary dry season was found very
deficient.
"Thc crcsts were held all that day
oUainst successive attacks and heavy
shell fire. Our men fought with great
gallantry. / would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameronl-
ans and Third Kings rifles, who sup
ported the attack on the mountain
from the steepest side, and in each
case fought their way to the top, ana
The Second Lancashire fusileers and
Second MiddleseX, who magniiicently
maintained the best traditions of the
British army throughout the trying
day of January -, and ThornycroftS
mounted infantry, who fought
throughout the day equally well along
side of them.
General Woodgate, who was in com
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who sue
ceeded him decided on the night of
January "a to abanlon the position,
and did so before dawn January 25.
reached Warren's camp at a. IN. on
January 25, and decided that see
ond attack on Spion kop was useless
aud that the enemy's crest was 100
strong to allow me 10 force it.
Accordingly decided to withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela.
At 6 o'clock a. III. we commenced with
the train, and by a. m. Jan
uary % Saturday Warren's force
was concentrated south of the Tugell
m nf a N
of stores.
"rhe fact that the force could with
draw from actual touch--in some
cases the lines were less than 1000
yards apart--with the enemy in the
it did, is, think, sufficient ev-
idence of the morale of the troops. and
that we were permitted to withdraw
our cumbrous OK and mule transports
across the river, eighty-fivc yards
broad, with twenty-foot banks and a
very swift current. unmolested, is,
think, proof that the enemy has been
taught TO respect our soldiers fight
ng powers"
During Sunday morning and the !
earlier part of the afternoon placard |
bearing the words, mo news" hung |
on the iron railing in front of the war
office, but about p. m. the placard |
was taken i'm and on the bulletin |
boards inside General Buffers long |
dispatch was placed. The Sunday pa
pers issued extras, but only the faint
'st interest was manifested i'm the |
streets.
At the clubs the situation rs re- |
iealed by General Butler was consid- |
,red very unpleasant. His excuses or
explanations were characterized as
'ery weak. The absence of water, |
which Sir Charles Warren was "led to |
existed, and the facts that |
Spion kop was Indeed mountain"
md that its ''perimeter was too large"
ire all matters which even Buffers