Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-01-09
FORT WAS IMPREGNABLE
Baden Powe1ps Men Make Coura-
Ecos but Unsuccessful Dash.

gcos but Unsuccessful Dash.
London, Jan. 6-The war office has re-
ceived. through Gen. ForestierW at
Cape Town. the following dispatch from
Col. Baden Powell. dated Mafeking, De-
cember 26:
this morning, endeavoring TO push back the
Gordon northward. Our force consisted of
three guns, two sGuodrons of the Protecto,
rate regiment. one of the Bechuanaland
rifles, armored train, etc. The enemy had
strengthened their works during the night
and doubled the garrison since yesterdays
reconnaissance.
Nevertheless our attack carried out
and pressed home with the greatest possible
gallantry and steadinesS under Il very hot
fire. But all efforts to gain the interior by
escalade failed, the fort being practically
impregnable.
Compelled to Withdraw.
Our attack only withdrew after six of our
officers and large number of men had been
hit. Nothing could have exceeded the cOur-
age and dash displayed. The general situa-
ton remains unchanged and the health and
spirits OF the garrison are very satisfactory
| regret to report the following casualties:
killed-CaDt. II. j. Vernon, Capt. II. {.
Sanford. Lieut.. H. c. Patton, eighteen non
commissioned officers and troopers. Wound
three noncommissioned officers and troopers.
PrisonerS-Three troopers.
Gen. ForestierW Walker points out that
while the dispatch gives all the names it
An Unsuccessful Attack.
The Times publishes the following dis
patch from Mafeking, dated December
%:
At dawn today Col Baden Powell organ
lied an unsuccessful attack upon Il strong
position of the enemy ut Gametree, two
miles from Mafekng. from which the Beers
have been maintaining a desultory but an
moving shell and rife fire for several weeks.
The railway has recently been reconstruct
1,x+x q, or
the Beers had destroyed il. the final re-
pairs being made i'll preparation for the
Sortie-
During the night the armored train, with
Maxim and Hotchkiss guns, under Capt
Williams and troops took up positions for
attack from two sides; Capt Lord Charles
upon the left. while the extreme left wing
was occupied by artillery under Maj. Pan
zera and a gallloping Maxim n OF 81 the cape
Empacements were thrown up during
the night the orders being to attack at
dawn and the artillery fire to desist upons
prolonged footing from the armored train
At daybreak the guns opened fire and rap-
idly drew the reply of the enemy. our shells
non gave the signal TO cease firing and to
advance, his squadron leading off.
Meet Fierce and Deadly Fire.
As our men engaged the position with
their rifle fire it was soon found that the
strength OF the fort was greater than we
had supposed The enemy concentrated
such an exceedingly hot fire that the ad
vance of Capt. Vernon was almost impossi
lantry, Capts. Sanford and Vernon, Lieut..
Patton and Scout Cooke, who guided the
squadrons, and few men actually reached
the SandbagS of the fort within 300 yards
of the area of the fort.
But nothing living could exist there, since
the ground was swept by Mauser and Mar
TIM bullets. The men who charged through
this zone of fire suffered terribly, and in fol
lowing their officers to capture the fort
ford was the first to fall and Capt. Yer
non, already twice wounded and Lieut.
Patton were killed at the foot of the fort.
These two officers. climbing ditch which
surrounded the fort. thrust their revolverS
through the enemy's loophoes, only to be
shot themselves the next moment.
Deadly Aim of Sharpshooters.
Gametree is surrounded with scrub. which
contained many sharpshooters, and their ac-
cGracy of fire still further confused the men
who had followed Capt. Vernon and who
saw him and his brother officers killed Be
ing without commanders, they were driven
OF at one point, but they endeavored 10
scale the fort at others They found the
position of the Beers, however, almost i'm
pregnable.
When we retired under cover of the ar
mored train so many men had been wound
ed that a suspension of hostilities occurred
under the auspices of the Red Cross. The
veldt around the Boer position was at. once
dotted with flags of mercy, and it was seen
that our wounded were scattered within but
a short radius of the fort We had almost
completely surrounded it, and had it NOT
been so extraordinarily well protected we
should have been in possession
L went with an ambulance 20 Gametrae
Inc Tort itself is circular. with wide in
terror and narrow frontage, between six
and seven feet high, pierced with f1,inIe
tiers of loopholes and surrounded hv
ditch
Reconnaissance from ChieveIev.
-Four O'Clock, Camp Natal. Jan. G.
There was a reconnaissance in force from
Chieveley this forenoon with 2OOO horse
and two guns, the object being to locate
the enemy on a hill south of Hlanewano
hill. Several shots were fired. supDle-
mented by the naval gun. The enemy re-
piled at long range, but did not touch the
British.
Lord Dundonald perceiving strong
mounted force issuing beyond the range
of the British guns, with the evident in
tention Of working around our flank, di-
rected the force to retire to Chieveley.
During the cannon fire natives in the
valley can be seen blowing compla cently.
BRITISH STEAMER SUNK.