The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-03-08


ing-Brief Account of the Siege and
Efforts at ReIief-Gen. White Penned
In Ladysmith Oct. 80 After Disaster
to British Arms-Reward of British
Generals Valor and Perseverance,.
1t is officially announced in London thai
Ladysmith has been relieved. The wal
office has received the following dispatch
from Gen. Butler: ''Lyttleton's headquar
ters.-Gen. Dundonald, with the Nata
Carbineers and composite regiment, mas
entered Ladysmith."
The events which led up TO the siege oi
Ladysmith began with the pouring oi
Boer forces into Natal by way of Iaing
Mex and of Free State forces through
Van Rcenan's pass Immediately after the
war began on Oct. II. The attack on
Glencoe Oct. 20 resulted in n reverse for
the British. their commander, Gen. Sym
ons, being mortally wounded. The BRIT
ish found their position untenable, and
under the leadership of Gen. lule they
retreated toward Laiysmith, the force
of 1000 men being in imminent danger
of destruction by the Beers. To guard
the retreat force of British from Lady
smith under Gen. French fought the bat
tie of Elandslaagte on Oct. p. which re-
ulted in victory for the British, the
Beers being routed and their commander
Gen kock, being mOrtally wounded
Gen. Yule arrived safely at l.adysmlth
on Oct. 20, after a severe march.
In the meantime the Beers continued
to gather in Natal and by Oct. ~ were
strongly posted on three sides OF the city.
Gen. Sir George Stewart White. who
commanded the forces at Ladysmith on
that day, moved out all his force in an
effort to break through the BOer lines
and rout them, but the left wing of his
command, composed OF the First Dattai-
ion of the Royal Irish fusiliers, the First
battalion of the Gloucestershire regiment
and the Tenth mountain battery, was sur
rounded by the Beers ut NichOlsOn's Mex
and compelled to surrender. The other
British troops were driven back by the
Beers, and from that time Ladysmith
was under siege. BY Nov. the city
was well invested. The day before a
naval brigade had arrived from Durham
with some powerful guns, taken from the
warships. These guns proved invaluable
in the long siege which followed, as they
were the only weapons in Eadysmith
which could compare in power with the
magnificent artillery used by the Beers
in shelling the city. On Nov. the COM
munications were cut south OF Lady
smith.
On Nov. 4 the British evacuated Colen-
so. which guarded the bridge crossing the
Tugela river. The Beers crossed the Tu-
gela and raided through Natal to the
outskirts of the British camp at Estcourt
and beyond, threatening even to attack
the capital of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
The British forces began to arrive from
England, and under command first or
Gen. Cleary and later OF Gen. Butler or
Canized at Frere and Chieveley station
for the advance to the relief of Lady
smith.
After collecting an army of about H.
600 men Gen. Butler on Dec. 10 adyanc-
cd to attack the Beers at Colenso under
Gen. Schalkburger and along the Tugeia
river in an attempt to force the crossing
of that stream. 4 severe battle follow
ed. in which the British showed bad lead
crship and were defeated ut every point
with heavy loss of men and the capture
of eleven cannon.
Gen. Butler began his great movement
toward the relief of Ladysmith Jan. Ii.
Gen. Warren, with 1,OOO men, made n
detour toward Weenen, but it was three
days later before the British troops be-
gan TO get across the Tugeia. Lyttieton's $
brigade, battery of field artillery and
howitzer battery crossed in the center,
while Gen. Warren's command to the left
crossed on pontoons. LyttletOn contin-
ued the advance under a heavy artillery
fire from the Beers. At the same time
Gen. Warren's division met with strong
resistance. There was hard fighting for
nearly a week. and on Jan. >! Gen. War
rcn captured Spion kop. Jan. 70 the
Beers recaptured Spion kop, and immedi-
ately afterward Warren's troops moved
back across the Tugela. The Beers cap
tured 1908 prisoners.
At this point in the campaign many OF
the English officers advised abandoning
the relief Of Ladysmith. On Jan. 30
Gen. Butler sent out another recOnnois-
sance. and on Feb. . the British recrOss-
cd the Tugela river and attacked the
Beers two days later. The Beers secur-
ed an advantageous position and checked
the advance of the British for the time.
More fighting followed. The Beers for
the first time took the offensive against
Gen. Butler. The two forces engaged in
light skirmishes, Gen. Butler trying to
keep the Beers SO busy that none could
be spared to assist Gen. Cronje, who had
taken charge of the federal troops at
Modder river.
On Feb. 10 Gen. Butler began an ad-
vance to Ladysmith, and began to fight
his way toward the besieged city. Posi-
ton after position was captured by the
British, and two days later the Beers be-
gan moving their large guns from the
hills surrounding the city. evidently fear
full lest they could not hold back the Brit
ish when the rush began to Ladysmith.