Gilpin observer., 1900-02-01
BRITISH WITHDRAW.
BULLER REcRossEs THE TU-
CELIA.
After Severe Repulse at spion Kop Hs
Decides 1t Impracticabie to Continue
tho Advance to Ladysmith.

VI
Spearman's camp, Saturday, January
9th, 6:1O p. M:
January Goth General Warren drove
back the enemy and obtained posses
sion of the southern crests of the higl
table land extending from the line ol
Acton Homes and Honger's poort t.
the western Ladysmith hills. From
then to January 25th he remained IL
close contact with the enemy.
THE enemy held n strong position or
range of small kOpjes stretching from
northwest to southeast across the
plateau from Acton Homes, through
Spion kop to the left bank of the Tu.
gela.
1.-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 no;
get an effective artillery position, and
water supplies We're difficulty.
January 23rd l assented to his at.
tacking Spion kop, a large hill, indeed
a mountain. which was evidently a key
to the position, but was far more acces-
sible from the north than from the
south.
'On the night of January 23rd he at
tackled Spion kOp, but found it difficult
to hold, as its perimeter was too large
and water, which he had been led to be
lieve existed in this extraordinary dry
season was found deficient.
THE crests We're held all that day
against severe attacks and n heavy
shell fire Our men fought with great
gallantry. l would especially mention
the conduct of the Second Cameron In
dians and the Third Kings Rifles, who
supported the attack on the mountain
from the steepest side, and in each case
fought their way to the top, and the
Second Lancashire Fusiliers and Sec
ond MiddleseX, who magnificently
maintained the best traditions of the
British army throughout the trying day
of January oath, and Thornycrofts
mounted infantry, who fought through
the day equally well alongside of them.
General Woodgate. who was in com
mand at the summit, having been
wounded, the officer who succeeded
him decided on the night of January
Oath to abandon the position, and did
so before dawn January 25th.
Il reached Warren's camp at 5 n. m.,
January 25th, and decided that a sec
ond attack upon Spion kOp was useless
and that the enemy's right was too
strong to allow me to force 1t.
Accordingly. | decided TO withdraw
the force to the south of the Tugela.
At 6 a. M. we commenced withdrawing
the train, and by s n. m.. January 9th
Saturday. Warren's force was concen-
trated south of the Tugela without the
loss of man or pound of stores.
1.-The fact that the force should with
draw from actual touch-in some cases
the lines We're less than thousand
yards apart-with the enemy in the
manner it did, is, think. sufficient evil
lence of the morale of the troops, and
that we are permitted to. withdraw our
cumbrous OK and mule transports
across the river. eighty-tive yards
broad. with twenty-foot banks and n
very swift current. unmolested. is, |
think. proof that the enemy has been
taught to respect our soldiers fighting
powers
A dispatch from Pretoria. dated Jan
uary 25th, via LourenZo Marques, jan
uary 26th, says:
"The government is advised that. af-
ter heavy fighting near Spion kop. some
British on the kop being stormed hoist
ed white flag and $50 surrendered"
Boer Head Laager. Ladysmith, Jan.
%. p. m.-The British dead left on the
battlefield yesterday numbered 1,5OO.
1t appears that General Buller had
all together five brigades, wholly or
partly engaged, General Cookies, Gen
eral Hildyard's. General Hart's. Gen
eral Woodgate's and General Lyttle-
tons. and the 270 casualties already
announced in Lyttleton's brigade are
thus explained. Much mystery still
surrounds the retreat. 1t is possible
that General Butler has withdrawn his
whole force. but it is generally assumed
that Lyttleton's brigade and Lord
Dundonald's cavalry and other troops
are still on the north side .f the Tli-
gela.
General Buffers confidence that the
Beers did not molest his retreat be-
cause they had been taught to respect
the fighting powers of the British sol
dier, is not shared in London. 1t is
thought rather that the Beers had
some other plan In store or did not
wish to waste their men.
Large arrivals of troops are due Mt
Cape Town during the week.
There has been great activity in mill
tary quarters in all parts of England
since Saturday morning.
At the very moment when DIR. Leyds
Is being received ms an honored guest
in the highest circles on the continent.
Great Britain has to face the worst
disaster in n campaign thus far dis
astrous. Open talk is heard OF the
absolute necessity of abandoning
Ladysmith to its fate, while Lord
Roberts rcverts to the original plan of
an advance over the Orange river upon
Bloemfonteln
To Ladysmith the disappointment
must be bitter A dispatch from the
Boer laager, near the Town, dated
January 2ith, describes the garrison
ms evidently preparing n desperate
coup In order to effect n junction with
General Buffers advancing army"
1t may be regarded rs certainty
that in the confident hope of early re-
lief. Sir George White has intciy been
issuing extra rations. and this fact has
Fl fslA to. n IL