The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-23
B0ERS AND BRITISH FlGHTli!G ALL DAY
LONG YESTERDAY.
BRITISH BIVOUAC ON THE FIELD.
Battle to be Renewed Today-British
Forces Fight Their Way Forward
Steadily = They Now Confront the
Main Position of the Beers Beers
Bombarding Ladysmith With Heav-
Ter Guns-Bursting of Buffers shells
Seen from that City.

London, January 21.-It is evident
from General Buffers dispatch to the
war office and the advices in the Asso
ciated Press from Spearman's camp,
that big battle is now being fought.
As far as can be gathered from these
dispatches the result remains undecid-
ed, and unless the Beers withdrew dur
ing the night, the engagement on
which hangs the fate of Ladysmith and
which may prove the turning point of
the whole war, will be resumed this
morning.
London, January 21.-The war office
shortly after midnight posted the fol-
lowing dispatch from General Butler,
dated Spearman's camp, January Goth,
evening:
General Clery, with a part of Cen
ton from o'clock a. m till Z o'clock
p. m. today. By judicious use of
his artillery he has fought his way up,
capturing ridge after ridge The
troops are now bivouacing on the
ground he has gained, but the main DO
slt1on is still in front of them. The
casualties were not heavy. About 100
wounded have been brought in by $50
O'Clock .. m. The number of killed has
not yet been aScertained."
Spearman's Camp, Natal, January
20, 11:45 a. m.-The firing of field guns
was heard early this morning from the
left. Evidently General Warren has
commenced the bombardment of the
Boer trenches on Tabanmyana noun
tains. There was also a brief musket-
ry fire. Among the prisoners captured
md IN, Low
President Kruger.
The artillery and muSketry fire con-
tinues from General Warren's position
The enemy has not shifted it's position
at the time this dispatch was sent, and
the shells set fire to the grass.
HEAVY COMMANDMENT OF LADY
SMITH.
Ladysmith, January 20, via Spear
mans Camp.-The enemy have placed
III position new guns throwing S-inch
shells and have been bombarding more
vigorously for the last few days, though
little damage has been done. Three of
the British force have been wounded
The troops are jubilant over General
Buffers successful advance. His guns
can be heard distinctly and the burst
ing of shells can be plainly seen.
BOER TRENCHES SHELLED.
Spearman's Camp, January 20 Eve
ning)-The Boer trenches were shelled
continuously today. General Littleton's
brigade advanced and occupied kopje
1000 yards from the Beers position at
Brakfontein. A company of rifles ad-
vanced with balloon into action and
were received with a heavy fire from
the Beers.
The artillery and musketry fire con-
tinues from General Warrens position
Lord Dundonald's force on Thursday
surprised $50 Beers. The British, who
were posted on kopje, allowed the
Beers to advance leisurly before open
ing fire. The Beers did not reply, and
majority of them galloped off, 1t is
reported that the remainder surren-
dered.
Rensburg, Cape Colony, Friday jan
uary ia gentleman who has escaped
from Colesburg reports that the Dutch
inhabitants, who are sympathiZers with
the Beers, are proceeding to the Orange
Free State, in anticipation of the evac-
uation of the town. Mr.. Wander Walt,
a member of the Cape Assembly, has
already gone
The Boer force there is estimated 20
number from 5000 to 1000 men, besides
strong force at Norval's pont The
British shells did much execution east
ward of the town. The Boer loss up
to date is probably 200 men.
Carefully sompiled figures from re-
publican sources, some Of which have
been investigated and found to be cor
rect show the Boer losses up to date
are approximately 6,425 men, incl lding
1000 casualties during the siege of
Ladysmith
BOER ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH
ADVANCE.
Boer Headquarters. Upper Tugela,
Tuesday, January Is, via Lourenzo
Marques, January 49, (Afternoon.)-It
became known today that 300 English
had crossed the Pont drift over the
Great Tugela and were on the federal
side. display in force has been made
toward Colenso and another north
ward, toward divers hoek bridge,
which was blown up by us few days
ago. Toward o'clock the alarm was
given out that the English were COM
ing. The lookouts observed long sue
cessive lines of infantry moving down
to the new British position a BUSH
covered chain of hills known as SwartZ-
kop. Their forces were sometimes lost
in the trees studding the river bank.
At o'clock they emerged in open
order and advanced in two lines to the
low kopjes on the river bank
At $50 o'clock they took up posi-
tionA amid complete silence on the
Boef side their horses tethered where
there was the least danger from chance
shells, and the men prepared to make
a night of it at their posts. Night had
now fallen. With the gloom came fit
full flashes OF lightning from the thun-
derclouds which had been threatening
all day. The clouds eventually sepa-
rated, showing the moon Simultane-
ously with the clearing sky well-known
Dutch hymns were repeated from kop-
je to kopje, with a strangely weird ef-
feet, highly inspiring both to the grey
boards and the beardless youths. The
battlefield is full of historical signifi-
canoe Spionkop hill, whence am now
writing, was a hill from which the
Boer trekkers. after crossing the OAK
ensbrrg mountains. sPied out the then
barbarfc Natal and found il fair In
their eyes.