Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-15
BOER VERSION OF LOMBARD KOP
Son of Secretary Reitz Writes Let
ter to His Father

Son of Secretary Reitz Writes a Let
ter to His Father.
From Pretoria the London Daily News
has secured an interesting translation of a
| letter written by Deneys Reitz to his father.
the Transvaal state secretary. The writer
is with the Boer forces before Ladysmith
he Is seventeen years of age. Joubert is Il
younger brother. while Hjaimar is elder
brother, just returned from Europe:
BEFORE LADYSMITH, Dec. IL. 1880
Dear Father: Joubert and l are safe and
well. | see in the Standard and Digger.
News that the English had stormed Lom-
bard's Kop. but it is not stated that they
damaged two of the guns. On the following
morning they came past US, but We're soon
driven back. But now comes the worst.
We were on outpost duty last night. about
600 yards from the hill. on which stood Il
howitzer. Below this hill lay other out
posts. which, either through treachery or
carelessness. allowed the English to pass.
About ! o'clock We heard the English on
the top of the hill. crying Hurrah We
sent word to Zeederberg. the field cornet.
but before he could arrive the howitZer was
damaged. The English again cheered and
We We're so enraged that We immediately
ran through the bushes to stop them when
they should come down again There Werf,
only eigh: Of us.
1T was of course. pitch dark. When we
hitd run IA snort distance We heard. Halt.
who goes there from a body of English
VINO had remained in the bushes. We fired
in their direction and ran as fast as we
could to ditch behind u.s. After waiting
some minutes we again advanced among
the bushes. and. after having marched
about mile. We reached the creek which
runs below the hill. Here a body of Eng
fish who had remained behind fired voIleys
at us. We lay against the bank of the
creek and replied to their fire. 1t became
so hot. however, that retreated around
the corner of the bank. Here Sample Van
Zyl was shot. He was lust about a ward
anead OF me. He was struck by two bull
lets. one in the throat, the other through
the lungs. We are very sad today on ar
count of his death for he was the life and
soul OF our camp. He did not die imme-
diateiy We placed him against the bank
and gave him water. We were then Obliged
to leave him. for some of the English werr
behind us. while those who had been on
the top of the hill were in front of us
We ran to the opposite bank and then
an Englishman rushed down toward me
and was going to stab me with his bayonet.
but ne was little too high up. so that he
could not do it. He said: Throw down
your gun. and l won't shoot But / said
lhrow down yours, or | shall shoot And
SO Wohid nave but he threw down his
gun; Then he fumbled with his hands in
his breast. probably to loosen his cartridge
pouch, but L thought he meant to take out
a revolver. My comrades shouted out.
Shoot him. Reitz: shoot him But I had
not the heart to shoot man at two PAGES
so said: Put up your hands or I'll shoot.
which he accordingly did / then took his
gun and shall send You the bayonet.
III INC ibtdH"IIt the English We're n
preaching. We could hear what they said
They were in high spirits. and they were
quite unaware of our being in front of
them. We waited till We could see them
They marched in close order about 200 In
number. They We're then about ten yards
from us We then fired among them They
stopped and all called out. Rifle brigade
Ihey must have supposed that We belonged
70 their people Then one of them said
Let us charge One officer Cant Palev n
am writing this letter with his Silver pencil
rUh 10 I,,sl
wounds already. Joubert gave him another
shot, and he fell on top of US.
Four Englishmen got hold Of Jan Luutig
and struck him on the mead with their
rifles and stabbed him in the stomach with
bayonet. He seized two of them bv the
throat, and shouted. Help, boys His two
nearest comrades shot two of the nearest
soldiers, and the other two bolted Phi
then the English came up in such numbers
thaf We all lay down quiet as mice along
sne oa 1 Ihey came in single ffle about
$40. along the footpath, only about six
yards from where We lay. Had there bee,
more OF US we would have continued fir
ing, but the English would simnIy bana
trampled us down.
we could, of course. see them we'll and
overhear all they said. One of them said
who knows the way?' Another replied,
Keep to the right and as 1 was sitting n
few yards TO the right 1 felt somewhat un-
easy, but they just then fortunately found
me tootpath again, and did not see me
W nile they were crossing the ditch one of
man, wounded man to the right | cant
walk But one of them replied: oh Won
are only a Dutchman.' and another cried.
Go to HI ~"'
When the English had all passed tbe da,
was just breaking. We afterward founi
twenty-five of them killed and wounded
Capt. Paley was still living, and we did for
MN what We could. but We had no water
and he died shortly after The other wound
&c men constantly cried out for water, and
we then sent one OF the pfisoners-there
were five or six of them-with a white flag
TO Ladysmith to fetch doctors
One Eugiishman had been struck by
seven bullets. one by four and one by three
There was. / believe, not one who had less
than TWO bullet wounds. and considering
that We were only seven in number and
only continued firing for about five minutes.
you can see that 1t must have been warm
work. Besides that. the English carried OF
a couple of their wounded out of the ditch
All their guns had bayonets fixed to them,
l took four guns, but l gave two TO the
legs of two of the wounded. Among the
twenty-five were Capt. Paley, one ma Tor
and one corporal
Further on the English killed three OF
our men with bayonets and wounded two.
Higher up the hill there lay ten dead OF
the English, and where We had been chal-
lenged by them also lay one. Isaac MAJ
berbe has gone to Pretoria with the pris-
oners. and If you meet him he can tell you
all about 1t.
bring couple of water bottles for we
have already suffered once or twice from
having none. Tell Att / have received
Willie Brilrs letters. and also tell him
he must not Insist coming to the front
for 1t Is no picnic. 1 shall now conclude
with love to all. Your affectionate son.
''DENEYS REITZ"