The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-03
Stenlthy March in the Darkness Fol-
lowed by Bloody Work When
the Morning Mist Vanished.
COLONEL THoRNYCRoFT BRAVE
TOLD THE Beers TO GO TO HADEs
AND CONTINUED FIRING.
Advice Which Was Partly Needed and
Cost the Lives of Many Men
-BuIler's Movements.

acquit ourselves like men, That is an
archbishop of Armagh which Lord Rob-
erts has ordered distributed to his soldiers
in the field. Quoting from the full &C
counts of Buffers second attempt to re-
lieve Ladysmith and of the bloody fight at
Spion kop the prayer was answered.
For the last few days the London dailies
have published four or five columns each
Of mail matter from their correspondents
at the front. These show that the opera
tons which began on Jan. IL and ended
with Butler once more going back across
the Tugela on Jan. % were far more dra-
matte than could be imagined from the
cabled dispatches. Men whose lives have
been spent in describing lighting of every
kind in every corner Of the globe declare
Buffers movement to have been one of
the most carefully planned and intensely
interesting from a military point of view
that has marked the war history OF the
world.
Starting from Chievely on Jan. IL, Gen.
Butler brought his forces slowly to the
south bank of the Tugela- Only a favored
few knew what his intentions were, but
gela there developed, to quote Winston
Churchill in the Morning Post. this plan of
action: Seven battalions, twenty-five
guns and 300 horse under Lyttleton to mask
the Potgieter position; twelve battalions,
thirty-six guns and LOCO horse to cross five
miles to the westward, and make turn
ing movement against the enemys right.
The Boer covering army was TO be swept
back on Ladysmith by powerful left arm
the pivoting shoulder of which was at Pot
gieter's, the elbow at Triegards drift, and
the enveloping hand-the cavalry under
Lord MISUNDERSTANDING out towards
Acton Homes.
AN AMERICAN HERO.
Every step was made as planned. The
Tugela was crossed with practically no re-
sistance on Jan. 90 THE first position we
took" writes the Daily Mails correspond
ent, twas Sugar Loaf hill on the left flank
the honor of the achievement being won by
Squadron of the South African Light
Horse. Their determination so impressed
the defending party that they fed, and
when the squadron reached the summit the
hill was deserted. Corporal Tobin especial
ly distinguished himself In the ascent, be-
ing the foremost throughout, and, aided by
athletic physique, managed to reach the
summit some PAGES before his comrades, TO
whom he shouted. Come on, there is no
one here Tobin is American.
Then men fought from kopje TO kopje,
and then, as the Times correspondent
writes, 1--WE were at deadlock. There had
been four days fighting. The first had
been distinctly successful; we had forced
the enemy back from all his advanced
positions; the infantry had fought splen-
didly, and our losses, considering the
strength of the position we were attacking,
had not been great Now, however, we
had come to the main line of defense.
Three days fighting had not improved our
position. His was probably stronger, for
he had brought up more guns and i'm
proved his intrenchments. 1t was obvious,
therefore, that we could not hope for sue
cess In that direction, and so the attack on
Spion kop was ordered.
According to another account the attack
on Spion kop, which was believed to DOM
mate the Boer positions, was not declared
until after council or war, In when
General Butler, while favoring an immedi-
ate retreat across the Tugela, allowed
himself to be governed by the entreaties of
his subordinates.
ASCENT OF SPION KOP.
On the ascent of Spion kop the Standard
correspondent writes: THE night was in
tensely dark. The troops were Led by the
guides over rocky ridges and through
dongas, the men being warned to make as
| little noise as possible, so as not to attract
| the attention of the Beers posted on the
mountain that lowered above. To the west
the fitful crack of rife fire showed that the
enemy there was sniping at our infantry on
| the left front. Led by General Woodgate
| and Colonel Bloomfield the Fusiliers began
| the arduous ascent. Slowly but steadily
| pressing in single file, the Fusiliers
| leading, the long line of silent figures crepi
| up the height. Ledge after ledge was
| passed in silence, the orders being that nc
| them was to be done with the bayonet. Col
| Thornycroft now pressed TO the front and
| led the way.
1.-The crest of the mountain, fully two
| thousand feet above it's base, was reached
| about $3.50 o'clock in the morning OF
| Wednesday, Jan. "a. Far below could be
| seen the lights of the field hospitals, dotted
on the plain. The night signals on Three
| tree hill hung like an arc of light in the
| near distance and told that all was we'll
| The crest having been gained, the leadinf
| files of Thornycroft's Mounted Infantry
/ and the Fusiiers advanced along tn,
| men peered intently through the blacknes.
| ahead. Suddenly at o'clock in the morn
| ing when third of the entire length o.
| the plateau had been cautiously traversed
a Kaffir was heard singing out the alarm
| A sentry challenged and the Fusiier:
| charged with cheer. An officer bayoneteC
| the sentry. The Beers thereupon clutcheC
| their weapons. fired a wild volley anC
| DOlted into the darkness DeyOnu.
| 1.-The first trench had been won withou
| the loss of a man on our side. and the
| column sent up a ringing cheer that pealeC
| like a bell through the misty morning.
About 5 o'clock a. m. the second trencf
/ was taken. There the troops silently await
| ed the grim work before them.
about o'clock, when the misty CLOUD
cap over Spion kop melted away sufficient
1 ly the Beers, who were now crowding II
| thousands on the ridge and in hundred:
! fehind the rocks and in the trenches across
the northern extremity. well as almos
| up to the center of the mountain crest
| opened central fire our devoted bat
| talions. The hail-like rattle OF the Boel
| rifles was replied TO vigorously.
| GENERAL woODGATE SHOT.
| General Woodgate, who had been de
4 tailed by General Warren to effect the cap
| ture of the position. walked to and fr'
amid the never-ceaslng whistle of fyinl
| bullets to direct his men. No one seems
| to know precisely when the gallant office
| was hit there being no breathing space al
| lowed 10 look at watches, but early In IN,
| engagement the general was shot over III,
left eye as ne was coolly watching the ef
feet OF our fire. He was carried TO IN,
rear. suffering acute pain. but exciaiming
Let me alone.
OF the fierce fighting that followed OF
counts. but none more graphic than Win
| ston Churchill's. ''The troops" Churchill
| writes. were driven almost entirely of
the main plateau. and the Beers succeeded
In reoccupyng some OF their trenches. 4
frightful disaster was narrowly averted
trenches abandoned their resistance. threw
up their hands and called out that the,