The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-18
RECENT ATTA OK ON Lad DYSMITH.
Desperate Nature of the Flghting-Re-
taking of Wagon Hill.

RECENT Alta OK ON LAD DYSMITH.
Desperate Nature of the Fighting-Rs-
taking of Wagon Hill.
London, Jan. 17.--The Standard pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Ladysmith dated January G, by way OF
Frere, January II, describing the re-
cent attack on the beleagured town:
1.-The enemy to-day made determin-
ed effort to capture two positions, Cae-
sars Camp and Wagon Hill. The lat
ter is lofty eminence to the south
west, possession OF which would have
| brought them within rifle range of the
town. Caesars Camp was held by the
| first battalion of the Manchester reg
iment. The position was separated from
that of the Beers to a rocky ravine In
the early hours of the morning, under
| cover of darkness, the Heidelberg COM
mando succeeded in evading our pick
cts, making their way through the
| thorn bush and reaching the foot of
the slope at 2:30. The alarm was rails
ed by our sentries, but before the full
extent of the danger could be realized
the outlying Sangers had been rushed
and their defenders slain.
"On hearing the firing the two COM
panies Of the Gordon Highlanders went
to the assistance of the Manchesters.
At first it was thought that the Beers
were concentrating on the southern
slope, where they had already secured
footing on the plateau Here, how
ever. their advance was checked by the
steady volleys of our infantry and the
deadly fire of an automatic gun.
Lieutenant Hunt Grubbe went to
see if any aid were needed by the
troops stationed ON the ridge near the
town. He was not aware that the
enemy had already captured the
breastworks, and called out to the SER
geant. He received the reply. Here
am, sir and then he suddenly disap-
peared from sight. Captain Carnegie,
isuspecting a ruse, ordered the Gordons
to fire a volley and to charge. The
enemy thereupon fell back precipitately
leaving behind them the officer whom
they had captured with so much pres
ence of mind The lieutenant was quite
unhurt
''It was now evident that the camp
was being assailed on the left flank
forcements of Gordon Highlanders and
of the rifle brigade had been hurried up
to the fighting line Lieutenant Colo
mel Dick Conyngham, who was lead
ing the Gordons out of camp, fell NOR
tally wounded being hit by stray
bullet while still close to the town.
The Fifty-t third battery of field artillery
under Major Addy, crossed the Kip
river and shelled the ridge and reverse
slope of the front position, where the
enemy We're lying among the thorn
bushes.
"The shrapnel which flew over our
heads did terrible execution. 1t effec-
tualIy held the Beers in check and rem
dered it impossible for them to send
reinforcements to their men through
the ravine The enemy fought through
out with the most stubborn courage,
being evidently determined to take the
or died in the attempt. Their
six inch gun on Umbulwana mountain
and it's smaller satellites threw more
than a hundred shells at Abdy's bat |
terry and at the troops on the hill. Our
troops, however, were not less gallant |
and resolved and the enemy was press
ed back step by step until at length |
those who were left broke and fled in |
utter disorder
"a terrific storm of rain and hail, |
by peals of thunder had |
burst over the camp during the fight
ing This served to swell the streams
into raging torrents. In their efforts
to escape numbers of the enemy flung
into the current and were
swept away. The struggle in this part
Of the field was now ended and the
finale was a terrific fusilade all along
the line, the crash of which almost
drowned the incessant thunder above.
Meanwhile a more exciting contest
was in progress in the direction OF
Wagon Hill. At 2 o'clock a storming
party furnished by the Harrismith
crept slowly and cautiously +
along a donga in the valley which di-
vides our posts from their camp. A few
we'll aimed rifle shots killed our pick
Its. Taking advantage of every inch of
,over, the Beers then gradually reached
he crest of the heights. Here body
If light horse was posted, but they
were forced to retire before the ad-
rance of the Free Staters, there being
10 breastworks for defense and the
western shoulder Of the hill. With lit
lie to impede their progress the enemy
soon came to an ernplacement, where
hey surprised working parties of the
1ordon Highlanders and the SiXtieth
Rifles.
Lieutenant Digby Jones of the Royal
engineers, collecting a handful of men,
made a gallant effort to hold the posi-
ion; but the numbers were against
lin and after stubborn resistance, he
vas driven back, and the enemy got ]
possession of the summit Even then, {
However. the Free Staters were afraid {
o venture far or to face the heavy fire
rom the Sangar. Here it was that '
lieutenant MacNaughton and thirty of I
he Gordons were captured, although t
ot until every man among them had {
een wounded. c
"At O'Clock Colonel Edwards with !
/