The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-02-01
Gen. Butler. Dispatch.

"Spearman's Camp, Jan. u, 10 p. m.
On Jan. 20, as reported, Gen. War
rem drove back the enemy and obtained
possession of the southern crests of
the high lakeland extending from
line at Action Homes and Honger's
PoOrt to the Western Ladysmith hills.
From then until Jan. Is he remained
in close contact with the enemy, who
held strong position on range of
small kopjes stretching from northeast
to southwest across the plateau from
Action Homes to Spion kop to the left
bank Of the Tugela.
THE actual position held was per-
fectly tenable, but did rot lend itself
TO an advance, as the southern slopes
were so steep that Gen. Warren could
not get effective artillery in position,
and to supply his troops with water
was difficult.
Couldn't Hold the Kop.
: ION Jan. % 1 consented to his at
lacking Spion kop; which is large
hill-indeed, a mountain-which was
evidently the key to the position, but
which was far more accessible from
the north than from the south. On the
night of Jan. % he seized Spion kop,
but 1t was difficult to hold, as its peri
meter was too large, and water, which
he had been led to believe existed, in
this extraordinarily dry season was
found very difficult to obtain.
- 1.-THE crests were held that day
against very severe attacks and heavy
shell fire. Our troops fought with
great gallantry.
II would specially mention the
conduct of the Second Cameron
ans and the Third Kings Royal
rifles, who supported attacks on
the mountain from its steepest side,
IN each case fighting their way
to the top; also the Second Lanca-
shires apd Second Mid1lesex, who mag
nifcentIy maintained the best tradi-
tions Of the British army throughout
the trying day; also on Jan. "a
&Ghorheycroft's mounted infantry. who
Thought throughout equally well along
side.
Gen. Woodgate, who was in COM
hand at the summit, being wounded
The officer who succeeded him decided
on the night Of Jan. "a to abandon the
position, and did SO before daylight
Jan. Is.
Decides to Retreat.
Il reached Warren's camp at a.
M, Jan. Is, and decided that second
attack on Spion kop would be useless
and that the enemy'a right was toe
strong to allow me to force it. l ac-
cordingly decided to withdraw the
force to the south of the Tugela.
cat 6 a. m. I commenced withdraw.
ing the train. BY 8 a. M, Jan. 81
Warren's force was concentrated south
Of the Tugela, without the loss of q
man or pound Of stores.
''The fact that the force could with,
draw from actual touch Tin cases the
lines were less than 1000 yards apart
! with the enemy in the perfect manner
It did is, I. think, sufficient evidence o.
the morale of the troops.
''That we were permitted to with
draw our cumbrous OK and mule trans
port across a river eighty-five yards
broad with twenty-foot banks, very
swift stream, unmolested, was, think
proof that the enemy has been taught
to respect our soldiers fighting pow
ers.''
England II Stunned.
10 say that England is stunned b!
the news is to put it mildly. To maxi
matters worse, there turks suspicion
in the popular mind that the Who'll,
truth has not been told by Gen. Bulle
In the dispatch, or that the version
made public has been garbled by tn
war office for public consumption. On
thing is plain, however, and that Il
that the movement against the Doe
right that was inaugurated by gen
Il eral order to the troops that Lady
smith, with their beleaguered com
rades, was in front, and that there wa
to be no turning back, has collapsed il
thoroughly undignified retreat is nov
q matter of history.
That there was no pursuit by tn
Beers was In consonance with thei
tactics in similar cases throughout tn