The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-09
The BATTLE AT
TUGELA RIVER.
Report Of General BuIIer'S De-
feat Received by Mail.
CLERYS ORDERS FOR BATTLE
mol Carried 0ut---Hart Lost Way and Bar
Ton GOT Into Unienahls Position
ARTILLERY OUTRAGED ITS ESCORT
And Was Lost In Consequence From Time HauIs
Opsnst Un u the R,rsai Thas has Coainu-
Ous hOar Of Cannon and kusssuy.
mol Carried 0ui---Hart Lost Way and Bar
Ton GOT Into Unienahls Position
ARTILLERY OUTRAGED ITS ESCORT

London. Jan. 9.-The first account
giving any adequate explanation of
Gen. Buffers defeat at the Tugela river
comes by mani from Mr.. Bennett Bur
leigh the Daily Telegraph's correspon-
dent
IL appears that the battle orders.
drawn up by Gen. Clery. provided for
the effective support OF the artillery by
Gen. Harts, Barton's and Dundonald' s
brigades. These were never complet-
ed. Gen. Hart missed his way, Lord
Dundonald failed to support. and Gen
Barton got part OF his forces I'm an un-
tenable position. Col. Long, with the
artillery ,outpaced the escort OF the
guns and they were lost. Briefly that
seems 10 be the story OF the Tugela
river. But. through graphic columns.
there continually recurs the discovery
OF unexpected entrenchments and aw-
ful fusillades from hidden Beers. and
gallantry such as has seldom marked
British battleields.
After describing how the British
force began their advance at daylight
and how the Beers left them absolutely
unmolested. the correspondents says:
AN AWFUL CRASH.
"At 6;25 there suddenly burst an aw-
ful crash OF Boer musketry upon the
batteries and advancing infantry. The
rattle OF the Mausers swelled and was
maintained as one continuous roar
From the buildings and lines OF trench
es south OF the river and from the river
bank itself the Beers fired at our gun
ners and fOotmen, and from the trench
es on the northern side OF the Tugela
river and from Fort Wylie and else
where, they sent out hurricane OF
leaden- hail. and the -hullats- -pannn,aus-
ftr rnf nd h.. N
tions. Few have ever seen so heavy
and so deadly fusillade. but neither
the British gunners nor the Infantry
hesitated or WINGED. Cannon were
wheeled into position. although many
OF the horses and men were shot down
before the maneuver was completed.
and our indomMable soldiers walked
erect and straight onward Not even
Rome in her palmiest days ever pos
sessed more devoted sons
II asked an American who had seen
warfare at home. in Cuba and Manila
II his own countrymen generally did
this. and he answered: Yes. ii Is mar
veloUs. but wasteful'
CLOSER and closer walked the SOL
diers to the Boer trenches until within
400 yards OF the nearest rife pits. Then
living down. they returned the fire but
there was little or nothing 10 aim at.
THE IRISH BRIGADE.
"By 1.15 the Irish Brigade had driven I
the Beers TO the north bank OF the /
Tugela. They found that the enemy
had planted the ground with barbed
wire entanglements. Even in the bed
of the river barbed wire was laid down.
into the water went the Dublin Innis-
Killings, Borderers and Cmnaughts, 1
Dut IL was found at the ford that the
Beers had cunninCiy damned the river,
md there was 10 feet OF water where
ordinarily IL was but knee deep. They
'trove 10 find the crossings and many
| fine fellow was drowned. 1t was a
desperate and serious situation. The
attack upon the right was making
10 progress and the hearts OF the men
had reached an apparent impasse But
here were furious and angry Irshmen
Who had resolved TO get across some
low. But by dint OF scrambling from |
'ock 10 rock and swimming. a number
Won the other side. Yet most OF them
ound that they had but passed across
winding spruit. The Tugela still lay
n front and all the while the murder
nus fire OF cannon and Mauser crashed.
md comrades fell weltering in their
blood"
LONG LOST HIS GUNS.
In the meantime Col. Long had lost
lis guns and Gems Butler and Clery