The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-02-02

ish infantry was hurled upon the Boel
position under heavy fire of shells,
and when within 500 yards the Dutch
began to play with their Mausers as
well as Maximum lenfeldt machine
guns. AS usual, not Boer could be
sighted by the British. There was no
sort of cover for the assailantS, and
they went down in scores and hun
dreds.
But in spite of the hail of lead which
met them the British tried to cross by
rushes, and two or three small parties
actually waded or swan the stream.
only to be driven back. A dozen of the
Coldstream guards, led by Lieutenant
Colonel Coddrington, swan across and,
finding the place too hot Joined hands
and swan back. The highlanders made
many attempts to cross.
After getting a fcothold near the riv-
er the British poured rifle and cannon
shots upon the Boer trenches. Methu-
en- had % guns in action. The only
real success Of the British was the
crossing of 81 detachment of the Scots
guards late in the day and the holding
of their position north of the river.
This was the battle which General
Methuen is said to have called 1.-The
bloodiest of the century," but the loss
was less than 10 per cent on the side
of the assailants. Methuen's force
numbered $500, and the Boer strength
was estimated at about the same. The
Beers left their works in the night,
and the next day the British crossed
and began the advance toward Kim.
berley which led to the second stub
born battle of the campaign at Ma
gersfontein
1t has been stated that at Magersfon-
TEN the Highland brigade. which led
the attack and lost enormously. made a
six mile march through unknown ter
ritory and engaged the enemy without
the ground being reconnotered This
command lost over 700 killed and
wounded, among them the leader. Cen
eral Wauchope. and 81 other officers.
The highlanders' attack was sprung at
daybreak. but before they had broken
the close formation heavy fire was
poured into them at close range. 1t was
another case of Boer ambush. General
Wauchope was killed in the first
plunge. but his men fell back in good
order and reformed their lines.
The point aimed at by the Highland
brigade was hill. or kopje. on the
Boer flank. The column was within
200 yards of it when fired upon unex-
pectedly. as some witnesses claim
The Boer position was six miles long
extending north from the river and
covering the road to Kimberley At
tacks ordered at other points were
checked by the repulse of the highland
ers, and the Gordon highlanders went
to the succor of the brigade. At this
time the Beers made q counter attack
which was met by the Coldstream
guards.
From the time of the highland attack
the British kept up an artillery fire un-
til late in the day receiving no re-
Spouse, except from the Boer Mausers.
At O'Clock the Gordons tried to carry
the kopje where Wauchope fell, but
were met by fearful shrapnel fire
and driven back. The commander,
Colonel bowman. fell. At night Cen
eral Methuen's army lay intrenched in
front of the Beers. but retreated the
next day to it's old camp on Modder
river, minus over 800 killed and wound
ed. AS at Modder river, the Beers had
been invisible to the enemy. but had
stood the ground for hours under hot
fire from the British artillery.
Tugela River is classed as British
disaster. but there was good show
ing of Anglo-SaXon grit there neverthe-
less. The Beers held a strong position
with fortified hills on the north bank.
On the south side and in the drifts di-
viding the river current they occupied
trenches. General Butler ordered three
columns to attack at different points
simultaneously. but. as usual. the com
bination failed, and General Harris
Irish brigade bore the brunt of the
lighting. Colonel Longs artillery out
paced its infantry supports. and when
the guns and the Irishmen were close