The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-18
DEFENSE OF LADYSMITH.



Beers ON Jan. g.
LONDON, Jan. 1S.-The Standard pub
fishes the following dispatch from Lady
smith, dated Jan. 6. by way Of Frere. Jan.
IL: 1.-THE enemy to-day made determined
effort to capture two positions, Caesars
Camp and Wagon hill. The latter is a lofty
eminence to the southwest, possession of
which would have brought them within
rifle range of the town. Caesars Camp was
held by the first battalion of the Manches-
ter Regiment.
1.-THE position was separated from that Of
the Beers by a rocky ravine. In the early
hours of the morning, under cover of dark
ness, the Heidelberg commando succeeded
in evading our pickets, making their way
through the thorn bushes and reaching
the foot of the slope at 2:30. The alarm
was raised by our sentries. but before the
full extent of the danger could be realized.
the outlying sangars had been rushed and
their defenders slain.
ION hearing the firing two companies OF
the Gordon Highlanders went to the assist
ance of the Manchesters. AT first 1T was
thought the Beers were concentrating on
the southern slope, where they had already
secured a footing on the plateau. Here
however, their advance was checked by the
steady volleys of our infantry and the
deadly fire of an automatic gun.
Lieutenant Hunt-Grubbe went out to see
il any aid were needed by the troops sta
toned on the ridge near the town. He was
not aware that the enemy had already
captured the breastworks, and called out to
the sergeant. He received the reply: Here
Il eli no
peared from sight. Captain Carnegie, sus-
pecting ruse ordered the Gordons to fire
a volley and to charge. The enemy there
upon fell back precipitately, leaving behind
them the officers whom they had captured
with so much presence of mind. The lieu
tenant was unhurt.
ut was now quite evident that the camp
was being asSailed on the left flank and on
the front BY daybreak reinforcements of
Gordon Highlanders and Of the rifle bril-
gade had been hurried up to the fighting
line. Lieutenant Colonel Dick-Cunyngham,
who was leading the Gordons out OF camp,
fell MORALLY wounded, being hit by a stray
bullet while still close to the town. The
Fifty-third battery Of field artillery. under
Major Abby. crossed the Kip river and
shelled the ridge and reverse slope of the
front position, where the enemy were lying
among the thorn bushes. The shrapnel.
which few over our heads. did terrible
execution. II effectually held the Beers In
check and rendered 1t impossible for them
to send achievements to their men
through the ravine.
1.-The enemy fought throughout with the
most stubborn courage. being evidently de-
termined to take the camp or die in the
attempt. Their six-inch gun on Umbul-
wanna mountain and its smaller satellites
threw more than hundred shells at
Abdys battery and at the troops on the
hill. Our troops. however, were not less
gallant and resolved. and the enemy was
pressed back step by step until at length
those who were left broke and fed in dis
order.
"A terrific storm of rain and hail, accom-
panied by peals of thunder. had burst over
the camp during the fighting. This served
to swell the streams into raging torrents.
In their efforts TO escape numbers OF the
enemy flung themselves into the current
and were swept away. The struggle in this
part of the field was now ended, and the
finale was terrific fusillade all along the
line. the crash OF which almost drowned
the incessant thunder above.
Meanwhile more exciting contest was
in progress In the direction OF Wagon hill.
AT o'clock storming party. furnished
by the Harrismith commando. crept slowly
and cautiously along donga In the valley