The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-17
"Eelmont Station,

- belmont Station,
"Cape Colony, Dec. a. lS99-
~ thought perhaps you would ike 70
hear how ] am getting on ana now
things have been shaping since I wrote
.-o,, = For some six weeks we were
qua rlin. the railway bridge over Tue
orange river and although we We're con
stantIy prepared for and expecting an
attack, it never came. we had one
little brush with the enemy, IN Nnica
we lost two officers killed, but 'leitner
belonged to my regiment. rs the rem
forcements arrived from England liVi.
sion was gradually concentrated %
Orange river, under Lord Metkuen and
which included guards brigade On
the morning of the 21st of November TINS
division, of which we formed part,
moved off on the advance to the rel1et
Of Kimberley. On the afternoon OF the
sd we came in contact with the enemy,
who held Belmont Station and the neigh
boring hills in great force. An artillery
duel took place ard We som .sheIicd them
put Of Belmont. That night we blvou-
acked Some two and a half miles from
the enemy's position, as lay down on
the ground supperless. At 2:15 "A. NJ. on
the l23d we fell in and moved off to at
tack the position. Our force was some
s. 900 strong We advanced undiscovered,
or at least wit hout being fired on 10 with
q in a 1000 yards of the enemy. Just as
days began ito break, about a. NJ, they
opened fire and soon there was terrific
row. the kopies they Occupied beng
simply ablaze with little spurtS OF 1lre-
1t was quite pretty to look at. out as
you can imagine, we hadn't much time
& to waste on admiration OF the fire effect
Men were beginning to fall as we press
ed steadily en- and we could see that
our fire, too was effective. The enemy
couldn't stand the bayonet and about
A. NJ, we won their first position, but
they are rare good fighters, and had SIM
ply fallen back to a still stronger position
in rear. This in turn We had to assault
and carried at the point of the bayonet
losing heavily in doing so, as our advance
was Sac, oss a perfectly open plain and
they wee pepperinG us from behind Gov
err They made a very stubborn nsht
but we at last drove them out. They re-
tired to a third position and again we at
tackled and drove them out. At . A. Al
all was nearly over and the first battle
on this SHE was won. we captured
their tents. transports and lots OF ammu-
nition I suppose il will be called the
battle of Belm mt Our casualties were
.ome 2GO, of whom about 70 We're killed 1
was jolly-glad to come out of it safely.
The next day the column moved on ana
we We're left to guard the station here.
and unless we are attacked. suppose our
fighting is over The column had an
other fight at Grass Pans and a third At
NIodder river the stiffest OF the lot ana
where we were nearly driven back. In
day or two there will be a big fight
at Spytfontein and then Kimberley VIII
he omen. don't think any one ever
expected the Beers toifight as well as they
have and are doing, It takes us all we
know to beat them, and am afraid THIS
war will be long business They may.
of course, chuck up the sponge when We
advance well into their countries the
place we are at is like a little wayside
station in the 'South-1ust a store anu
etation-master,s house. 1t is. of course.
deadly slow, and even periodic rli1nors
of attack don't liven US up much. We are
up all night and get what sleep we can
by day. I haven't been in bed for over
six weeks and expect 1t will be many
day before experience the luxury OF
getting between sheets.