The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-14
Butler Attacking the Beers
in Front Of Ladysmitb.
English Have High Hopes
of Victory.

Spearmau's Camp. Wednesday. Feb
Z. 60 -Gep. Baller commenced
The advance for the relief Of Lsdysmitb
Monday. The naval guos opened at
7 10 the moroisg and feiut attack
was made 10 front Of our position.
Three bat,alious advanced toward the
Brakfouseio With six batteries At
lilo the Beers opened with an artillery
fire aud sent several shells amocg the
British infantry, who retired 40 hour
late-.
! while a vigorous attack was
made oa the extreme right, where the
engineers expeditiously constructed
position
Several pieces of oanuoo. hidden
among the trees on Zwarts kop. bou-
barded heavily The British infantry
advanced aud the Boers we're entirely
surprised
At 4 o'clock high bill. named the
KIua;z Kloof. a continuation of the
Brakfonteio bad been taken The op-
erations were excellently planned.
The bombardment of the Boer posi-
,ious was resumed this (yesterday?)
morning The Beers worked dis
appearing cannon from the high Doorm
kloof range, on the right of the captur-
ed bill but the British shells exploded
i,s magazine, aud the guu was put out
of action until late in the day.
Musketry fire was Intermittent uotll
toe afternoon when the Beers made
determined effort to retske the hill.
Reioforceueuts rushed up cheering.
the Beers we're repulsed aod the Brit
ish advanced along the ridge
The var ballooo has proved most
useful adjunct. making ascerts daily
and getting information as to the Boer
positions The Beers directed heavy
sbrapuel FIRE ia the eudeavor tc destroy
the balloon apparatus.
The artillery behaved epleudidly
shroughous. ably covering The infantry
retirement from the feint attack 10 the
face Of heavy Boer she'll Ere.
It is believed that the Beers suffered
very heavily. as their ambulabces were
bard at work
The Boer position consisted of line
OF kopjes. strongly eutreuched, extend
ing three miles from Spiou kop aud
curviog sharply at the eastern epd to
the soath about opposite Zwarts kop,
which is steep bill south Of the Tugela
that the British occupied before the
seizure of Potgieter's driit.
After the capture of Krantz Klodf
the heavy Boer fre prevented a further
advance Monday. The uext morning
the Boers ;udulged 10 long range she'll
fire. bat 10 the afternoon they made
vigorous attempt to recaptore the posi-
ton
Their assault was made upon the
Dor,hern end Of the kopje, and at first
it was successful Reinforcements
we're, however, hurried up. and the
British recarried the position at the
poios Of the bayonet and advanced
along the ridge. As the British bave
large force OF troops, the outlook is
hopeful
Loudon. Feb 8-Tbe standard has
tic following from Spearman's Camp.
dated Feb. 7:
the force uoder Geo. Butler is
aeaic advancing to the relief Of Lady
smith, and after two days Of severe
! 6g bsipg i. may fairly be said to have
made good 6-st step on the road 70
the hesieged town.
The movement vas beeuo at 40
early hour CD Monday morning by ~ay
os Potgieter's drift. TIE Eleventh
brigade. fcrmlog part of the Fifth
diglsson, under Geo Warren. made
felot attack upon the koDes immediate
~ on our front The assault was de
iiyered al the outset Inuer cover of
aaval guns on Mount Allce AID subs.
qaen'ly uader thai Of field batteries.
The infantry acvapced steadily
toward tic Boe- eo;reuched POSITION ST
i BraSfon:e'n and Kept TIE ener:y br~i!y
pp!oJed White ms d:version wss
being made tn remand OF the pfan
.rg, 'oid efF Tor The attack who hed
olvopacked Sundsysaipnt unaar Mount
Alice, moved sloog at be foot CT
Zwar;s koo in the direction of ou7 rig b:
"A pon:oon bridge vas thrown