The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-09
ACROSS A VALLEY OF DEATH.
ENGLAND's BRAVE soLDrEHs WENT
FORWARD DOOMED TO DIE.
wnr Correspondent Gives a Graphic
Account of the Frat Battle AT
Tugcla River.

London, January s.--The hrst account
giving an adequate explanation OF General
Buffers defeat at Tugela river comes by
mail from Bennett Burieigh the Daily
Telegraph's correspondent 1t appears
that the battle orders. drawn up by Gem
eral Cleary. provided for the effective sup
port OF the artillery by Harris. Barton's
and Dundonald's brigades. These were
never captured General Hart missed his
way. Lord Dundonald failed to support
and General Barton got part OF his forces
in untenable positions. Colonel Long.
with the artillery, outpaced the escort OF
the guns and they were lost Briefly that
seems to be the story OF the Tugela river
battle. hut through graphic columns there
continually recurs the dfstovery Of the
unexpected intrenchmonts and the awful
fusillades from hidden Beers and sallan-
try such as has seldom marked British
battlcHelds.
After describing how the British force
began their advance at daylight aud how
the Beers left them absolutely unmolesl
ed, the correspondent says: AT $40 there
suddenly burst an awful crash OF Boer
musketry upon the batteries and advano-
ing infantry. The rattle of the Mausers
swelled and was maintained as one con-
tinuous roar From the buildings ana
lines OF trenches south Of the river and
from the river bank the Beers fired at
our gunners and at the footmen. and
from the trenches on the northern side
OF the Tugela and from Fort Wylie and
elsewhere they set out hurricane or
leaden hail and the bullets ,venomonsly
rained upon the ground In all directions
raising puffs OF dust and tearing through
the air with shrill sounds. Few have ever
seen so heavy and so deadly q tusillade,
but neither the British gunnefs nor the
infantry hesitated or WINGED. Cannon
were wheeled into position, although many
of the horses and men were shot down
ere the nlaneuver was completed and our
Lldomltable soldiers walked erect and
straight onward. Not even Rome in her
palmiest days ever possessed more devoted
sons. As the gladiators marched proud
and beaming to meet death, so the Brit
ish soldiers doomed to die saluted and
then with alscrity stepped forward TO do
Saxon soldiers always advanced that way.
asked an American who had seen war
fare in Cuba and the Philippines II his
own countrymen generally did this. and he
answered: Yes. II is marvellous, but
was5eful.' Closer and closer walked the
soldiers to the Boer trenches until within
400 yards OF the nearest rife pits. Then,
lying down. they returned the fire, but
there WAS little or nothing to aim at.
Two Irish brigades had driven the
Beers to the north bank of tho Tugela
They found that the enemy had planted
the ground with barbed wire entangle-
ments Even in the bed Of the river
barbed wire was laid down. Into the
water went the Dublin Innlskillings, Bor-
derers and Connaughts but II was found
at the ford that the Beers had cunningly
damned the river and there was ten feet
OF water where ordinarily IL was but knee
deep. They strove TO ind the crossings
and many a fine fellow with his weight
of ammunition and accoutrements was
drowned. 1t was desperate and serious
situation. The attack on the right was
making progress and the hearts of the
men had reached an apparent impasse
But there were furious and angry Irish
men who bad resolved TO get across some
how. By scrsmbling from rock to rock
and swimming a number won the other
Slucs CT ulObL OF Lltu lOuuu luhl lHtF
had but passed across winding sprlle.
The Tugela river lay In front and ell the
while the murderous FIRE Of cannon and
Mauser crashed and comrades fell welier
ing in their blood In the meanwhile
Colonel Long had lost his guns and Gem
erals Butler and cleary with their stsffs
and escorts had ridden TO the scene. The
spouting hail OF lead and iron soon APP
peared and spluttered and the dust pulled
more than ever. Lord Roberts SON, with
Captains Schoheld and Congroye yolun-
teered 10 ride out and endeavor TO save the
two field batteries in the open. Readily
other volunteers we're found. Corporals
from the lines. men and drivers OF the
ammunition wagons taking spare teams,
galloped out and men and horses again
began falling on every side. Young Rob
eris' horse was blown up with shell:
Congroye was hit with a bullet and his
clothes were cut by other missiles, scho-
field alone escaped untouched. Across
that valley OF death quickly the surviv-
ing animals were rounded up and the
guns we're hooked and dragged away.
Again and again that day attempts were
made TO haul out the remaining guns but
the Boer ERE was incessant and whitening
At o'clock the battle was over. General
Butler abandoned the guns and retreated