The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-06

Stevenson's brigade. while Huttons mount
ed infantry. made up mainly of Canadians.
Australians and New Zealanders, made a
wide detour and arrived at the east of
town.
The night before the occupation of
Brandfort the British seized two small
kopjes commanding deep and ugly spruit,
which 1T was known the Beers daily occu-
pied. General Pole-Carew ordered two bat
talions of Guards TO move silently after
nightfall and occupy the kopjes, which was
done without opposition. This greatly IA
cilitated the advance, as the Beers relin-
quished the spruit, allowing the passage
of the whole force unopposed. About three
hours after the advance commenced heavy
artillery firing was heard to the right.
Maxwell. firding that the Beers had two
guns posted in a good position, engaged
them with his artillery at a 1.5OO-yard
range. Both sides fired furiously. but the
Boer guns were soon completely silenced.
Then gun fire was heard to the left. where
General Hutton had come into touch with
the Beers. who were holding a strong po-
sition. Owing, however, to the unexpected
arrival of the British the Beers left sew
eral small kopjes unoccupied. and, seizing
these. General Hutton opened fire with his
battery. sending Colonel Alderson's to out
flank the Beers on the left.
The Beers, unable to withstand the
shrapnel, evacuated theE kopjes. streamed
across the plain toward a small kopje i'm
mediately above. commanding the town.
As they retreated the battery placed sew
eral shells, with great accuracy, among
them and they Immediately retreated from
their second position, move that was
perceived by Hutton, who sent portion of
his troops in pursuit. Remington seized
the kopje held by the Beers. Thereupon.
the Beers retired, leaving the town at the
mercy Of the British. In the meantime
Colonel Anderson, trying to outfiank, found
the Beers position. His Maxim received
a heavy pompom fire. and was obliged
to retire. On the other side, Maxwell
forced the Beers position. BY 2 o'clock
the whole force was seen four miles off,
trekking north. Several prisoners were
taken. including a commandant. who had
returned In order to destroy telegraph in
struments.
The townspeople declare that the Irish
American contingent with the Beers be-
haved riotously when the fighting began
and refused to take part in it. only man.
ming kopje close to the town.
The military attaches with the Beers
watched the fight through glasses from
kopjes north of town, following move
ments on maps. 1t appears that while
watching the British advance in front they
failed to perceive Hutton's movement and
his arrival caused them to retreat precipi-
lately.
All the British movements were carried
out like clockwork. The casualties were
very few. Their advance presented a su-
perb spectacle, as the long front pushed
slowly forward. After the retreat of the
Beers. the whole mounted infantry was
sent In pursuit, and entered the town at
2 D. m. close behind the retreating Beers,
but the latter were too quick to be over
taken.
While General Pole-Carew's division was
occupying the town General Tucker en-
gagged with force of some four thousand
Beers on the British right, southwest of
town.
During the artillery duel Wavells bril-
gade came under the concentrated fire of
the Beers guns and was forced to retire
The Beers finally retired with two guns
disabled. making good their retreat
The prisoners say that there were about
5000 Beers in the town, incluuing 1000 who
had been opposed to the British at Thaba
N'Chu.