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

which divides our posts from their camp.
A few well-aimed shots killed our pickets.
Taking advantage of every inch OF cover
the Beers then gradually reached the crest
of the heights. Here a body of light horse
was posted but they were soon forced to
retire before the advance or the Free
Staters, there being no breastworks for de-
Tense on the western shoulder OF the hill
With little to impede their progress, the
enemy soon came TO an emplacement.
where they surprised working parties or
the Gordon Highlanders and the Sixtieth
Rifles.
Lieut.. Digby Jones. of the Royal Engi-
neers, collected a handful of men, made
gallant effort to hold NE position but the
born resistance he was driven back ana
the enemy got possession OF the summit
Even then, however, the Free Staters Were
afraid TO venture far or TO face the neavy
fire from the sangar. -Aere IL was that Lieut.
McNaughten and thirty OF the Gordons
were captured, although not until every
man among them was wounded
"At o'clock Col Edwards, with two
squadrons of light horse. arrived upon the
scene and the Twenty-first Battery or the
Royal Field Artillery. under MAJ. Biewitt,
came into action, preventing the storming
party being reinformced from the Boer
camp At the same time the Eighteenth
Hussars and the Fifth Lancers checked the
movement from the spruit on our right
flank. Nevertheless our position at this
point had become critical. Our men had re-
tired for cover behind the northern slope.
while the enemy had made their way into
the pass dividing them from the hill. Major
Bowen rallied few OF the rifles. put feii
while leading them to the charge. His ex-
ample was at once followed by Lieutenant
Tod, but the latter met the same fate.
1.-The enemy were making good the foot
ing they had already secured In the em-
placement, when Major Miller Walnut.
calling the scattered Gordons together,
charged in and drove them back Having
thus cleared the ground. he Joined Lieut.
rra.I q
ment on the western shoulder. A pause
ensued for a time, but the Beers were
not yet finally beaten. Taking advantage
Of the storm now raging. they essayed TO
Three of their leaders reached the parapet.
but were shot down by Lieut. Digby Jones
and Lieut.. Walnut. the latter of whom
also fell T he renewed checks effectually
discouraged the assailants and the deadly
duel was now practically at an end. Never
theless small parties OF the Drawer spirits
kept I'D a murderous fire on our men from
behind the rocks.
1.-The moment had evidently arrived to
strike the final blow. and Colonel Park
quickly issued the orders. Three compa-
MES Of Devonshires. led by Captain Lafones
Lieutenant Field and Lieutenant Master
son, made a brilliant charge across the
open under terrific fire and fairly hurled
the enemy down the hill at the point OF the
bayonet. In the course OF the struggle
Captain Lafone and Lieutenant Field were
killed and Lieutenant Masterson received
no less than ten wounds.
This was a fitting close 20 a struggle
that had lasted sixteen hours during
which every rife and gun had been brought
TO bear. Our position was now secure.
The attack on the north and east had also
been repulsed and the grand assault had
failed all along the line.
1.-The Beers lost heavily. They admit
the enhancement was the most severe blow
their arms had sustained since the OPEN
ing of the campaign. They were confident
of their ability to capture the town and
had called upon reinforcements from Co
lenso to assist at the expected victory Our
losses also were considerable.
Early in the morning the Earl Of Ava
was MORALLY wounded while accompany
ing Colonel Hamilton 20 the scene OF ac-
ton The garrison can now await the COM
ing Of relief with renewed confidence"