Evening star., 1900-03-01
BATTLEFIELD CONTR AsTs.
How Brave Men Die and Cowards
Take Unfair Advantage.

From the Strathearn Herald
A nephew, Alexander, who is a private in
the Black Watch, has written the follow
ing very interesting letter dated 14th De-
cember. from Modder River to Mr.. F.
Leahy. keeper of the city hall, Perth, de-
scrptive Of the disaster to the Highland
Brigade:
Il know you will be anxious to know "
am all right; yes. Tell Cissie and auntie
l am very thankful to say 1 came through
it all without a scratch. We lost nine of
the Christian lads. They all died happy
One Color Sergeant Macmillan CMrs. Nc
I4auchlan will know himD. being in the
depot as corporal this wife stays in Perth
just now), was among the first to go. He
was heard to say as he rushed into the
trenches, If any man is prepared to die |
am. Another color sergeant, who had
lately left the depot, Patterson, has since
died of wounds. Another lad was singing
when he died. A lance corporal, who was
attending wounded man, was shot. He
was heard to say, It's all right, lads; God
bless you ALL Such are a few instances of
how Christian soldier can die. 1t would
be hard for me to try to give you de-
scription of the fight, but there are many
sad hearts in dear old Scotland today, even
in Perth alone" Going on to refer to the
march to the Boer position, the writer
says:
I'VE marched up to within about 300
yards of the enemys position. when we
saw light on the right of the enemy's
position. When 1t went out 1t seemed as if
hell itself was opened up. The fire was
terrible. They must have been told We
We're coming, as they were quite prepared
for us. We could only lie fat until some
one gave Fix bayonets and charge
We charged, but il was not backed up
Two of our companies got into the trenches
and could not get out. The general was
shot, and heard to say: Go on. Highland
ers; it is not my fault" Some one un-
known gave the word 'Retirer and then
there was a fix, men of all corps at all di-
rections. 1t was terrible day. and you
will have heard of our losses. The enemy
are lot of towards. worse than b-utes
They had blacks fighting in the trenches
They fired on men attending the wounded,
fired on the ambulance, and when the wa
ter cart went out to give the wounded wa
ter they shelled it. They also hnisted a
white flag until they got their big gun into
position, and any prisoners they took theV
took their arms off them and put them in
the trenches, where our own shells were
coming, and some they let go, and when
the men were going away they firei upon
them. They also got drummer boy a
prisoner. and two of our men went to get
him back, when they drew his dirk and elf
his throat, and when our men C,ornered
them they raised white flags and asked
mercy, but they got none. One Gordon was
attending a wounded Beer, when another
put bullet through him. They are worse
than savages. If could only get an
other chance at them they rill suffer Tor
it, and L will lose my life in the attCu ut.
Some mems heads were 1low wn open by tS-
plosive bullets. and il was cruel &c Sc, Ken
falling on all sides of YOU. ! can Cqiy
praise God that He has kept me through IL
all, but | would have liked To have sUen
the position taken after 50 iuucn loss Of
blood. Many a Scottish home has lecn
emptied, and there are many sore hearts,
and we have only to be thankful that we
were spared"