The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-02-28
CR0NJE SURROUNDED.
One cf the costliest Fights Of
the War Occurred Sunday.


day, February 20, via Modder River,
February 2l.-One Of the costliest
actions of the war occurred at Paar-
deberg Drift, Sunday, February 10th.
General Kelly Kenny, in his pur-
suit of General Crorje, caught his
rear guard at Kip Drift and follow
ed the burghers to the Beers laager
at Koodoosrand. The drift actisn
began at day break, the mounted ill.,
fantry driving the Boer rear guard
up the river towards the main body,
while another body of mounted in
fantry mar eavred on the right front
and flank of the Beers. The Brit
ish main body moved to outfank the
Beer laager on the north bank of the
river. Gen. Kelly Kenny having
seized two drifts found the Beers
strongly enclosed and ordered an at
tack with the Highland brigade on
the left and General Kuox's brigade
on the centre, while General Smith
Dorrien's brigade crossed the river
and advanced along the north bank.
On both the north and south banks
the ground is level and the advance
across this was deadly, and the Brit
ish losses were heavy. The battle
was an exact replica of the Modder
river. The soldiers we're under fire
all day long, and all the fighting had
no definite result, as the Beers lager
was we'll barricaded and they re-
mained therein. The British guns
shelled the the laager vigorously and
the Beers confessed to loss of over
500 men.
The terrific shelling was resumed
Monday, when General Cronie asked
for an armistice.
The shelling was continued Tues
day, over so guns pouring lead into
the Boer camp.
Later: General Cronje's msgnif-
cent night march from Magersfon-
tein now appears likely to end in dis
aster. The main body of the Beers
is enclosed in a terrible death trap.
The enemy are hiding in the bed Of
Modder, commanded by the British
artillery and enclosed on the eastand
west by the British infantry. Sunday
witnessed gallant stand on the part
of the retreating foe. Tired, harass-
ed, they still maintained bold front.
It is somewhat difficult to explain
the Sunday action, in which all the
British was engaged, in which Gene
raj Cropje, under difficult conditions,
managed to hold his own. On Sat-
urday night the British mounted in
fantry came into touch with Cron-
je's rear guard, driving them back
upon the main body. On Sunday
morning the action was renewed; but
the Beers, who had entrenched the
river during the night, prevented fur
ther advance of the mounted infan-
try in this direction.
Meanwhile the Highland brigade
consisting of Seaforths, the Black
Watch and the Argyles advanc-
ing from the south bank, and Es-
sex, Welch and Yorkshires formed
a long line on the left, which rested
on the river.
The firing soon became heavy
The Beers, holding a splendid posi-
ton, covered the left of the Highland
brigade, which advanced partly ur
the river bed, and partly in the or en-
while the rest Of the brigade, with
the other regiments swung around
the front of the Highland brigade
on the level, coverless ground exposed
to the terrible fire, which obliged
the men to lie on the ground, al
they did for the remaider Of the day
This began at 7:30 in the morning.
Through the dreadful heat and ter
rible thunderstorm, our men hung t.
the posltlon, answering tue Doel LII
and shooting steadily.
In the meantime the rest of tn
infantry completed the evolving
movement, the Welch regiment hav
ing succeeded in Selling the drif
thus closing in the Beers, who ha'
fought throughout with splendi'
courage. General Crorje's laagel
full of carts, ammunition and store
could be plainly seen near the mort
bank.
General Smiih-Dorrien collected
large body Of men, including tn
H,~J;,,, ,,1 oroeco1 Tho rivor h