The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-03-02
Thrilling Narrative Of Its Noble Exploits Told by
Maj John M'Brde of County Sligo.
The Sons Of Erin Who Came to the Rescue of the
Were Immediately Made Citizens.
Participated in the Siege Of Ladysmith and Helped to
Seize the Artillery Colenso.

its dying general behind. We took
scores of Irish soldiers Of the British
Mt Dundee, and they begged hard to
be allowed to join the brigade. But
we trained them off to Pretoria and
they consoled themselves by singing
God save Ireland" and cheering for
the Beers cn route
The brigade was bringing up the
guns to Ladysmith Mt the time of
Elandslaagte, but there were several
lrshmen there, who maintained the
honor of the old country. Two broth
crs named Ryan got in among the Ian
GERS and with the butt end of their
rifles dashed out the brains and STAYED
In the chest of several of the "pig-
stckcrs." Eventually the Ryans fell
wounded and were left for dead. How
ever, they were not dead, and they are,
think, now prisoners Of the enemy.
The march OH Ladysmith was car
ried out In bad weather. The rain
poured down in torrents and we slept
with the Sky for Il cover, for no tents
had followed US us yet from Pretoria.
On the evening of Oct. 80 the advance
guard Of the Boer army, including
ourselves, reached the heights of
Lndysmith, and some of our boys start
cd off looking for what they could
pick up in the shape of horses from the
enemy. Six Of the brigade fell across
hidden English Maxim near the out
skirts Of the little town, which blazed
into them for all 1t was worth, but by
the coolness Of poor Oates, who was
killed next day. the little band got
away in safety, bringing some service
able animals with them. Carbery and
McGce, both since dead. also had an
exciting brush with the British But
we mustered oil well at supper, and
went to bed looking forward to some
fun on the following day.
1t came sooner than we expected.
About 4 o'clock in the morning the
alarm spread through the camp-tlle
English, $4,000 strong. were advancing
from the town. At half past 4, with
Il tremendous roar the British artillery
began Smelling our position. And five
minutes later out spoke our guns in
answer. We were less than 1000 all
told-only the advance guard of the
army with Il few guns, to which the
BOer artillcrists stood up with the
most unflinching bravery. We longed
for the time to come to use our rifles.
They had got the correct range and
| shells burst around us in all directions
The gunncrs fell one by one. Colonel
Blake fell wounded; the supply of am
muniton for the guns ran out. Grim
and fierce the gallant young Boer ar
tillcrsts stood by their guns with death
shrieking in the air all around them.
We heard the cheers Of the English.
They had silcnced our guns, and we
could see them preparing to storm the
hill, covered by the fire of their ar-
tillcry.
| The space across which the ammu-
milton required to be carried to feed
our guns was simply a hell of whiz-
zng, whistling shells. and those
charged with keeping up the supply
faltcred and declared it madness to
attempt to cross the death-swept zone
1t was then called on the brigade for
volunteers, and never did l feel so
proud of my countrymen rs when in
dozens the gallant fellows sprang up
eagerly volunteering to undertake
duty which seemed to involve certain
death. chose from the volunteers
Sergeant Wade, Corporal Darragh and
Troopers Richard McDonagh, Thomas
IIawncy, Patrick Fahy, r. Barrett,
Cluggan, Edge and Olsen-thc last a
Norwcgian-a brave fellow, who Joined
The brigade pending the embodiment of
| the Scandinavian one, in which he
! aftcrward enlisted and was killed at
Magcrsfontein.
Lieutenant Gaynor, Longford man.
dropped down by my side with his arm
| shattered. l ordered him to the rear
He begged my pardon, but refused to
60. insisted and sent him off the
field. Half an hour later he came
back, smiling cheerfully, with his arm
roughly bandaged. "lt's all right, ma
] jor," he said, "Tm fit for fighting
fnow"
The sang-froid displayed by the
brigadiers considerably astonished the
Beers. "Allamachtig" said one old
burgher, gazing open-mouthed at the
Irishmen laughing and singing while
the air was full of death, "these Irish