Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11


Some of may get back alive. and | think we
shall be able to blow up the bridge
No. no. can't allow it," he repeated rs
You would all be caught and shot:
Thus ended this little project. If it had been
cessfuy put through as think it might have been.
marines powerful naval guns would have
been brought into Lad ysmith and it would not have
been able to withstand the siege. The destruction
of this bridge might have ended the Boer war at
its very outset General Joubert afterward acknowl-
edged his mistake. He had much ability: but he was
too considerate of men. the enemys as well as his
own, to qualify as a highly successful warrior
Before Ladysmith
A PPROACHING close to Ladysmith. we found
that of the hills that surround the town all had
been invested by the British Pepworth Hill to
the east. Nickosons Neck to the north and some
hills to the northwest. These all low hills. and
they did not give commanding positions. But
they all there were left, and speedily took
possession. My Irish Brigade and the Ermelo Com
mando were placed on Pepworth HILL and had
with the Beers biggest and best cannon. the Long
Tom. together with two French field guns and two
pompom Maxims The rest of our force. numbering
in all about eight thousand men. with ten cannon.
stationed h on the e other se h %
thirteen thousand British. with fifty cannon
All day Saturday and Sunday we enjoyed our
selves in camp, that of the 1rishmen being just
the protecting crest of Pepworth Hill During
these two days no shots fired, except on Sun
day afternoon, when three of my boys. foragIng
for pig in order that they might have chops for
of Sunday night Colonel Carleton. with nine hum
dred men. out from Lad ysmth to take
Nickolsons Neck. and thus get strong position
on the right flank of main force. Before he
reached the hill Boer pickets opened fire. and
his pack mules, carrying mountain guns. all stam-
peded and joined the Beers Just as he was estab-
fishing himself in position the height, several
companies of Pretoria town boys and johannesburg
police began to shoot down his from SLUT
below. and Christian De Wet. with two hundred
Free Staters slipped round to the rear. The hot
fire e
for the Colonel. He hoisted a white flag. and he
and his nine hundred made prisoners of war.
this engagement until after the big fight of Monday
Rising at the first sign of dawn, l climbed to the
hilltop, and confronted with sight that as
tonished me. Through the growing light and slowly
lifting mist l counted twenty-four cannon. which
had evidently been brought out from Ladysmlth
during the night and posted in the valley between
us and Lombards Kop. about twenty-five hundred
yards away On one side of the guns the
motionless horses and the bristling steel of long
line of lancers. Behind these regiment of
cavalry and to the right. directly in front OF us
ten companies of infantry advancing with
swinging steps. | had thought that we were on
the flank; but the British, , guns and soldiers We're
all facing Pepworth Hill. 1t was evident that we
were to be the center of the attack.
The Battle of Modderspruit
TT was an impressive spectacle, this battle array of
men who were merely waiting for little more
light to turn their cannon loose and come
charging up the low hill with prodding lances and
slashing sabers But ! devoted no time to the
nearby, inform the Irish Brigade that they
wanted here at once to fight! Like wild Apaches
the boys running up the hill Remember. -
| said to them, that you are lr1Shmen, and must
fight like Irshmen.
The Ermelo commando were taking their places
at the left of our guns, and | took my men to the
right Our artierymen were working furiously
to make Long Tom ready and at just quarter to
six o'clock on that damp morning an arch of blue
smoke and kissing from this gun signaled the