Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1900 — BULLER’S STORY OF RETREAT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BULLER’S STORY OF RETREAT.

The war news for which the people of Englund had been waiting in agonizing suspense came Sunday in the shape of a dispatch from' Gen. Buller and told of the retreat of the British army across the Tugela river and the story of Spion kop. The dispatch is dated at Spearman’s Camp and reads as follows: “On. Jan. 20 Warren drove back the enemy and obtained possession of the southern crests of the high table land extending from the line of Acton Homes and Hunger's I’oort to the western Ladysmith hills. From then to Jan. 25 he remained in close contact with the enemy. "The Enemy held a strong position on a range of small kopjes stretching from northwest t,o southeast across tile plateau from Acton Homes, through Spioii Kop, to the left bank of the Tugela. The actual position held was perfectly tenable, but did not lend itself to an advance, as the southern slope's were so steep that Warren could not get an effective artillery position, and water supply was a difficulty. “Ou Jan. 23 I assented to his attacking Spion Kop, a large hili, indeed a mountain, winch was evidently the key of the imsitiou, but was far more accessible from the north than from the south. Ou the night of Jan. 23 he attacked Spion Kop, but found it very difficult to hold, as its perimeter was too large, and water. which he had been led to believe existed, in this extraordinarily dry season was found very deficient. "The crests were held all that day against severe attacks and a heavy shell fire. Our men fought with great gallantry. I would especially mention the conduct of the {Second Cameroniaus and the Third King’s Rifles, who supported the attack on the mountain from the steeliest side and ill each case fought their way to the top, and the Second Lancashire Fusiliers and Second Middlesex, who magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British army throughout the trying day of Jan. 24, and Thornycroft’a mounted infantry, who fought throughout the day equally well alongside of them. “Gen. Woodgate, who was in command at the siimtv.it, having been wounded, the officer who succeeded him decided on the night of Jan. 24 to abandon tho position, and did so before dawn Jan. 25. "I reached Warren's camp at 5 a. m. on Jan. 25 and.decided that a second attack upon Spion Kop was useless and that the enemy’s right was too strong to allow me to force it. Accordingly 1 decided to withdraw the force to the south of the Tugela. A few hours afterward we commenced withdrawing the train; and in thirty-eight hours Warren's force was concentrated south of the Tugela without the loss of a man or a pound of stores. "The fact that the force could withdraw from actual touch —in some cases the lines were less than a thousand yards apart—with the enemy, in the'manner it did. is, I think, sufficient evidence of the morale of the troops, and that we were permitted to withdraw our cumbrous ox and mule transports across the river, eighty-five yards broad, with- twenty-foot banks and a very swift current, unmolested, is, I think,, proof that the enemy has been taught to respect our soldiers’ fighting powers.”