THE BOER REBELLION.

Evening Star, Issue 5588, 4 February 1881, Page 2

THE BOER REBELLION.

[Fr6M the ‘Natal Mercury’ of Dec. 25,]

From Colonel Bcllair, Pretoria, to Sir G, Colley, Diubsn, December 21.

Yesterday several hundred Boers attacked 250 of the 9-i Lh Regiment on the march from Lydenburg, about thirty-seven miles from Pretoria. The train consisted of thirty-four waggons, and extended half-a-milo. Our men, except advanced guard of seventy, were attacked. Result, 120 killed and wounded, and rest taken prisoners, Colors saved. Ansfcruther’s thigh broken, Nairne shot through lung, M'Swiney badly wounded, Harrison killed, Carter reported as missing, [Anstruther is the name <;f the major probably in command. Nairne hj Captain Stanford Norman M'Leod Nairne, Lieutenant M'Swiney is Inspector of Musketry, while Harrison was gazetted Adjutant on the 18th October, 1879. Lieutenant Carden is tho nearest to Carter in the names of officers in the Army List,-—Er>. N.M.] STANDERTON, December 24.

The report is confirmed that the Boors have killed 152 of the 94th, and taken fortyeight prisoners. They came up with a flag of truce to the waggons when stuck in a vlei and demanded that they should lay down their arms. Upon their refusing to do so, they fired on the soldiers before they had time to arm.

The following ia another account of the preceding affair, forwarded from Kimberiey on December 31 " The story of Boer treachery in the affair with the 94tb Regiment ia exploded hero, Messrs Williams, Heathorn, and Heawood rode here from Pretoria in six days with despatches, passing through all the Boer pickets, who no doubt supposed them to be friendly to them, Tha waggon-conductor, Egerton, states that on the 20th, at twenty minutes past 1 p.m,, he was riding alongside tha colonel, fifty vards ahead of the column, to select a camping ground about ono and a-balf miles from Brocket's Spruit (thirty-eight milcn from Pretoria), whoa the band ceased playing, On turning r-und to ascertain the reason they saw 150 Boers on the loft of the road in formation, ten paces between each horseman, and ail mounted, Tho Boers wore about SCO yards from the column, and on the left flank. The colonel galloped back and gave the word to bait. The rear waggons and men then closed up.” Egerton continues “ I saw a flag of truce approaching, and rode to meet it. The messenger pave mo a sealed despatch, which I handed to the colonel. Tnere was only one man with it. He was unarmed. The letter was in English. The crlonol read it out to me. The purport was ns follows : Tho Republic having been proclaimed at Heidelberg, arid the Dutch people being determined to maintain it, any movements of the English troops were prejudicial to their interest, and if tho colonel advanced beyond the- Spruit they should consider it a declaration of w-rr, and he mud ba responsible for Uw consequences, The mesae'ngor said verbally that two minutes were allowed for the colonel’s decision, He (colonel) replied that his orders were to march to Pretoria, and he would go

there. E".oh party galloped back to Ida own force, and no sooner had the Boor reached his ir-Dv thru ' they conmi*moo.»l firing. The '■ ; c-. j \ ,T vl- f, ' f *y ■- .‘-'V'IJO Jl/L/. ; U-CT. A IV.- '■.rc.-'ty *t I--U'-oa. j The ■ 1,;.-''-;'' ail fr.d in the matter r..;r-.eu-,. ■ it .1 be■ ;,jd*-7 on riel of; - men, V'-;-. ! riag 'uv.'n cii ’ . ■ : gnt-is. Tho me .a ihs Baers was dirsolct. • on tae offi3n.nl, exon, and aum.arilloa \v»gg--n;», the latter bsjttig denoted by a red flag, The mi munition was in the first waggon, and the lined and prisoners (?) were getting out the reserve ammunition. All the offiams were wounded. Between thirty and forty men were killed, and seventy or eighty wounded. The doctor told mo that in killed and wounded ho bad about 120. When Colonel Austi’uther saw that all the officers were shot, and the men falling fast, and that’thare was no chance, he told them to throw up their hats and wave their handkorchitfi as a signal of xurrondc-r. There were thirty-four waggons and cartj in ail. The men with w'aggons bad not time to get up and join tho main body. Tho reai-guard were then prisoners. At tho very commencement the Boors galloped up and took them prisoners. The convoy extended about half-a-mile, and tho rear-guard was in rear of all. They i were about twenty strong. Mr Carter, of the commissariat and transport ntali’, supposed to be with tho rear-guard, was missing when I left. I taw his horse. Tho band were at the time of the attack playing the last piece they were to play on march, as they were to join the ranks on getting to camp. The Boers took off tho arms and ammunition and the three waggons. The remainder were standing there when I left, The Boers formed a circle round tho regiment. Commandant P, G. Joubert gave leave for the men to take what rations they pleased, and pitch tents for the wounded, and work the water-carts. J oubert gave me permiss ion to come in for doctors and ambulances, but allowed mete carry no weapon, and he would not give me a horse, I took the colors of tho 94th Ilegiment with me, which some of the men tore off the poles and gave to me, I held them round my waist, under my coat, Joubert asked for the guna and colors, I told them there were no guns, and not being In tho 94th I did not know where the colors were. I said I believed the colors were secreted under Mrs Fox, who ■ w«s wounded, I had ridden through the bosh from where tho attack was made ten mffiutos before the column reached the spot, and saw nothing, The Boers were hidden from view in a valley on tho distant side of the rising ground from which they fired. Whoa I first saw them they were galloping at full.speed towards the crest cl the rising ground, I estimate that about 300 Boers attacked the head of the column. I only saw one dead and five wouqded on their side. I don’t think there wore dan v more, I believe the Boors were concealimiu a farmhouse behind the trees—willoT®feiid poplars—and when they saw the mounted infmtry returning from their reconnoitring they galloped on up the valley before mentioned. The 94th men Laght remarkably well, but their fire did not scorn to take effect. They did not seem to find the range. All the officers were down. On my way I was chair longed several times, but they let me go on hearing that I had a pass. The reason I was so long on my way was that I was wounded, and kept off tho road ro that I might not be taken with the odors. ”