THE DISASTER TO COLONEL

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 28

THE DISASTER TO COLONEL

LONG'S BATTERIES. "THE GUNNERS FOUGHT LIKE TIGERS."

The Attorney-general of New Soiith Wales, Mr B. R. Wise. % has received an interesting letter from Captain A. Fitzpatrick,, who was appointed by the War Office aa a Special Ser.vice Officer, and who, on reporting himself to General Buller, was appointed to the staff of Colonel Long, who commanded the 66th and 14-th Field Batteries, that were lost in the battle of Tugela River on December 15. Writing of the disastrous affair, Captain Fitzpatrick remarks:— "The siatt rode out to the front ahead of the advancing batteries, and reconnoitred, and selected the position for the guns. Two hundred yards from the river bank we halted",' and scoured the hills in front with our giases. without seeing a sign of the enemy. We believed they had ' trekked,' and I might say here that that was the general belief. It was thought they . would not risk an action and possible defeat between Sir George White's force directly at their back, 16 miles away, and ourselves. We were to be terribly and sadly deceived ere long. Having no cavalry escort, we sent oux two mounted patrols per battery, to scour the low-lying bushes this side of tlie river, 200 yards from where we were halted. This they did, and returned, reporting having seen nothing. One man actually rode over the river by the footbridge. Tlie range-takers took the range to Fort Wylie, 1250 yards. The batteries galloped up to the position marked for them, and just as they were unlimbering the enemy opened on us a most terrific rifle and shell fire. Officers, men, and horses were shot down in groups and teams ; the two captains were killed at once. One shell burst right in front of our subdivision, and cleared out every man and horse belonging to it. The scene was almost indescribable — riderless charges stampeding, wounded horse 3 kicking and plunging, trying to free themselves, wounded and dead men all round one. We were caught like rats in a trap. The rifle fire from their trenches, 300 yards in front of us, just over the river, was morft deadly. We had advanced so far into the semi-circle that Lhangwaui Hill was resting on our right flank and rear. They had a 1-pound Maxim-Nordenfeldt gun on this hill, snd the damage it did to us is incalculab'e. The guns were run forward clear of the teams, and then took place one of the grandest sights that any human being could witness. The n-.en fought like tigers till there wasn't a round of ammunition left. They smashed Fort W3"lie into dust. The callousness and contempt of death &hown by the officers are beyond my powers to dc£cribc. Before we abandoned the guns I was sent to bring vm more ammunition. I found two limbers in a donga (dry creek), 800 yards in tho roar. The attempt wn,s a failure, for as Foon as we started at ? gallop orer tho vpldi the Boeis opened a shell fb c on us rrd our limber vsas left a -complete wreck. The other one soon mot the same fate. I was also told, to fiud

out why the naval guns were not in action. They were in our rear. They reported that their oxen draining their ammunition had stampeded. We could see them going across the veldt madly. The naval officer, who had had his horse shot, asked me to try and bring them back. I gave chase, and caught them up. Their two European conductors had fled. The poor Kaffir drivers were panicstricken. They could not be induced to return till I drew my revolver and threatened lo shoot the leaders. By this means I managed to get them back, the Boers shelling us as we advanced. The navals were profuse in their thanks. I then returned to the guns, to hear the report that there were only two rounds of case left. These were fired off, and then the reluctant permission was given to abandon the guns. We carried as many wounded as we could, and got into a donga on the left rear of the batteries. What a sad eight met one's eyes when one could look around ! Eight officers (three wounded, including Colcniel Long and Colonel Hunt) and 10 men all wounded, and, I fear, dead from want of attendance, as we were clear of the guns by 7 a.m., and the medical men did not get to them till tlie battle was over, after halfpast's p.m." — Sydney Morning Herald.