THE NOOITGEDACHT FIGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 26

THE NOOITGEDACHT FIGHT.

The following details of the fighting at Nooitgedacht are by Rc-uter's special in the Cape Times : —

Our forces, composed of 700 infantry and 500 mounted men, were camped at Nooitgedacht, four companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers holding the top of the kopje. Before daylight on the 13th inst. the Boers made an attack on the foot-hills, and were repulsed. There was heavy loss on both sides, the fighting being almost hand-to-hand The Boers were dressed in khaki, and crept within 4-0 yards before they were recognised. An hour later the enemy in great force attacked the four companies on the kopje, who after a desperate resistance were overpowered. The Boers then seized the northern ledge overlooking the camp, which thus became untenable. The transport was inspanned under a heavy fire, and everything, including the guns, was got away. A second position was taken up a mile and a-half south-east, which was held until the afternoon, when our forces retired in excellent order in the direction of Rietfontein. During this period the enemy brought two Maxims into action, and for a time the casualties were heavy, several officers being killed, including Colonel Legge, commanding the 2nd Mounted Infantry, and Captain M'Bain, 12th Brigade Mounted Infantry. The retirement was covered magnificently. Sixty men kept the Boers at bay. The enemy numbered 3500, under the command of Beyers, Botha, and De la Rey. The Army Service Corps vigorously helped to defend the waggons, many being in action for the first time during the war. The retreat of 600 men for a distance of 20 miles to Rietfontein, in the face of thousands of an exultant enemy, was a splendid performance, individual acts of bravery and devotion on th© part of the officers showing their fine grit. An eye-witness states that he saw Colonel Legge shoot five Boers with his revolver before he fell, pierced by three bullets. He was a most popular officer, and one of our best leaders of mounted infantry. Captain M 'Bain's loss is alao deeply felt. Stragglers are continually arriving, men who defended themselves, and ; refusing to surrender, slipped away during the darkness. A small party of seven, on the edge of an enormous precipice, in. the middle of the nek, had a most exciting time. Above them were the Boers, who could not see them below, and they watched the fight from start to finish. The Boers made an effective mark for their bullets. One private, named Graham, fell over the precipice and was killed. Apparently the Boer plan was carefully laid, and would have been a thorough success, because if the main column had not got away when the defence of the position was seen to be hopeless every company or picket on the nek would have been attacked simultaneously. The Boers rushed about, exposing themselves recklessly, yelling and waving their armg

while th' v front companies vc.e ! cu.g attacked. Another body galloped to atiark the rear of tho main column, hu. ueie lepnlied by ibc urtilleiy. When tbe Bnti-.li reined the Boom crowded together, th^ir leader* made speeches, and some hymn-> weie sung. Accounts agree thai the Boei loss was hea-wcr than ours. The British artillciy did gicafc execution.