The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-09-21
Mimic Warfare.

We clip the following interesting des-
cription Of a mimic battle-One Of series
recently indulged in by portion of the
British army, which have been asseIAbled
III England to take part in Autumn man
oeuvres, from one Of our foreign exchanges .
HEADQUARTERS OF THE INVADING ARMY,
BLANrFoRD, Thursday.
In spite Of the renewed attempts Of the
English commanders to disdodge us from
our positions we still hold our own on this
side of the Stour The rest of yesterday
seems to have done both generals and men
good, for they have entered into the spirit
Of the battle to-day with something like
energy, and with little Of the dread Of
each others powers which distinguished
the rival leaders on Tuesday Fortunate
ly neither army was hampered by such
absurd conditions as those under which
they fought on the last occasion. Neither
was necessarily predestined to defeat, and
therefore both generals felt that they had
at last an opportunity Of distinguishing
themselves, and Of showing their skill in
tactical combination. There was, Of nee
essity, leading idea published for their
guidance, but beyond that and within GER
tain limits they may be said to have been
left perfectly unfettered. The theory Of
the fight, as laid down in the orders, was &:
The first division is the advanced guard of
the invading force that has landed at Wey-
mouth and is advancing on Salisbury
The second division is the advanced guard
Of an English army coming from the east,
4 Al-
crossed the Avon at Fording Bridge, and
has reached Cranborne on the evening Of
the 18th, where it ascertsins the position
occupied for the night behind the StOur by
the invaders and receives orders to ad-
vance upon Blandford and attack the
enemy at all hazards, with a view to force
him back if possible behind the river
Stour should he have advanced beyond il
The enemy's advance guard having crossed
the StOur at BlandfOrd early in the morn
ing Of the 29th Of August, marches
toward Salisbury. Upon reaching Laun-
cestOn Down at | a. m, IL finds the HOr-
ton Farnham Road occupied by the enemy )
cavalry, and obtained certain information
that the English advanced guard had oc-
cupied Cranborne the previous evening,
having crossed the Avon at Fording
Bridge 1t received orders from the main
body in rear to maintain if possible posi-
ton in advance of Blandford The woods
to the southeast Of Lanceston Down and
in the neighborhOod of More Critchell are
to be considered impossible marshes. The
roads and paths through them are not To
be made use Of by either force. The hour
of marching from each camp was so ar
ranged that the I'd Division would prob
ably be able to reach the commanding
ridge, along which runs the Farnham Hor-
ton Road, before we could get there, but be
yond that line General Brownrigg was not
allowed to advance even his cavalry patrols
until 9:15 a. m. This gave Horsford a
chance Of fighting him on tolerably even
conditions, and prevented all possibility Of
the enemy advancing 80 far by forced
marches as to be able to shell our camp
quietly from the plateau on Launceston
Down. Each general has taken up his
position and properly disposed his forces
by the hour named, and then each began
to throw out cavalry videttes to feel fol
the foe. Here great thing was done by
some of Bakers hussars. A small patro
was espied by the enemy's cavalry, who
being greater force, Immediately gave
chase. Away went the four hussars, ant
after them came the heavy dragons al
full speed. For a while the light horse
men mounted ON their well-bred charges
seemed to have the best Of the running
but all at once, as they came to bit 0
rising ground, the pace began to flag
Men with flashing eyes (the Carbineers
plunged spurs into their horses and dasheC
into the open, making sure of their prize
but only to find that the hussars had beer
too wary for them. From behind th'
trees on either side of the road emerged
squadron Of horsemen, and completed.
surrounded the astonished dragons, wh'
had thus been so neatly trapped. Will