The Indianapolis journal., 1883-08-18

General Carnahan made the following plan Tor
the battle. Colonel Ritter commanded the force
in the fort and General Carnahan led the attack
ing force:
1. Colonel Ritter will establish picket and
picket reserve.
2. Pickets will be charged by cavalry and
long roll sounded from fort.
3. Send reserve pickets onto the line and re-
pulse the cavalry without going beyond picket
post
A. The attacking column will shell the fort
with four shoLs to be replied to with same num-
Der from fort.
5. The charge of cavalry repulsed.
g. Advance of attacking infantry pickets and
repuse.
Z. Reinforcement of attacking Lickets and re-
pulse by the zouaves, zouaves crossing the field
to the west side.
8. Artillery duel; ten shots.
9. Attack on the pickeIs, driving Zouaves to
east side, where they make stand and repulse
the enemy, The artillery firing six shots.
10. Increase the line and another attack on
the fort and a repulse in the field. Charge by
the ZOuaves. the ZouavPs chez ked in the field by
the artillery firing from the woods.
II. An advance of the line with artillery re-
pulsed from the fort by zouaves and capture OF
one gun to be dlsmounted in the field:
II. Full line thrown forward and the gun re-
captured line halted and reformed in the field,
center OF the ground, and all the defenders OF
the fort driven in.
13. A charge from the fort over the works and
repuse Of the enemy, who fall back to the
woods.
IA. The fort flanked on the east by artillery: a
charge from the woods. driving tine defenders
within the fort, ana lines established for siege:
the signal for charge report OF gun thanking fort
on the east
Is. Besieging the fort all defenders within
fortificatlon.
16. Charge and capture of fort.
HOW THE FIGHT WAS FOUGHT.
The Journal war correspondents were on the
spot on all spots, and mixed impartially with
the oombatants on both Sides The forces in the
fort were thought to be rebels as the band, the
IfnA xiaUor %ba
Bonnie Blue Flag" but there was some doubt
about 1t as by painful anachronism the alleged
rebels mustered under a gorgeous United States
Flag. Colonel Eli Ritter was in command of the
forces with VIII G. David as adjutant. and J. II.
Murphy, c. @. Grffi tn and G.. E. Hunt as aides
There were four pieces of artillery, manned by
the Louisville, Porter, Columbus and
Rockville batteries, and tine First
Regiment of Veterans, the Richardson
Zouaves, the Dick Thompson Zouaves and the
Classical School cadets there to hold the
fort. The Light Infantry Drum Corps formed
the stretcher corps and Drs. j. A. Com
ingor, q. W. McCune and G. F.
Beasley were there as surgeons
The rebs put out picket line, with reserve.
and were gallantly charged by the Smith Gavitt
Cavalry Everyth thing, in fact, was gaantly done.
Ping, ping, ping-bang-bo and the cavalry
forces, advance as a sklrmish line and the rat
tie of musketTy begins. The stretcher corps
the Union side, begin to bring In the wounded
staff officer falls and is brought in. He is given
something out of a black bottle-something in
the regulations, perhaps Another falls, and
another. The black bottle is taken away, the
opinion of Surgeon Lapp being thatif it remains
there won't be a staff officer left. OF the heroic
GOODNESS of the Union forces enough cannot be
said, and it would be invdious to pass the rebels
by without equal praise. The tumult is terrific.
The grimy artillerists are at work, and gun
answers gun with great distlnctness This was
probably the most astonishing artillery fight
the world has ever seen. and the small-arm con-
test was scarcely less remarkable, but finally.
Smld an appalling roar or artillery and sue
cession of terrific voleys of musketry, the feder-
al army sprang forward according to pro-
gramme), swept the smoky legions OF the rebels
from before the FORT ran over the fOrtifeatiOns,
and the day was theirs. The stars and stripes,
that had been reposlng at the foot Of the flag
rebels, or ifnOtieed without at all exciting their
anfmOsity, were run up to the top of the
staf And here the band that had few
minutes before been playing secesh airs with the
greatest amiability played Hail Columbia, while
the rebels, reconstructed in the twinkling of an
eye Joined their caDtOrs and the 700 specta-
tors, In cheers that made the welkin ring.
WHAT MADE ALL THE NOISE.
The noise was occasioned by the detonation of
a considerable amount of powder, blank car
tridges, of which $4,000. rounds were small am
munition, 1000 rounds gatling gun and 800
pounds cannon cartridges. The show was a
good One-a mimic battle--lots of noise and 80 well
managed that not one person was hurt, General
Carnahan and the gentlemen having the en-
campment matter in charge deserve great praise
for the skill with which they have managed af-
fairs, and that the week has been in every way
a success without an accident TO mar the gem
eral joy.
.s ~..a}, Award of Prizes. ..e ts... .....
At the conclusion of the battle, at 4 O'clock all
the companies in camp repaired to the parade
ground and the last dress parade was held
General Carnahan made a brief speech. thank
ing officers and men for their department during