New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-05
THE BATTLE INTERRUPTED:

fFR0M SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE tribune.
STATE CAMP OF INSTRUCTION, PEEKsKILI,
July A." I'm going to the top OF that hill befor IL stop
shouted Captain Collins OF Company A. In the van Of tho
attacking party In the cham fght this morning.
The words hardly out Of his mouth before he fell
over into OF of his He was taken to the
shelter OF large tree at the foot Of the ravine stng
the battle ground where " was found that he suffer
ing from prostration by the heat Assistant Surgeon
Brush, superintendent Of Mr. Beechers Plymouth Church
sundayschoo sgnalled to from the other side Of
the field and promptly reached the spot and
applied such remedies ct hand No special pro-
vision had been made for the field hospital which
at once established, and In few MINUTES half dozen
prostrated soldiers had Joined Captain Collins Surgeon
General Barnes opportunely arrived having left head
quarters soon he found that no precautions had
been taken in of sunstroke or other casuates.
which are not infrequent even in sham battles.
EXPECTS OF THE INTENSE HEAT.
Immediately after, call for the surgeon came from
the camp Of the enemy and he FASTENED away tho Sur
geon-General kindly Offering for the
In the field hospital Meantime ice and stretchers
for, and wagon pressed into service 70
DO duty ambulance. All this hap
pened pending cessation Of hostiltes
under o flag Of truce sent out BY Colonel
Austen to the miniature army commanded BY Leutsn-
sntColone Gates which had been driven from the Asld
commanding position back Of the targets where hs
two field pieces had full sweep. Had the battle
been sunstruck IT was extremely hot from very
early in the morning. and when the two opposing
forces marched away to their chosen ned Of conflict
shortly after o'clock the beat down n y manner
to suggest reeaDle work ahead The Of the
battle was the rihe-range With hill at either ex-
tremty and deep, wooded ravine on the west side.
Tho defensive force, commanded by Lieu
teDant-Colonsl Gates was composed Of Company z.
Captain Fackner, SO strong: Company A. Captain Col.
Inns. 80 strong; Company c, Lieutenant Morgan, rs
strong; and 80 of Company attached to the art
lery with two howitzers and 10 men, commanded by
Sergeant Preniergast. The attaching party, led By
Colonel Austen, was composed Of two battallons:
the frat. commanded by Captain Watson.
of Company G., with go of his men, 20
Of Company aud 80 Of Company B; second Battal'
ion under Captain squires, Of Company X. with 33 of
hts men, commanded Dy Lieutenant Jordan; Company
II, Captain Kratschmer, 80 men, aud Company ID, Cap
tain Randolph 35 men. The only left In camp
those guard duty and Hospital Stew
ard Curtis. who remained at his post
under orders from Colonel Austen. For the
first and only time since camp opened, the men who
guard considered themselves lucky
HOW THE FIGHT WAS CARRIED ON.
hundred visitors folio wed the troops at respect
full distance while the correspondents boldly took
their position between the skirmsh lines. Tho pro-
gramme was that after various charges and retreats
the forcts OF Lieutenant Colonel Gates to be
driven to the hill back OF the rine
targets where he be finally captured OF the point
Of bayonet and his entire taken prisoners Tho
manner tn which many OF the details were carried out
made 1t unnecessary label the fight "sham" battle.
for that was apparent the inexperienced eye
witness. Two three times there presented tho
unusual spectacle of both sides retreating at tho
same time Frequently when Colonel Austen
would give to advance his army would stretch
out on the grass and await the coming OF the enemy.
Again, when ordered to fall back they would push
haA hirnao
trying to make them understand what he wanted Fre
quently skirmshers would stand up In the
most exposed positions, and lie down when
they could have advanced under cover The
two howitzers would oeIch away in the most terrihc
about one chance in ten millions OF hitting one
directly after whea the enemy advanced IN force and
could have been moved down nerccssy, the guus
were promptly ordered to stop firing ana the men lay
Meantime Captain Factner wa. pushing down ihs The
"a head o anRSs party seS out by
In u rsns ami o
anSed. aud in good order rerrested to the hi where
he prepared to make desperate resistance.
A "DIsoRDERLY RETREAT" OWING TO THE HEAT.
Then the flag OF truce was sent by Colonel
Austen with demand for An unconditional
surrender Here occurred the most remarkable
aapeuvre day. for following close on the heels OF
the bearer OF the flag OF truce Colonel Austens bat
talious moved up front and both tanks 80 -
10 hold a far better position ip every respect when
the battle should be renewed But the rest OF
weather" The mercury was up to 9ss in tho
shade and 1l2s in tue sun. aud the blood OF the men
being sent out that Captain Collins tnnbled over and
others rapidly succumoed Captain Sreasenmer naJ
Barnes, Assistant Surgeon Bruce advised Colonel
ssToss Has'ss to resume the ssS The latter
hailed Lieutenant Colonel Gates that he would ~
Gnes Dssa Gss could follow aud few
runs lust TO satisfy the crowd o spectators This was
sSns xna .ns SS before Is
had ordered to turn out in force a. ae hsns q
ssS% ISs%harS s q oe%esss %eessyse.u.iy a
burned BY the firing OF blank cartridge close In ms
face.
WHO WERE FRUSTRATED.
Colonel Austen expressed to The TRIBUNE corre-
spondent most unequivocaly that he had
had enough OF sham lights. Inc
names of those prostrated by heat many Of them
seriously but all entirely out Of danger Tonight ana
most Of them able appear at dress parade were -
IS0w FrsoS n MUnson cHPnvate Charles L. schultz; D.
Privaies II. W. schwartz aud W. B. Holb E-Prysss: Ta
ouchtaiong aud George Beckwith G@prvatSs S J.; W.
Dewen HCaptaln Kresea@er ana Private fssSa -
Lake Il. Filan and X. A. Bellany s,,s,..
nmsers Of them were 80 far overcome that nrss
scrgeants actually had to force them iuto ne IN oae'
~ get them back to camp
THE SALUTE AND DRESS PARADE.
A section OF IL men from wendelPs Battery, NO. l.
NewYork came up last night IN command OF sergeans
aud fred the salutes to-day. The band played
uatriotic airs during the latter salute
Dress parade tonight was splendidiy done. Inere
was larger number OF than at any tlne snco
camp opened, except the last night oi tue iln. ako
Thoinas Collyer the j. W. Moore aud the Long branee
crowded with visitors inciuuins 'ue '''''"" "
the 18th their families -, vr,,.ox
Among to-ay's visitors IN camp were 4eners. mncoi
Wnoiw rd CQrlBteu8tu
staM Colonel Bridge. John Townsend. John
Mrs. Wylie and Mrs. aud Miss Nichols