River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-06-26

Awarding Prizes at the Dubuque Encans,
ment-An Inspiring and Realistic
Sham Battle

Awarding Prizes at the Dubuque Encams-
ment-An Inspiring and Realistic
Sham Battle.
Dubuque Iowa was the scene last week of in
eresting military work by companies of Q. S.
regulars and volunteer organizations from va
rious parts Of the country Saturday was the
closing and great day, and the doings are thus
described:
The first feature of the day was grand
dress parade, in which twelve companies
participated They were commanded by Col
Butler, Lieut. Col Meyer and Capt Choatand,
all of the Third Missouri regiment and the
best drilled officers in Camp Henderson This
was followed by brigade drill in which many
companies took part They ranked as follows
Third Missouri regiment, Col Meyer com
manding; Mobile rifles; Iowa National guards
Of Museatine, Iowa; Company of st Paul,
Capt Bean commanding. This, although it
did not take first prize, Is an excellently
drilled company, and did some very fine drill
ing, much better than when it drilled for the
prize. Two companies of Washington, Dis
tr1ct OF Columbia. and the Washington Artillery
of New Orleans, formed as infantry They
presented magnificent appearance and re
ceiYed tremendous applause at the finish
Next on the programme was the artillery drill,
In which the Washington Artillery Of New Or
leans was the only contestant The drill was
faultless IN every particular, and the battery
was commanded by Capt May At the order
to dismount pieceNo l. Crane was struck on
the knee by 1t and badly hurt, but he being a
soldier in the truest sense of the word he
proved himself to be a man of nerve and in de
serving of the highest praise for the manner in
which he assisted in completing the drill The
time of mounting and dismOuntng the piece,
and also the time of removing and replacing
one cartridge was two minutes and twenty
three seconds. They received twenty
nine -hundredths out of posi-
bic thirty. The judges were Maj +.
G. Smith, of the Fourth United States; Lieut.
Lomia, of the Fifth United States and Lieut.
Phillips of the Fourth artillery, They all pro-
nounced the drill the best they ever had wit
messed In the afternoon there were several
exhibition drills and concerts, which were par
tlcipated in by several companies, including
the Third Missouri regimental drum corps and
the Dubuque drum corps. AT the close of this
exhibition, and amid great cheering and an i'm
melse crowd, which could not find standing
broom on the great amphltheater, and took up
their quarters on the campus ground, Gen.
Bentley rode up on his steed and announced that
the prizes for the infantry would be awarded
This caused great excitement and a terrible
jam swayed to and fro amid wild cheering to
learn the winner Of the prize. The Mobile
Rifles, in response to command by their cap
tain, came up and were greeted with tremen-
dous applause. Gen Bentley then awarded the
first prize to the above company. IL is need
less to say they were complimented by thunders
of applause, hats were thrown into the air and
handkerchiefs waved by many of their lady
admirers.
Next in order was the Treadway Rifles of st
Louis, who were awarded the second prize.
The Brach Guards of st. Louis received the
third prize Their applause was complete
repetition of the former
COMPANY D OF ST. PAUL
was next called, and, amid the widest enthusi-
aguo rchpd mn tn the front where thew were
presented with the fourth prize Next in order
was the National Rifles of Washington, D. c.
who received the fifth prize; and last came the
Iowa National Guards, Of Muscatine, Iowa. The
Milwaukee Light Horse Squadron was presented
with magnificent prize.
THE SHAM BATTLE.
The troops, after they had marched about the
campus ground, were brought up in line The
attacking army was sighted in the valley or
within the enclosure, while the opposing arm
was sighted upon the bluffs overlooking the
grounds, behind a line of earthworls. The
breastworks were three in number, each TWEEN
ty-four feet long and four feet high, behind
which and upon the bluff was situated Fort Du-
buque, 100 feet square and o feet high, with
surrounding ramparts, three IN number This
was the objective point of attack. The plan of
the battle was arranged by Gen. Gibbon, COM
mander of the department of the Platte,
United States army. 1t consisted of an
attack from the troops IN the valley up9n the
Notifications on the hill, circuitous march to
the rear Of The Notifications by the troops in the
valley ard final capture and explosion of Fort
Dubuque The Notifications re commanded
by Nal Powell. The earthWOrks on the eX-
trenIe right were held by battery Of four
guns, manned by the Washington Artillery of
New Orleans, under Maj. Hero. The Emmett
of ST. Paul and also the Lawler batteries, with
five guns, occupied the center line The re-
doubt was guarded by the Benton battery with
two guns. Fort Dubuque was occupied by the
Danville, McGregor and Muscatine batteries,
consisting of five guns. The National
Rifles, Busch Zouaves, and tho
Rockford Grays were deployed
as line of skirmishers for the defense, and
were stationed at the crest of the bluff, behind
the vast rock and trees near the Milwaukee
and st. Louis cavalry companies and Batteries
and F of the Fifth and Fourth United States
artillery companies respectively The infantry
troops were drawn up on the right and left Of
the a. Terry, with the cavalry company sta
toned IN the rear; while detachment of the
Washington Artillery battery, under command
of Capt MAY, assisted the troops in the valley,
and fired blank bombshells from six pound
howtzer situated on the extreme left The
monster consolidated band just before the bat
tie played Orally Round the Flag" when the
attack upon the Notifications was commenced
by skrmish line The regulars climbed tho
steep, rocky bluffs, firing as they mounted
Then the battle openedln earnest
The roar of the heavy cannon upon the bluffs
and the sharp report of musketry reverberated
through the hills, and was followed by tho
cheers ofthe appreciatiye multitude. The guns
of the United States batteries in the valley did
excellent work, the horses moved at a gallop,
the bugies sang shrill and loud, and the lmbers
were detached, while the guns were in motion
They were wheeled into line, the cannoueers
were at their posts, the word was given
and the guns Numbered repeatedly First
the booming salute flashed to the north,
and then to the south. Either side of the field
was shrouded in the dun canopy of war Col
Meier, of the Third Missouri, with brigade,
marched in a circuitous route, and attacked
Fort Dubuque in the rear The Milwaukee
Light Horse Squadron were also detailed for a
similar purpose Another force brigade I'M
der Capt Bean, of Company ID. of St Paul.
were ordered to the left, to reconnoiter and
force their way up the side of the bluff. Dur
ing this time the regulars had lively skiTmjsh
with Mai Powell's skirmishers and drove them
into the fort where they were in turn repulsed,
and cleared the way down the hill. BY this tima
Col Meier's force had marched TO the rear
and engaged the army on the blur The fir
ing was rapid, and fully depicted the scenes
of an actual engagement 1t finally culmi-
mated with the capture and explosion of Fort
Dubuque 1t was d grand sight to witnesI
the several charges made, and the roars OF
twenty four heavy field pieces, The firing of
200 musketry, and the roar and shouts of the
soldiers as they gained point One of the
most thrilling scenes was the grand cavalry
charge made by both companies on the retreat
ing infantry. The infantry were fast rotreating,
when the squadron of cavalry shut them OFF,
and then commenced a grand revolver charge,
by the cavalry, to which the infantry returned
platoon fire. TWAS exciting in the extreme, and
depicted many realistic scenes of wal. Two sol
oilers were shot during the battle, but not seIi-
ously.