Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-09-01
MAkE.BELIEvE WARFARE.
Closing Events of the Naval Eyoiutions
al Newport.

NEWPORT. r. l., Aug so.
| The sham battle at Cotdington point today
was the eliminating event Of the series of
naval evolutiOns that have taken place here
this week. Long before the hour fixed for
/ the battle. the point was crowded with car
riages of every description. The exhibition
! being on land and the place easy of access
/ from the city, everybody took advantage OF
/ the opportunity offered The gathering was
notable one, IN quality as well as in size.
being made up of all classes and conditions
OF people. At signal from the flagship the
! boats formed ln the following order, prepar-
atory 10 landing Tennessee. artillery Van
/ dalia. artillery; Tennessee. first second
I thru and fourth companies of infantry Van
/ NTH ana sixth companies OF infantry Swatara
seventh and eighth companies Of infantry !;
fantic, ninth company Of infantry; Alliance,
tenth company Of infantry; Swatara, Gatlng
gun; IantiC, artillery; Alliance. artillery
The formation was south of the flagship Ten
nessee. When the line was completed the
ships opened fire. at the cessation of which
the signal was given for the boats 10 advance
/ The signal for the artillery boats was fired
( from the boat Of Commodore Clark. The
battery then opened fire, continuing until the
signal was given to cease. A grand race for
the shore was then made by all the boats
9
board to hasten the landing BY pulling the
boots up on the beach. The scene was an
animated one indeed during the disembarka-
tion from the ships and the landing upon
the shore, and on shore the sight was novel
and picturesque. In the foreground were
green fields, sloping 10 the water, and the
hill rising gently behind To the west lay
the island of Conanicut; in front the waters
OF the bay, and on the east the shore of
Rhode Island, extending up to the west pas
sage II was a beautiful scene in itself but
with added effect of the line of sailors in uni
form, the officers in their CORD and blue the
carriages and the people, il was sight such
as was never before witnessed in the vicinity
of Newport. The line having been formed
on shore the Calling gun and one company
of infantry rapidly advanced upon the fort
which was to be taken. AT the signal to fire,
given from the Gating gun. the men dropped
upon the grass and bazed away in the direc-
tion of the supposed enemy. At this point
No. > skermish line advanced in the opposite
direction. The first companies then advanced
to position. The second line, commanded by
Lieut.. Reynolds, assisted by the lieutenants
and second sergeants of each even numbered
company, then moved off under orders from
| officers commanding the infantry battalion
When the main body OF ths infantry battalion
moved forward, the reserved corps moved to
either flank of the artillery. The reserved
artillery and Calling guns only to line of
| havstacks. Then the fort was sighted and
the firing became general, and, with a grand
/ rush the fort was taken.
! After the assault the infantry battalion
I formed in line to the right of the tort while
/ the marines were massed in columns to the
| right of the infantry. The artillery formed
| in plato0us to the rear of the infantry battal-
| ion, and just to the right of the fort. In the
meantime a steam launch came from the Dis
| patch. bringing President Arthur, Postmaster
General Gresham, Attorney General Brews-
ter, J. &. Bennett aud few others About
the same time Secretary Chandler landed
/ from the Albatross. The order was then
| given to pass in review, the companies break
/ ing to the right and marching to the left As
they passed in review they gave a marching
salute to the President. The Presidents flag
waved from staff on the reviewing stand.
After the review the battalion commander
gave the order to proceed to the ships Some
of the boats, loaded with the heavy guns.
| became fast in the sand and experienced con
siderable difficulty in getting off. The officers
/ participating in the review were Commander
/ Clark, in command; Capt. j. NJ. z. Young,
commanding the marine battalion; Lieut. r.
p. Rogers. in charge of the infantry; Lieut.
L. T. Wood of the artillery battalon Lieut.
/ c. +. Callahan adjutant general; Cadet
Roger Wells, and Lieut. X. Wainwright
marine engineers; Cadet c. w, Hazelton
signal officer Lieut.. r. II. Mclean. adiutant
The band of the Tennessee furnished music
for the occasion.