New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-24
MILITIA IN BATTLE ARRAY.
R1oopLEss FIGHT IN PROSPECT PARK.

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THE SECOND DIVISION PIrTED AGAINST ITSELF
THE CROWD IN THE WAY OF THE FIRING.
The 6eld drill of tho Second Division Of the
National Guard at Prospect Park. Brooklyn yester-
asy. was successful in its main object, which vas
to exercise the troops In man@uvres s9cn as Snes
wonld be called upon to execute under hre IN .
ed presenting such typographical features as that
ne an . s1nSsS o i p'0 ssd
"a. 900 people by which it was witnessed, and to
some extent, interfered with. Inc gronhe On mn,on
It took place has historical associations on lhtertit
Battle of Long Island, fought August "a, l176; y
was there that four hundred men OF the rHafyiana
and Delaware battaons under General baat fra
sunrise until II o'clock when, having been n'hheo'
they were compelled to retire. ,n,or
The regulations of the Park Copmissioncrs uhus ,
which the troops were permitted to use the PARK ark
on this OCCASION; confined ther Operations $" 70 that
spac. between the East ana Ms9 hatte we're formed
WAS ike a narrow pass which In actual conflict
could have been defended by few men aga aad.s
cops,iynting the Second Division. were pitted
against each other each aided Dy sGctiVn ~ rno
Sd Battery. MajorGeneral Edward 1. Monne nas
labored successfully in improving Its Drill ana MS
cipline had obtained permission to hght snalh
battle in the park and divided ms FORCES .o rwo
tons to Brigadier-Gcneral g. I. Christensen, com
lnanding the Sd Brigade. were to act as the rear III
guard OF an army in retreat and when attacked 10
fake adyantage of every favorable position and not
70 hold ON so far as seriously to compromise the
safety of his command or render IL w II
Brownell, commanding tho ith Brigade, was 10 us-
pose his command as the advance guard oI an aIiny
in purs,lit and to en6eavOr in every way 10 uciay
the retreat of the enemy without bringing on
general engagement. :, . $780,. -
General Chrstensen's first line Of defence was
drawn from point near the Picnic House extend
ing across the park from the west Drive 10 the Est
Drive facing toward tho north. The 14th ke e
ment. Colonel McLeer, was on the left. the 18TH
RarneS
18th Separate Company on the right, while sec
tion OF the Sd Battery. under Captain hasgaim was
Ward, the SD Regiment. Colonel, finGel-
meier ana the 47th Regiment: Colonel Oayl1r,
Plaza with a section of the Sd Battery under Lieu
tenant Han9d near the sen!S bO1n tbe yst au
was fired by Lieutenant Hanold aad the attack
began. General Christensen's force advanced 10
became general. The troops tired by hle, by COM
pany by division and by battalion and the how'll,
GERS blazed away while the clowai "ie ;n sen
back pressed upon the soldiers in front. Hank ana
rear, AMI seriously halnpeIed their movements.
After the iuslade had lasted for sDme minutes
General christensen withdrew his main force and
his skirlnishers afteI maintaining their ground for
some time, followed pressed by General Browneirs
advancing forces. Pivotlng upon tne East prNe
General Christensen refused his left and centre ana
took up new line nearly at rght augles 70 tne
Cemetery Hill. Here the opposing, forces again
met and the rafting of musketry and the booming
of the howitzers resounded among the gIenS ana
dees of the park Pressed back from TINS position.
the rear guard passed over the hills and through e
Nethermead. drawing up finally In front OF the ake'
where the last stand was made Inc l3th heei-
meut on the left successfully resisted an attempt 10
turn its flank and the opposing forces KEPT at woih
with musket and lowitzer until their Ammunition ,
lines were reformed. and the entire division was
marched back Ia the Long Meadow, where II gave
a marching salute to Adutant General ). u. FARMS
worth. who with Inspector General =; n. hriggs;
Assistant Inspector General /. II. McGrath ana
General Inspector of Rifle Practice Charles r. RoI-
bins, a. of the Governors Stah was present 10 oo
serve the condition of the commando so ,
Ali declared that they were well pleased with the
efficient execution of the man9nvres. The hrlng,
especially by battalion. was not creditaoie, Dut the
officers declared that this was largely due 10 the
pres sure of the crowd who were everywhere al the
elbows OF the soldiers and irequentiy placer tngi a
selves IN the line of fire between the two origaacs.
Under the circumstances it surprising that 80 few
casualties were reported. The ambulance corps
under the charge of Lieutenant C0lonel A. D. y.
Skene which accompanied the movements OF the
troops had little to do. Il. y. Conklng, princiPaI
NJ TnbIic School No fell on the ice and broke bis
leg two men broke through the ice on the lake. but
easily extrcsted themselves, and httIe eiIi was
knocked down by horse on the West Drive. DH1
got up and walked away without assistance No
other mlsadventnres were reported; III A.
The drives were filed with carriages ami all the
heights and the fields between were crowded with
spectators Among those present were MAJOR Gen
era Alexander Shaler, and stan OF me iIst DlNis-
ion Colonel Charles r. Bridge. irlgadler'ehefa ~
Wales and stan OF Boston. Acknowledgement :. 4.
Smith of Connecticut, l'rigadier-Gencral >. W.
Plume and stan OF .Ncw-Jersey, Colonel lannon's
Clark of the 9TH Regiment. Captains Appleton ana
Conoyer and Adiutant Rand of the same command
and Lieutenant T.. l.. Zalinski of the 9th Artillery.
U.SA Major Henry ": b. sHoward, a. ID. e. on
the staff of General Molineux. had charge OF the
staff OF army CORES ponIents and kept them con
stnntly infomel OF the progress of the battle II
was the first time t'iat tic entire division had
taken part IN so serious an engagement. General
Niolineux who from his Headquarters at the ltch-
field House direc ed tie operations, explained that
the positions taken by the troops were selected as
Giving opportnli tiles to practsc the prescribed
manmuvres and not because tLey were strateg ,caly
The best.