Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-15
THE MIMIC BATTLE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TO-DAY TO WIT
NESS A GRAND MILITARY COMBAT.
Five Eundred Men-csvalry, Artillery, and
IEfautry to Participate-The Pro-
posed Extension Of Time.


To-day at 4 O'Clock the much.talked-oi
sham battle will take place in front Of the
Grand. d.Stand. The feld which the race-lrack
encircles looks like a piece Of woods. Pine
trees have been planted thickly, and about
twenty-five white and red line Gags baye
been placed.
More than 800 men, embracing the city
militIa-aralery, cavalry, and iufantry-
and two companies from Reidsyille, y. c., one
company from Norfolk, the Lynchburg az
| tillery, the Surry county cavalry, and the
Hanover Troop icavairy), Of Hanover coun-
I ~, will take part The fighting will be
waged all over the lot inside the track,
and on both sides Of The POmpeii structure.
Instead Of calling the opposing armies Fede-
| raj and Confederate, it has been thought bet
! ter 20 designate them as offensive and defen-
| sive forces, as the csse may be. The deten-
! siye position will be in the bunch OF pines to
/ the right ~ the Grand-Stand. This will give
/ an idea Of The manGuyres.
The forces on the defensive establish a
| picket post and put a platoon Of infantry.
which will subsequently, form skirmish
/ lire IN ambush. A scouting party from the
offensive side moves up the race.track in the
! direction Of the picket post. When they
| discover the pickets they retire to the man
/ line for reinforcements.
With an increased number they again ad-
vance and meet with volley Of musketry
from the defensive infantry and pickets,
which makes them retreat rapidly.
Both sides then establish picket lines, aud
the artillery OF both armies open fire.
The skirmish lines advance toward each
other, firing rs they march. The deiensiyes,
after reinforcing their lines, continue 10 ad-
| vance, and the offensive body retire 10 their
second line, where they are also reinforced.
| The line o, battle moves up TO the sSir-
mishers and begin firing, continuing the
| advance, which causes the men on the de-
| fence 20 retreat. Their skirmisbers retire TO
| the main line and here make brave stand.
Mid the booming Of artillery from both sides,
! the main line opens fire. Here the cavalry
| charges in gallant style down the east side
| or the race-track and flank the defensive
/ forces. The battle wages hotly for awhile.
and is fnally won by the offensive side.
| Then the firing ceases. The prisoners are
marched OF captiyes by the yictOrs, all OF
whom pass in front OF the Grand-otand from
! right TO left
Those who have never seen n battle will Of
course enjoy the spectacle, rs no III results
are anticipated.
The programme has been made with n
/ great deal OF care by men who know what
/ they are about, and who were careful 10 con-
/ fine themselves TO historical incidents as
much as practicable.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
The Executive Committee Of the ExposI-
/ tion met yesterday 10 consider the suggestion
to keep open until the 24th instead Of
/ closing on the 2lst as advertised. After
much mature consideration and discussion
/ II was resolved (and committees were APP
/ pointed) TO consult with exhibitors to ascer-
/ tain II they would allow their goods to re-
main so long as the 2ith and 10 interview the
railroads and have the one-cent-a-mlle rate
/ continued. IL possible, until the proposed
/ date. II these two points can be arranged 1t
/ IS probable that the Exposition will continue
/ over its scheduled time.
The committee meets again this evening to
/ hear the reports OF the sub-committees.
TOURNAMENT TOMORROW.
The tournament begins tomorrow in front
OF the Grand stand. This old aud amusing
| sport hls been practiced very little Of late
/ years, especially in the cities, and it. revival
! tomorrow will be for that reason all the more
attractive. About twenty knights will ride,
and the tournament VIII occupy the entire
afternoon perhaps. The charge to the
! knights will be made by DR.. Thomas Nelson
| Page, and his brother, Mr.. Roosevelt Page,
| likely oi DauYillo, viii deliver The coronation
address.
The ball OF night win take place In the Mu-
sic Hall or At Monticello Hall. The place will
be settled upon to-day.
PERSONAL.
Among the visitors to the Exposition yes
| terday were Dr. Richard NcIwain. presi-
dent 0f Hampden-S idney College. and Or. VI.
| Q. Holt, n prominent man Of Surry county.
THE NORTH CAROLINA CADETS.
Yesterday about 1880 O'Clock the Davis
/ School cadets, lCj stOng, from La Grange,
/ y. c., headed by their band, marched In the
! observation-disclosures and stacked arms in
/ the Bench.ShOw building. Later in the
afternoon dress parade was held in the large
I lot In front Of Major Yenable's otlice. The
| scene was beautiful. The entire corps ps-fye
Hcompauies- EXTENDED about 100 Yards, aud
as tue band paraded In front the entire line
stood at parade rcst, while the lingering rays
/ Of the evening sun fitted over their bright
accoutrements, giving them a gem-set bril-
! llancy.
The cadets will remain until Saturday
morning.
They will probably take part in the sham
battle to-day.
ATTENDANCE.
The attendance yesterday wss quite up 10
the highest classed average, but to-day viii
doubtless be big red-letter day. Every
body I'm Richmond wants 10 see the sham
battle. and thousands Of people are expected
from various parts Of the State. IL would
not be at all surprising II the crowd exceed
ed that OF any previous day.
FROM Ex-PREsIDENT DAVIS.
The following letter yesterday morning
reached Mr.. Starke:
BEAUvoIR. MISS, November II, 1888.
Asbt0n !Sarke, Es7., PTesiisni, &C.,
Ny Dear slr.-Your letter and telegram have
been received. Tho assurance you give mo OF
the disappointment felt by my friends upon
hearing that / could not be with them nc The ap-
preaching Exposition is In the highest degreo
gratifying as an expression on their personal 70
gard. but am sure that no one feels the inability
10 be With you with as sincere regret as my own
The tender associations which bind mo 10 your
locality and people would have prevented me
from declining ehe Invitation II 10 had been pos
sible 20 accept Il. l cannot, therefore. as you
suggest, reconsider my answer aRt reverse H.
Though we'll enough whom sc rest 70 permit the
hone thar | may see my friends Of Virginia al
some future time, sm now painfully conscious
that could not perform me journey without
serious n not fatal consequences. To state the
fact will no doubt secure from you oil concur
reace in tho decision have been compelled 10
make. Faithfully, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
PRESENTATION.
The neutrality-suspicious. clerks. &c.,-Of
The Main building last night AZ $3.50 O'Clock
gave Direcior-Genersl Jones beautiful set
OF knives, forks, aud spoons set in large
plush case. This gift was made rs testimo-
nid ot esteem, and the presentatlOa speech
was delivered by Mr.. 5. A. WaggOner, clerk
in the money-cbanger's Office.
The way ~ which Or. Jones was lured
into the press-room, where the present was
handed him, was amusing. Yesterday
morning one OF the clerks. Mr. Moore. went
10 Dr. Jones and told him that good deal OF
bad feeling existed between some OF the at
tqciks and there was likely to be trouble un-
less be took a concIiating hand in IL sud that
II bad been decided TO make him an arbiter
to settle the dispute.
DR.. Jones said he thought the clerks
should settle their own disputes and declined
10 interfere.
Again daring the day be was asked TO
settle the matter aud the persistency annoyed
HIM little. but he finally consented to be
present at the hour named.
Some twenty-five OF the employees were In
tie room, and Or. Jones was greatly sur