St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-16
REDS AGAINST BLUES.
Details of the Sham Battle and
Its Results.

REDS AGAINST BLUES.
Details of the Sham Battle and
Its Results.
The opposing forces were organized
| in the camp of the Grand Army. The
companies of the Minnesota National
Guard were assigned to the army of the
Blue, which was commanded by Gen.
W. R. Marshall. A number of the
Grand Army posts were assigned to the
army of the Red, under command Of
Gen. Edwin G. Mason, u. S. A.. where
also was the battalion of the Third re.
gular infantry, under the command OF
Capt. George w. III. Stouch, Third in
fantry. and the light battery F, Fourth
U. S. artillery. under the command
of Brevet Maj. George B. Rodney,
Fourth artillery. Gen. MasOn's staff
was composed of Capt. David l.. Kings.
bury, chief of staff; First Lieut.. F. P.
Fremont, Third infantry; First Lieut..
III. P. Mccain, Third infantry, and de.
tail of orderlies from the First Minne-
sofa cavalry.
The staff of Gen. Marshall comprised
Mai. Norton, chief of staff; First Lieut..
number of gentlemen acting in the
capacity of volunteer aides. The armies
took their respective positions in accord
ance with arrangements previously
made. The battle had been announced
to commence at 2:30 O'Clock, but the
necessary details incident to the
preparation of the conteuding armies
caused delay of nearly an hour. which
the vast concourse bore gOod-naturedly
and for which they were repaid in the
truly magnificent spectacle SubSe.
Quently witnessed.
Almost simultaneously with the first
field dispatches transmitted by the sig
nal corps of the Army of the Red, scouts
from that army were seen recOnnOiter-
ing and advancing towards the position
held by the Army of the Blue, and the
engagement was opened by sharp con-
test between the scouts and the cavalry
videttes from the Army of the Red,
which had been thrown out
WELL TOaTHE FRONT.
Instantly all was commOtlOn in both
armies. The commands of the leaders
fly from rank to rank, and the orders
regulating the movements call forth the
corresponding echoes, like the hum Of
swarming bees, from the field officers
and subalternS. Then amidst these
hoarse murmurs the primitive chant of
the bugle call mingles and manifests it.
self in gentler key. All atonee sinjs-
ter notes resound, the cavalry videttes
of Gen. Marshall's army are being
driven in, and two batraliOns of skirm-
iShers are thrown forward to their
support. These were met by a
formidable line of skirmishers from the
Army of the Red, while the cavalry
of both armies retired behind the lines
of infantry. Suddenly field piece to
the extreme right of the Army of the
Blue belched forth the signal for a
general attack, and the lines of that
was here observed on the part of the
front line of skirmishers from the Army
of the Red to maintain the vantage
ground they hold upon natural em-
inence in the field. but the onslaught Of
their opponents was too great to be re-
sisted and they were forced rapidly
back, their ranks depleted by the we'll
directed fire of the enemy in the front.
In the distance the batteries of both
armies were playing havoc with
the lines of infantry, and the
resistance offered by the Army Of
the Red to the encroaching troops
advance. Gen. Marshall called up his
reserve, and his entire army was hurled,
with impetuosity, upon the army of the
Red. This attack develops the main
strength of the army of the Red. and a
brief period served to enable the arnv
of Gen. Mason to repulse Gen. Mar
shall's troops and drive them back to
their entertainments, to the first line o.
which they were closely pursued by the
enemy. In the mean time Gen. Mar
shall has sent his cavalry around the
grand stand and attacked the righ.
flank of the army of the Red, only to
Loo hyt of
sons forces and mingle in the
general stampede of their comrades
to their inner line of defense.
At this point in the engagement the ac-
tivity noticed in the signal CORPS of the
was Immediately followed
by a number of bugle blasts, and the
smoke of battle lifting from the field
disclosed white flag thereon, around
which could be seen the flowing plumes
Of several aides-de-camp, and the grate-
full information passed with lightning.
ike rapidity along the lines of the con-
tending phalanXesthat a truce for fifteen
minutes had been declared by the re-
'pective commanders, in order to col
ect the wounded. This duty was
performed by the ambulance
,Orps, and the unfOrtunates were skill
ully cared for by Surgeon General j. II.
Murphy.
HOstilities recommended by a success
ul attack by General Mason on the
light flank of the army of the Blue.
The regular troops, under Captain
'touch, performed the difficult move
nent Of deploying under fire, while the
irand Army men made the attack in
ront, supported by the light battery.
ieneral Marshall met this movement by
counter attack from his left flank and
general advance of his line. The cav
Try of General Mason's army attacked
he army of the Blue in the rear, was
epulsed and. together with the entire
of General Mason, was driven
lOwly but surely back to their en-
The battle seemed to.
ease for moment, except the desul-
Dry
FIRING OF THE PICKETS.
The period of rest was short, how
yer, for the sudden and rapid dis
barge of artillery was heard and the
ensified fury. The Army of the Red
ad thrown out a. heavy skirmish line,
1hich was sup ported by the remainder
t that army in three parallel lines.
he skirmishers from the Army of the
lue were quickly driven back upon
leir main lines, while the foremost line
the Army of the Red attacked the
ositiOn OF the enemy. The field tao
cs of Gen. Marshall enabled him to
the force of this attack and,
ith yell, the troops of Gen. Mason
ere driven back upon his second line.
hese two lines combined in another
attack upon the first line
the Army of the Blue, which fell
ack to its supporters. Being rein.
,rced, the Army of the Blue advanced
Id succeeded in breaking Gen. Mason's
ne, the troops of which fell back, un-