Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
THE NAVAL BATTLE.
The Great Event of the Milwaukee En-
campment.
More than 100000 People Witnessed
the Spectacle.
A Grand Success in Every Particular

This was the great day of the encamp-
ment as regards crowds. The day trains
brought in $4,000 additional visitors.
mostly from Wisconsin and Illinois, the
great attraction being the nigh. naval
battle in Milwaukee Bay. Fully quarter
of million people occupied the beach,
and the vast amphitheater on the hillside
of the Lake Shore Park was packed with
Grand army men and their wives, those
seats being reserved for them. The
battle was a splendid spectacle, being
participated in by about sixty vessels, be
sides stationary mortar fleet, and by
about 3,OO0infantrymen and artillerymen,
lnclu ling seven companies of the Fourth
battalion of Wisconsin, the Chicago
Zolaves, Battery D OF Chicago, Milwau-
kee First Light Battery, and several Sons
of Veterans. There were fired 10000
rounds of musketrY, 5000. shells, 1850
rockets, and 10000 pounds of fireworks
were exploded. The plan of the battle
was an attack by hostile fleet and re,
pulse by the shore batteries, supported by
the infantry. The line of battle feet was
led By the United States man-of-var
Michigan, and revenue cutters Andy
johnson and Fessenden. The signal was
given at O'Clock and as if by magic the
whole bay was illuminated, and the spec
tators could see the animated movements
of infantrymen, artillerymen and seamen
as they got ready for the conflict. Then
darkness succeeded as the line of battle
fleet gracefully unanswered, engaging
the shore batteries as they passed and the
latter returning the fire. 1t was
SPLENDID SPECTACLE
which the spectators saw. As the vessels
poured In their port fire the land batter
les responded. Guns, mortars and rocket
guns discharged their missiles, and as the
fleet made the circuit the vessels contin-
uea pouring in their raking broadsides,
and the land batteries aimed their guns
at the passing fleet, and burning wreck
age was seen floating about here aud
there. Burning kerosene barrels were
utilized to bring about this delusion
After brisk action lasting about half an
hour, the brilliant spectacle of kissing
shot and shell, flaming rockets shooting
in every direction, water witches skipping
hlther and thither IN myriad confusion,
ceased, only the occasional boom of q
gun being heard. Mistakenly supposing
that they had silenced the shore batteries,
the attacking forces prepared to leave In
small boats and complete the victory.
But the beleaguered city was not ready to
capitulate. The infantry force that had
until then remained in reserve, pressed
forward on the beach in front of the bat
teries ready to meet the landing force.
AS they poured their steady fire, round
after round, into the midst of the az
preaching boats, the roar of musketry
superseded the boom of the cannonad-
ing. The invading party was repulsed
and retreated in confusion. Two vessels
were so badly disabled that they were
blown up with powder. A magnificent
pyrotecnic display follow the battle.
During the battle a cannon on the
United States revenue cutter Fess enden
was discharged prematurely, and tive
sailors, John Shulz of Detroit and Charles
Mottshead of Montreal, Canada, were
seriously injured about the hands. Motifs.
heads injury will neoessitate the amputa
tion of one of his hands. A mortar ex.
ploded on one of the boats and two
sailors, Frank Sayles of Milwaukee and
S. s. Rock of ThiensVille, were painfully,
but not seriously injured. William Bate,
eighteen years of age, was also injured
by the premature discharge of mortar
on the steamer Henry Sill, of Racine, and
received severe burns about the right hip
and ankle. Several veterans were over
come by the heat and smoke, but were
taken to the tents of the Red Cross
where they were taken care of.