New-York tribune., 1890-06-01
TIE BATTLE OF VAULT HILL.
ARMED FORCES STRUGGLE FOR POSSESSION
OF THE HEIGHTS.
SHAM BATTLE IN VAN CoRTLANDT PARK BE
TWEEN NATIONAL GUARD RBGIMENTs-GOo
FIGHTING OF THE CITIZEN SOLDIERS

SiN'A DAZZLE IN VAN OOkILhNbl Ihhh D1
TWEEN NATIONAL GUARD REGIMENTs-GooD
FIGHTING OF THE CITIZEN SOLDIERS
SEVERAL MEN HURT.
Before the sun was two hours high yesterday
the hills, plains and valleys in and around Van
Cortlandt Park were dotted with military bodies,
and the surrounding country looked as If it were
soon to be the scene of fierce battle. From
convenient heights columns of armed men could
be- seen marching IN various directions The
men were heavily armed and their hayonets
flashed brightly in the sunlight Officers
and orderhcs hurried here and there, and
mounted Oh swift horses gallopcd from
place to place. carrying orders ana
instructions The red trimmings Of the artillery
men and their brightly polished Gatling guns made
a bold contrast with the green Of the grass and
the foliage.
As near as possible without doing any inten-
tional injury to life. battle was TO be ioughb
by the various regiments Of the First Brigade
Of the National Guard. The orders We're not gwen
out until the men were assembled in the armories
on Memorial Day, and there was consequently
a much smaller number Of men III the
field than there would hlyc been had
longer notice been given. As it. was nearly
5000 men took part. No better place than Van
Cortlandt Park could have been chosen, for II
provides all the advantages and Disadvantages
which troops in actual battle experience IL de-
fence and attack.
BEHAVING LIKE TRIED VETERANS
In thi, the citizen soldiers showed that they
were almost equal 10 tried veterans This may
have been IN consequence Of the fact that ball
cartridges had not been issued 10 the men, and
that the most dangerous thing that they had to
face was noise Had they been in real haIue
where bullets We're whlstling and shells exploding
and where every time AN order 10 fire was given
il meant tie wounding manning and killing OF
men. their conduct Yesterday would have gwen
them q high place i'm the rank, OF well-traIned,
disciplined aud courageous troops " II was the
spirit Of hattie seemed To- move each man and
each fought and acted the thorough soldier. Few
sham battles end without accidents, and the most
serious injury during the engagement VIII result
IN nothing greater than the loss of an cyc TO
member Of the list Regiment, who was struck by
a bit Of gun waddiug.
The plan Of the battle which was laid ont by
Brigadcr General Fitzgerald, was extensive enough
10 include almost every mauoeuvre which would
naturally take place in a battle where there were
the same typographical conditions.
The defensive body of troops was strongly In
trcuchcd on n hich hill. au extremely advantageous
uosifion. and one from which great skill and
strat.gy were required 70 dslod-c an armed force.
The attacking force had to drive the defenders
from tic mll. capture and hold IT., and compel
tie opposing body to retreat go the field below
where troops on the right and left Hanks. aiding
in drigia. rlc attacked body into n grove would
surround ii and practically capture the entire
command.
No one except the Brigadicr-Gcncral knew OF
tho plans - attack and defence until just before
the regiments LEFT their amorics.
THE OPPOSING NoRoTS.
The -cqirncnts reached the Park nj 80 o'clock
and were seut 20 their positions by ton
cral Firrcrld The sth. g'h and list I'-i-
ments were stationed on Vault Hill, the 9th Rcsi-
mcnt defending he extreme night Ihe 'lS'
peciucnt held the centre, while tie -th was sta
toned ON the extreme left The lst Battery had
two guns Al each end of the line. lhe attacking
force consisted Of the Goth Regiment when
opcned tho battle: tue 7th, 22d and 18th Resi-
mcut, and the 81 Battery
Is this time the ucichhoring hills were crowd
ed with people and when the various commands
were in their positions many thousand people
were on hand anxious for the battle - ''-l"'
The Erigndior-Gcnc had his headquarters in The
old Van Corthndt manslon which Is S'id u" "'''
been tLe headquarters Of General Washington.
Everything moved like coch"orN; '"'h ofdeI
lad been obcycd to the letter, and when Tire word
was given every regiment and battery WIS Ie'"9
for action.
The -th 9th and list Regiments. WIN Inc -u
Hat,ery and portion Of Troop \. were the
first body of troops 10 arrive on the grounds ana
quickly took the positions to which they h'd
rtI lao
the Goth. .ih. l2th and I'D Regiments. the Isl
Battery and Tie rest Of Troop y. The req
mcut, we're divided into two briSadcs. termed the
Western and Eastern forces. Colonel Scott ol
tbe 18th Regiment. commanded the Western force
while Colonel Camp OF the 22d Regiment h'u
charge Of the Eastern force. This command h'i
been assigned originally 10 Colonel '"N'h's"'
of the G9th Regiment, but he was too III 10 Oc
present
The position of the Western force as defensive
one could not have been better chosen. 10 "''"
this division the attacking body had to make u"
advance across a wide plain IN the face OF "
heavy fire Of muskctry, Gatling guns ana he''A
artillery. Tibbett's Brook and Van 'or'''lu'
Lake both had 10 be crossed 10y the dl'''Nl"7
troops. Vault Hill, where the defence was ,. S.,
toned, Is a high one WIN an 'Ni',i,,' lL
ascent, and the batteries ana mlShruN '''
tIu sweep along the entire line of the approaching
column.
HOT FIGHT FROM BEGGNNlNG TO THE hNp'
From the instant when the lirsl gun was Hr'"
until the close Of the engagement the pd''I' was
nlI of stirring incidents and brilliant manncuNrrH
on both sides SO perfect had been the disposition
Of the troops of the Eastern forces tl"l TJ' hs
single soldier OF the enemy ; comln"hd '""V W,,I,
seen i'm any direction from the crest ol N'"iu
Hill Ten minutes before the hnhG avn
the sllirmish line began. The 'ih pani aa'
GOth Regiments, which reached tn' ''r 49,"
by Woodlawn station, moved up 'I"i''- I',i
toward tic heights and the 'ih which NOW ha5 "t
ihc rlght Of tie line, he'd three compan,cS No. W.
>kirmshcrs thrown out Ia feel ihc enr'"S S,,pirJ
sitiou. At Jeromc-avc the 'th Regiment nov"
a. tho north Ia attack the Western force on tnS
left flank, While thc advance line Of the 09tn II
moved forward directly toward the centre o' 'Ic
I'm thc meantime the 10Th Regiment, with a
mounted force which had been resting unnrl
I'm. nn Gnn ILL Rnnl. mnrchcl north - alllck