Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-05-29

Long black lines of soldiers, some In strag-
Cling groups, some In proud martial array,
some in double quick advance and some IN
precipitous retreat, met the eyes of travellers
upon the New York and New Haven road all
day yesterday, among the rail fences, tum-
bled down stone walls, crooked roads, green
pastures, woodlands, hills and dales which
mark the stretch of country between Wal
linQford and Meriden. 1t was the ten COM
panies of the Second regiment, the New
Haven half valiantly battling against the
Meriden half for possession of the Silver
City.
The plan Of battle which had been ar
ranged by the officers commanding was car
ried out almost to the letter. Lieutenant
Colonel Lee In command of the FIVE New Ha-
ven companies and Major Burpee In COM
maud of the defenders Of the Silver City skill
fully executed the various manoeuvres which
constituted the days game Of war. The six
battles between the two forces on the road
from wallingford to Meriden were most
stubbornly contested aud the anal entry of
the city and the surrender of the defenders
was not made till after O'Clock.
Then followed the riot drill, dress parade
and banquet at the rink. In these the oppo'
nents of few moments before Joined IN
happy utilization, and the assault, battle and
capture of Meriden was ceremoniously ush.
eieu in'o 'ne anA"i' ~ oon.eosoa'
THE ASSAULT AND SAfA'
1t was $50 O'Clock In the morning wnen
the New Haven companies assembled at the
Wallingford depot. The right of the line,
held BY Company + under Captain Sucher,
was Immediately set In motion against Com
pany K of the defenders.
lieutenant Macdonald with thirty men
from Company Fl Grays) was dispatched to act
as rear guard. Daring the wait the most ex.
citing Incident was that of Captain Ford
being thrown from his horse by the breaking
of the girth, but without injury. Company
E marched down Colony street to Main by a
circuitous route and attacked Company K.
From Company B SQUAD was sent out to
prevent surprises.
| street. At the corner Of williams they were
stopped by a SQUAD, Company K, who occu-
pied the cemetery. The advance was re-.
sumed, skirmishers being thrown out. The
sound of firing from Main street way was
heard from the right of Company E attack.
| ing the guard of Company K at Main and
Church streets. As the main body reached
Main street the advance guard halted and
Company closed up at double quick. In
the meantime Company KS outposts retreat
| cd toward Hungerford'e, followed by the
right of Company e. The main body fol
lowed the skirmishers.
The battle began in earnest at 10 O'Clock
| The machine gun came to the front with 9
rush and entered the field to the right within
ffty wards of the bridge. Company was
formed on the opposite side. Captain GUT
The machine gun unlimbered in the field
and the line of battle advanced. Company
@ advanced and tho skirminishers were
ordered to tho rear The volleys of musketry
were almost dsafening. The deep roll of the
machine gun came In at q few seconds in
tervals. The fight lasted only few minutes
and the conauerors sd yauced over the bridge.
At 1920 the second bridge was reached by
the skirmishsrs and Ere opened. Colonel
Lee issued Commands TO leave the road and
form In the field to the right. Skirmishers
were thrown out to the left and the advance
began on Barnes place. Stone, rail and
barbed wire fences were gone over one by enc
and the line rapidly advanced. Gradually
the left wing of Company d forced Company
I back and the troops on the hillside fell bach
also. Then they broke into a run, followed
by the invaders.
| Company x held the crossroad at Barnes
/ uuutT uIo Arom SOmphwy ~ huu tue huVhuct
/ guard OF Company II under Lieutenant Mac
| donald, Here hostilities relaxed and thu
tired troops were given a rest. just befor,
this halt was called Major Burpee was mott.
| fed by lis captains. La Barnes and Bowen
that a man had been captured while taxing
notes, and that he might be q Spy. Msjol
Burpee sent o detachment of men to arres
the fellow, who claimed that he was q wal
correspondent for New Haven paper. HI
L Ia lusI ~. al knt
| found that he had uniform underneath his
| suit. He turned out to be Sergeant Joseph
| Smith of Com pany +, New Haven, who had
been sent ont by Colonel Lee to ascertain the
L strength of the resisting party.
At Barnes house the fight was hercely re.
sumed. The bridge was destroyed and Com.
psnies A and z of Waterbury arrived to re-
| inforce the defenders.
One incident OF this skirmish was the cap
ture OF Lieutenant Macdonald OF Company +
| OF New Haven. While leading platoon oil
| his men In the skirmish in front of the farm.
house he encountered detachment of Com.
psny Il. He fought them, but unexpectedly
ran afoul Of band of Company K men I'M
| der Lieutenant Norton. Macdonald and bis
| squad were captured and brought before
Major Burpee.
The finest ioht of the day was that after
| lunch. The defenders formed on the brow
of the hill overlooking the bridge. which was
supposed TO have been rebuilt, and it's ap.
proaches. Com any A held the bridge t.
| self. The invaders all formed in the field e
| the east. The battle at the bridge was tn.
great sight of the day. The long line Of
Invaders advanced down the hill forming
perfect, unbroken line from which only
msss oi name snu smoke Soulo % soen. IN
m, az hs;j,s scrsd nd ;sr,smsn, r. "a
ma M wsterbpry The 6obt raoed nntil N,
machine gun was brought up and then
general retreat followed.
had nsrd worr w;,S ,hs dansa nndsrhrua1
on the banks. The line in the road was KEEP
firing while more troops directly on tn.
orid9e we're supposed 70 DC the engineering
corps reouiidine IL. tnis was the SECOND
bridge the defenders were supposed to have
bnrned behind him: IL was evident at this
point that ammunition was getting scarce az
but little firing was done until the bridge
was rebuilt, when general fusilade opened
from both lines Of battle. Colonel Doherty
rode to the bridge and directed Lieutenant
Colonel Lee to advance slowly when signal.
ed and to store ammunition at the fifth OF
succeeding position, but to use all he chose
on the sixth or last. he also commanded
Lieutenant.Coionel Lee ior the excellent
battle line In the fortn position.
FOLLOWING tne CRANE ASSAULT AZ M Safnes
4