New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-31
FALL OF FISHERS ISLAND.
CAPTURED BY REGULARS AND THE NAVAL
RESERVE.
GOVERNOR BULKELEY RECEIVED ABOARD THE
sToNINGToN WITH HoNoRs-THE LANDING
ON THE. ISLAND. THE ATTACK
AND SURRENDER.

ST0NINGTON WITH HoNoRS-THE LANDING
ON THE ISLAND. THE ATTACK
AND SURRENDER.
tBr TELEGRAPH THE TnDUNHI
New-London, Conn, July 3O.-The Reserves
fought nobly to-day in the battle of Fishers
Island. The forces from the White Squadron
and from the Naval Reserve ship Stonington made
landing in the afternoon on the island to the
number of over 1000 and dslodged force of
$50 marines under command of Captain Reed,
the marine officer Of the Chicago. The attacking
forces were commanded by Captain Silas Casey,
Of the Newark, brother of Lieutenant Casey who
was murdered by Brule Sioux In the recent In
dian outbreak at the Pine Ridge Agency. In the
morning the Reserves were landed on the beach
and taken over a portion of the ground to be
covered by the afternoons battle. There was
not much interest in the exercises of the morn
ing except that several of the officers OF the
Reserve, being unaccustOmed TO landing from
boat on beach and being full of enthusiasm,
tumbed overheard and got wet. Lieutenant
Mee1er landed fat on his face in four feet Of
water and became q citizen again while his
uniform was drying. He went through the drill,
however, for such a little thing as having
on wet clothes will not now dampen the ardor of
Naval Reserve man. Being put to soak in the
serves. They mind it no more than the most
veteran Jackie on board the Squadron of Evolu-
ton would. The greatest compliment that has
vet been paid 10 the Reserves paid by regular
sailor from the squadron to-day, who stood looking
on at the evening drill At first he criticised then
he was SILENT and when the drill was over and
the men were marching back to the boats, he said
We'll give the devil his due These men are
splendid l didn't think that play-sailors could
do it, / am afraid that our men will not be In 1t
this afternoon
His fear was groundess though, for when the
battle of the afternoon came that service which
never vet has failed to cover itself with glory
showed what II could do if the barren hills of
Fishers Island had been occupied by a hostile
force instead Of the marines, who fell back after
q certain definite space Of time. AS TO the marines,
100 strong, never was party OF such small size
handled better than that was by Captain Reed
That corps, which Is renowned throughout the
world as the best disciplined one in any service,
showed that the spirit which drove the white
coated warriors Of Corea into the sea, and has
fought hard with courage and blood in all lands
and on all seas, was like the flag, still there"
Old veterans Of the war who stood with Governor
Bulkeley Of Connecticut on the decks Oh
the Stonington, men who had seen
various battles of the civil war, JUST
bubbled over with enthusiasm when they
saw the way that Captain Reed handled the
marines.
But this Is all because Of the marines, who need
no praise. The Reserves are the people TO
write about and what they did. Early in the
morning ths steam tender of the StOnington
went over TO New-London ond brought over the
Governor of Connecticut and his staff. The
Governor was received with all the honors as
he came on board, the sides being manned ana
the band playing Hail to the Chief" as he came
on board With him were Generals Embler,
Rudd, Fern and Boss Colonels Sterns, Redheld,
Bulkeley Fairman and White Private Secretary
Lincoln, Collector Hutchinson and Walter Pierce
The flag of The State was hoisted over the Ston-
inqton as soon as the Governor came on board
Immediately after luncheon the quartermaster on
watch reported that the steam barge of the Ad-
miral was leaving the flagship Chicago. AT the
bows few the square blue flag with the two
white stars, which denoted that Rear-Admfral was
on board, and she approached the Stonlngtoh
the sides were manned and Governor Bulkeley,
surrounded by his glitterng staff, stood on the
uuarter-deck TO welcome the ruler Of the seas
commander Miller met the Admiral at the gang
way and escorted him TO where to Governor stood,
the band playing quickstep The Admiral paid
board the flagship.
The battle of Fishers Island began shortly
after o'clock when the fotilla of boats from
the feet came around the rocky point
and Joined the boats af the Naval
Reserve, which lay floating on the water
waiting their coming. In the boats Of the Naval
Reserve were 1875 gallant sailors and true. In
the boats of the White Squadron were 1000
white-clad sailors under command of Captain Sllas
Casey Of the Newark. In the bows of the boats
from the squadron were mounted Gatling guns
ready to open fire on the blue line OF marines
which Captain Reed had strung along the beach,
taking advantage, in posting them, OF a hollow
road. which ran parallel to the shore. Lieutenant
r b. NJ Mason, with a battery of artillery,
occupied commanding height on the right Of
Captain Reeds line and commanded the approach
Of the boats. a brisk firr was opened from the
Gatlings in the bows Of the boats as soon as they
came within range and the line Of marines re-
tired 10 the ridge Of land behind them. The day
was dark and lowering, with every now ana theh
q dash Of rain, so the smoke from the Gatnngs
ir tbe boats and from that thin blue line retreat
ing up the barren hill on shore,
hung low and heavy over the contendng forces
and did not need an unusually vivid magma
ton to fancy thnt the scene was one of actual
volunteer service.
The marines being driven back from the beach,
the sailors from the Boston and Atlanta landed
on the right, the battalion from the Newark
on the extreme left the Naval Reserve next TO
tlem and between the Reserves and the Bostons
men the sailors from the Chicago uncer
command Of Lieutenant Raymond Perry
Rodgers. Mr.. Rodgers at once deployed
his men skirmishers and moved
ND 10 occupy the place between the little thicket
which marked a swamp in declivity near the
centre and the hill on which Lieutenant Mason
had stationed his men. Then the skirmish line on
the extreme left moved in force III flank move
on the hill occupied by Lieutenant Mason ana
his artillery and soon became mingled with the
skrmsh line Of Lieutenant Rogers. The com
bined forces, firing rapidly as they ao
vauced, soon forced Lieutenant Mason to evacuatc
his position and retire through a valley to another