Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15
for an alarm. Nothing occurred to disturb
their rest during the remainder of the night
OPERATIONS OF THE ENRNy

for an alarm. Nothing occurred to disturb
their rest during the remainder of the night
OPERATIONS OF THE ENEMY.
The history Of the attacking party Ii An in
teresting one. Capt. Horton, in command,
shortly after l o'clock, started outside of the
Lines alone. apparently to test the sentinels
Inc hrst one he met reported that he had seen
number OF men lurking about in the rear Of
the camp. This was a lucky coincidence. The
captain warned the sentinel to be vigilant, and
continued his rounds. Another sentinel re-
ported seeing men behind his post. The cap
tam now decided to send out q patrol Hurry
ing TO the guard tent, he directed
Lieut. Leckie, senior officer Of the guard. to
nave sixteen men fall in at once. The
captain then explained to the men what he had
heard from the sentineIs and the nature of the
duties required from them as . patrol. Lieut.
Leckie was then ordered to move the detach-
at point agreed upon, and there await the
oncer OF the day. Lieut. Moore. junior officer
OF the guard, was then informed Of what WAS to
take place. Securing a lot of blank cartridges,
already counted and examined, from Lieut.
Vale, Capt Horton Joined his detachment sup
piled them with the ammunition instructed
them as to their duties as the attacking party
and marched them to the woods between the
rear OF the camp and the lake and there de-
ployed them as skirmishers, the left resting on
300 feet of the tents, where the command was
given to load and to stand ready for firing.
They were instructed to aim high 80 as
to avoid any possibility of danger result
ing. The order was then given to fire,
three shots being fired as administers
by each man, after which they retired to
the line Of woods in the swamp. After the FIRST
few shots it was seen that the camp was alarmed,
the long rolf being heard and the sentinels
shouting, Turn out the guardr' ''Turn out
q nd off oA1Se
party again fred FIVE or six shots in succession
after reaching the line Of woods, after which
they were assembled on the left and rapidly
marched back to a second line of woods about
quarter of mile to tine rear, on the Annapo-
lis road, where they were grouped together for
volley firing. A scout was then sent out, who
returned with the information that the ad-
vance line from the camp had started. Three
yolleys were then fred, when the attacking
party marched in double time at right angles
to the road and there in roundabout way
came into camp at the main guard post without
having excited any suspicion by their absence.
Capt Horizons management of his detachment
Is entitled to all praise, for had the advance
line from the camp or any OF the scouts sent
out encountered it there would certainly have
been trouble of a serious character, for many
OF the men, knowing nothing Of the secret,
were aroused to the highest pitch of nervous
excitement. and it would have been almost i'm
possible to stop them before probably serious
physical injury had been inflicted on one side
or the other.
alarm, and within six minutes every company
was at its post, well in hand and ready for the
emergency. 1t was an object lesson which will
not soon be forgotten by either officers or men.
Carefully planned and skiilfuliy carried out the
entire conception is worthy of the officers and
men who took part in it. The action of many
OF the men was worthy of veterans. 1t should
always be remembered that the men were
totally unprepared for anything of the kind;
not the slightest intimation had reached them
Of what it was proposed to do. Could a better
test of nerve and courage have been devised
under the conditions existing? To particularize
individual instances of personal gallantry
would be invidious. Suffice it to say that Off
GERS and men, without exception, are entitled
to full praise for the manner in which they con-
Quoted themselves last Friday evening, and no
member OF the sixth battalion or OF company
Il, fourth battalion, attached, need ever be
ashamed to refer to their participation In the
battle of Bay Ridge"
LESSONS OF THE CAMP.
The lessons of the camp have been many and
varied. Every officer and man in the battalion
has acquired information of a practical char
acter which will prove invaluable from q mill
tary standpoint. The instruction in guard
duty was thorough, and will prove, or should
do 80, Of lasting benefit. Much of the i'm
pioNcn1cht III thiS fesptCt iS OWING W TIE caEu-
est and painstaking efforts Of Adjt. Mcdowell,
who devoted most Of his nights to making the
rounds OF the guard post and testing the senti-
nels in every conceivable manner. Capt. Riley
Of B company. fourth battalion. was also indie
fatigablo In his efforts to have the sentinels
properly comprehend the importans nature Of
the duties intrusted to them.
In the extended order drill the boys made
great progress SO much SO that visiting mill
tary officers from distant parts expressed their
admiration OF the manner in which the differ
ent and difficult movements were effected.
Capt Wilson of company c, War Department
Rifles, worked early and late in his efforts to
give the proper instruction in this most inter-
esting drill. and that his efforts we're crowned
with tiattering success is the verdict of all who
have witnessed his mastery execution of the
various mapeuvers. The men were in earn
est and ably seconded their commanding
officer.
Take II all in all the late camp has been q
thorough object lesson to every officer and man
connected with the organization. Every one
worked hard and early and Late, with vim and
energy which was highly commendable. 1t
seems hard that men whose work has been of
such a praiseworthy character should be COM
PEELED to sumbit to the rigorous hardships of
! military discipline. undergo exposure and dis
comfort, separate themselves from their fami-
lies and their friends, all for the purpose of
educating themselves as intelligent citizens to
perform the duties of soldiers, and yet be com
PEELED to defray their own expenses while en-
gagged in SO laudable and patriotic an undertake
ing. Some remedy, it is claimed, should be
devised by those in authority to prevent the
gross injustice which exists under present con-
ditions with relation to our citizen soldiery.