Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-30

every available foot of space was occu.
pied, and then for the first time Il could
Dc seen what an enormous crowd there
was on the grounds. Almost as far back
~ the eye could reach there was one
moving mass Of humanity.
AT least half of the ground which was
20 nave been occupied by the troops was
niied with people. who never deemed for
a moment to realize that they were put
ung themselves in very dangerous
place and impeding the mon9uyres to a
considerable extent.
Tie officers tried in vain TO urge the
crowd to retire, but nothing could be
done IN this direction, and for this reason
the beauty OF the fight was somewhat
marred, but it was unquessionably the
feature ofthe Fair and an unually fine ex.
hibition Of military skill.
HUNDREDS IN THE FIGHT.
men participated in the skirmisb. and in
inns number were included every branch
OF the seryice-the infantry, cavalry. and
artillery. When the Howitzers rolled
INTO position their heavy pieces drawn
by four horses and mounted by the can
noneers IN their blue and red coats. the
martial sentiments of the spectators
became aroused. Things began to look
IKE war, when the cavalrymen, booted
and spurred, clattered mp on their fiery
chargers and arranged themselves at the
prescribed points. The infantrymen.
too, with their leggings on and their
guns arranged for the fray looked war
like, and the whole scene was grand
one.
Tho plan Of the battle, as arranged
before hand, represented force in re-
treat, followed by successful advance
The retreating military entered the Fair
Grounds at the stock-gete on Broad
street in several divisions-frst an in
fantry force. and second force OF artil.
lery, infantry, and cavalry. who took the
right, moving north, with the rear guard
composed Of cavalry. The dispersed
order OF formation was taken across the
southern end Of the enclosure facing
south.
THE FIRING BEGAN.
When the advance guard Of the vic
torious troops showed themselves they
were fired upon by Il cavalry line of
plckets, whereupon they Immediately
formed line of attack and drove the
pickets to their cavalry support. This
support strengthened the picket line and
in return forced the cavalry back on
their support. The latter being rein
forced took the advance and drove the
defensive cavalry to designated point
when an infantry skirmish line was I'M
covered. This line then moved against
the cavalry driving them back on their
infantry line.
The infantry skirmish-line OF the
offensive attacked the advancing pick
cts, causing them to fall back near their
main line, where they were reinforced.
They then, being stronger, took the ad-
vance and in turn forced the offensive
skirmishers back toward their line.
This line was then reinforced and
caused the defensive to retreat on their
main line.
THE ARTILLERY TAKES A HAND.
The artillery of the defensive at this
point opened fire upon the advancing
line and caused them to fall back to their
support, which had by this time al
vanced to designated point i'll the line
of battle formation. The advance was
then general The heavy firing of the
defensive forces caused the advancing
line to move back to designated point,
when they again took the advance.
Upon their arrival at fixed place flag
of truce was sent ont from the defensive
line and thus the fight terminated.
The following were the officers OF the
conteuding sides:
Defensive force (retreating column,
Captain G.. 4. Mushback, commandant
of the First battalion OF infantry, which
was composed Of Companies l. and l.,
Third regiment, and the Virginia Zou'
ayes. Captain f. Il. Lassitter, command
ant oi the Second infantry, composed Of
Company ID, Third regiment, and Com
pany q, Fourth regiment. and Battery
a. four guns Second battalion cavalry,
Lieutenant Colonel W. +. Wickham,
commanding two troops; director Of
action, Major William NJ. Evans.
Offensive force advancing column
First regiment infantry, Lieutenant
Colonel A. l.. Phillips commanding
artillery, Lieutenant Barrett, command
ing two guns cavalry, Major W. Alrb
Mathews, commanding two troops. Dl-
rector of action, Colonel II. c. Jones.
AN EXCITING FIGHT.
Despite the tremendous crowd which
everywhere impeded the movements OF
the military, the fight was exciting III
the extreme, and when hundreds OF
rifles commenced their firing and the
booming Of the cannon shook the air the
scene was truly magnificent. In every
direction could be seen the flash OF the
Guns. while through the dense smoke
which arose from all sides the cavalry
men madly dashed upon their ioamine
chargers, Line after line OF lniantry'
kneeljng as they fired, poured forth then
yolleys into the troopers, Whlle the
horsemen. as they dashed around upon
their excited steels. discharged the car
bines with which they are armed.
In the midst of all the din the rover,
baratiDg echoes OF the artillery burst
mon tie air. shaking asit seemed almost
the very ground beneath the soidlery..
The riding of the cavalrymen, despite
the fact that they had to be exceedingly
careful on account of the crowd, was
mopnifcent and not single equestrian
was endorsed. Dashing forward on gal
lonjpo steed and firing gun at the same
time IS no easy feat in riding, but the
troopcrs seemed to have learnt Just no"
to do II.
THE noBsE-eUARp's PART.
Troop A, First Regiment cavalry
Captaia Enker commanding, was as
s;cned to the duty OF bringing on tho
engagement, and this function was spieh'
diaIy performed, and in a truly soldlerly
manner. The behavior OF the troopers
Of this company compared iavoraDly
even with the cavalry in active service
To the Hanover troop was assigned .hc
duty of supporting Captain LnAer when
pressed from his position by the omen
sive line. but they were greatly nnpede0
in their charges by the spectators AN.
40 -, ,,ropoupcpl the sham battlt