Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-02

from the surrounding country dined at
the same tables.
An hour later the people repaired to
the Presbyterian churcfl-the town
house was not large enough to accom-
modate SO maryland listened to a bonn
bastic address delivered by a young law
yer who was great orator in his own
estimation, and to the singing of pa
trietic airs.
Next was sham fight, which took
place on a broad common in the center
of the village. The soldiers were di-
vided into small companies, half Of the
cavalry and half of the infantry being
in each division. Each company was
arranged in platoons, eight men in a
platoon, and behind the front platoon
were all of the other platoons. The cav
airy in each company was in the rear of
the infantry. Capt. Perkins, a hero Of
the war of 1912, commanded one COM
pany, and the officer acting as the other
captain was Lieut.. Wainwright.
The uniform of cavalryman consist
ed of red broadcloth coat with buff
cashmere facings, gold lace trimmings
and gilt buttons, and trousers and vest
of buff cassi0ere. The privates wore
caps with round crowns of heavy leather
covered with bearslzin and a red feather
on the side. The cap Of an officer was
similar except that upon it was gilded
helmet, support for long feather that
dropped ovCs the front of the cap. The
feather was red with a white tip in
front. The cavalry equipment consisted
of yellow sword-belt extending over
right shoulder and holding the scabbard
of sword on the left side of the soldier,
pistols in saddle holsters and valise on
back of saddle. The cavalry officers
also wore high boots with white tops.
IT !, infantry were dressed in blue
throughout: coat facings and trimmings
were of rcd and around each soldiers
neck was leather stock.
Tie men in their gay uniforms pre-
sented "A brilliant appearance, and in
the opinion>of the spectators who lined
the sides of the green they were the
finest soldiers in the world.
The sham fight consisted of series
of simple maneuvers by which each
platoon in tho opposite companies, be-
ginning with the two front platoons,
advanced and fired wheeled back, took
its place behind the cher platoons, and
--Moved forward Until again in turn il
| was at the front, when 1t fired again.
These maneuvers were repeated until
| the battle was ended. The company
whose platoons moved the quicker
| gained ground on the other company
and gradually drove it back until the
twenty-four rounds Of ammunition were
exhausted and the slower moving com
pany was defeated.
The quicker moving company vas
commanded by Lieut.. Wainwright, who
was seated on a spirited horse and
whose waving plume above the gilded
helmet could ever be seen in the thickest
of the fray. The gallant officer was in.
cited to do his best by the knowledge
that the eyes of the fair Amanda were
upon him. She and her mother stood
in prominent position. They waved
their handkerchicfs at the young sol
dier and their faces were filed with Joy
as they saw him lead his men to certain
victory, although the paterfamilias
Deacon Hepburn himself, was in Captain
Perkins company and was enraged be-
cause the detested young Wainwright
was carrying off the laurels of the oc
casion. But fortunately the deacon
was nearsighted and knew not that hi.