The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-15
THEY FOLDED FHEIR TENTS.
The Soldier Boys HE Themselves
Away From Camp Columbus.
Famous Tripe Hin the Scene of An
other sham Battle-A Grand
Review-Tho Wind Up.

SANTA CRUz, Aug. I4.-Camp Column
bus is no more. That is, it is no more so
lar as tents and soldier boys are con-
cerned, but it is safe to say that the en-
compliment viii live in the minds of those
VINO attended it for years to come.
Everything was hustle and hustle to-
Gay, but, remarkable as it may appear.
Chere was no confusion. The Tenth IN
Iantry battalion coming from Humboldt,
eureka and Arcata was the first to fold
ep It's tents and march off the field. They
Went to san Francisco and thence they go
by boat to their northern homes.
Then the others began to pack M. All
Gay regiments, companies, batteries and
horsemen, ia all sorts of attachments.
marched to the depots and took the trains,
special and regular, for different parts OF
the state. Everything was done with
due military precision, even to the drop
ping Of tents.
But even though the militia has de-
parted the site OF the great camp is not
deserted. Colonel Skaters regiment OF
regular soldiers are still here and will
PROBABLY remain a week longer. then
they Will march back to San Francisco
THE BEST YET.
The encampment is pronounced by ex-
pertS-and II was apparent even to nom
military people--to have been the most
successful gathering of State troops ever
4eld. This applies to every feature and
detail. As has been stated before, there
was little OF the play camp about it, most
OF the time being given over to hard,
earnest work. The rank and file have
been benefited greatly by the instruc-
tons received, and it is safe to saw the
militia has improved in efficiency fully
1OO per cent, as the result Of the encamp-
ment.
Yesterday, the last day of camp. was.
as predicted, the big day of the week.
There was one continued round of ex-
hlbltlons, and visitors had to forego their
meals IN order to keep up with what was
going on. After the morning drills were
over, everybody hurried to the beach.
as IL was programmed that the naval
reserve on board the cruisers Charleston
and Boston would indulge in some ma
neuyers. These consisted of practice
work with the big guns on the vessels
ana then lightning landing
The naval militia came swiftly
to shore in launches and regu-
lar row boats usually used by men
o'-warsmen. They landed on the little
wharf which runs out way, Just below
the bathing houses, and forming into
companies, marched down to the tempo
rary headquarters provided them at one
of the lighthouses. Here they donned
their ammunition bags and canteens. and
reforming, marched through the princi-
pal streets of the city to the camp. They
were headed by their band, and COM
pany OF the CharleStOn's marines. The
sailor boys presented a splendid appear
ance, marched admirably, and were
greeted with cheers along the line. Ar
irving at the camp, the sailors drew up in
line with General DimOnd'S big division
of militia and Colonel Skaters regulars
and the whole was reviewed by Governor
Markham. 1t was an imposing SPEC
tacle.
THE SHAM BATTLE
Then the most anXiousIy awaited event
OF the day, the sham battle, took place
The sailors did not participate in this
but Colonel Skaters men did and so did
all Of the militia. 1t was the most sue
cessful mimic warfare ever exhibited in
the State-so say all the military men
and was without doubt one of the grand
est sights ever witnessed. The battle
was not all prearrangedSas to details. as
many would suppose. General Dimond
simply divided the men off, named the
attacking party and the attacked. and
then LETT 1t 10 the BrigadIer- q enerals to
show their knowledge of war tactics by
fighting it out.
The Second Provisional Brigade. under
General Dickinson, was placed on the
top of the famous Triple Hin-the scene of
former carnage-and General L. w. Shee-
haB took charge of the attacking forces
The Third Provisional Brigade and the
regulars, backed up by the Second
ArtilleIy's cannonS, were among the be-
siegers, too. The plans laid by both sides
were admirable, and had it been genuine
conflict the arrangements could not have
exhibition.
The regulars went out first and occu-
pied hill just back of where Dickinson's
men We're entrenched, and ali but one
company of General Muller's men took
up position in the road Just at the foot
OF the east slope of Tripe Hill. General
Sheehau placed the battery near the en-
trance to camp-insa splendid position to
she'll the enemy and pour shot into it
from the front. Most OF the First Bri-
gade was stationed here, too, with the
cavalry.
THE FRAY BEGINS.
The flags OF the Signal Corps made the
announcement when all was ready for
the fray.
Immediately there was flash, a puff of
smoke and roar from the battery, and
the battle had begun. General Dickin-
son Immediately sent a portion of the
Fighting Third Regiment, under Col
onel Barry, TO skirmish about half way
down the hill, where a fence extended
horizontally across the face of the hill
This fence was supposed TO represent an
entrenchment The sknmlshers took
their positions quickly, but did no firing
yet. The invaders continued to blaze
away with the battery. and then General
Sheeban sent out the cavalry to drive the
skirmishers back. But this was not
an easy undertaking The horsemen
had cotton 1hOIit half %
field when the defenders slirInishers
opened up q raking fire that drove the
riders back into the woods below the
east slope of the hill. Then General
Sheehan sent uD his infantry. The First
Artillery Regiment WAS III front ana the
counteuances OF the Sacramento warriors
showed how eager they were for the fray.
Reaching the point where the cavalry
was beaten back, the new tactics We're
hero seen to advantage. Instead of adj
vanciug in solid line the attacking
forces moved up in squads, quite away
apart, so that the rear fire would not
harm those in front. The squads would
run TO the front for about nifty yards,
then drop to the ground, stretched ont
al full length, and pepper away at the
men behind the fence. The latter re-
turned the fire with redoubled yigor, but
the invaders kept on just the same.
he ire OF the advancing soldiers WAS SO
hot that finally the skirmishers had TO
retreat-that is, they were ordered back
by General Dickinson, and it was much
against their Will. The Fighting Third
became SO wrapped up in the fray that
they preferred TO stand and engage in a
bayonet exchange with the invaders.
GREAT UPRoAR.
The batteries We're roaring away all this
time, the attacking army had stretched
itself out from north 10 south across the
entire field, and the rattle and din was
deafening. BY this time Dickinson's re-
serve forces on top of the Hill had opened