The morning call., 1893-02-24
A SHAM BATTLE.
Fought by the Cadets on
the Campus.
The Drill and Fight Excited the Young
Soldiers and They Made Some
Slight Mistakes.

"I hardly think the drill to-day will be Of
much interest. as these are mostly new
men. You see, we take in q lot of new men
every fall. and of course they could hardly
be expected to be very efficient yet"
So said Lieutenant Randolph in speaking
OF the battalion drill which took place on
the university campus yesterday.
At a quarter to o'clock the drum beat to
quarters, and the cadets, signal and drum
corps tfronged through the corridors of the
basement OF north ball, and the ranks we're
quickly formed In the rear Of that building.
Then the commanding officers took their
places before the warlike array and put
them through short drill. and the car
tridge-boxes of the firing squads were filed
with blank cartridges.
Lieutenant Randolph came around and
delivered his final instructions to the cap
tains of the fighting line, reserves and de-
Tense, and the columns, composed of Com
panies a, D., L and +, and commanded by
Captains McClaughry, Price. Willis and
Bartlett, marched around the building and
were then divided into the separa, G forces
The fighting line, commanded by Captain
Bartlett, was sent TO the lower end of the
campus in double time TO the air Of Tara
ra-boom-de-ay," played by the fife and drum
corps, which was hidden in a grove off to
the right. safe from the dangers of the i'm
pending battle.
The reserves followed the fighting line.
also on double time. and were frequently
made to stop and kneel aud 60 through
other evouti0nS on the way. The de-
Tense line also betoOk Itself to the lower end
OF the field and formed on the edge Of the
grove just In front of the bridge.
Then the fighting line. with the firing
squads thrown well out in front as skirm-
| ishers, advanced boldly on the imaginary
| enemy. The skirmishers were sent ahead
| at a run, that Is as fast run as they were
| capable of in cr0uching position. with their
| guns trailing aud when in advance of the
reserve line about hundred yards Lieu
| tenant Willis gave the orders to halt. knesl,
| load and fire. This was done with great
| precision the first time. but by the time the
boys ran another fifty yards they were
| somewhat excited, and 1.-The result was that
| Just as fast as gun was loaded it was fired
! straight ahead, aud by the time the some
| what.be wildere lieutenant concluded that
| the battle was progressing rather faster
| than the instructions warranted, nearly
every skirmisher had discharged his piece
| and was wondering what 10 do next. This
| running, kneeling and firing was kept up
for some little time by the skirmishers, the
| reserves keeping respectful distance in
| the rear, and the brave drummer-bOys
drumming away for dear life in the grove
Meantime the defense line was deployed
on the football ground, and presented a
| handsome appearance as the we'll dressed
ranks, with the colors floating at the head.
were put through many intricate and diff
| cult movements by Lieutenant Randolph.
| After this had been kept up for about
half an hour the defense line returned to
| the shade of the trees, stacked arms and
| furled the banner.
The fighters exhausted their ammunition
and yanquished the foe, and the fife and
| drum corps came bravely forth to head the
victorious columns back to the lower end OF
| the field.
Just at this juncture the booming Of the
| battery OF artillery, concealed among the
trees at the back of the gymnasium. caused
the spectators in the immediate vicinity to
clutch their hats and look around appre-
| hensiyeiy. The cadets received the fire un.
flinchingly. They knew it was only pow
| der.
The firing squads were halted about the
center of the field on their way back to the
| main body at the lower end of the field. and
| deplOyed in double time. These maneuyers
were hardly success, however. as the cadets
| again became slightly demoralzed, flushed
as they were with victory, and just before
| the commanding officer gave the command
forward" first one and then an other squad
would start off on run.
''Steadyl there, steady, / haven't given
the order yet" said Lieutenant Willis, and
the squads fell back to place. only 10 break
into run again too soon. They were kept
| at Ii though till the maneuver was satisfac-
toraily performed, when all four companies
were once more united, and with the colors
| and drums at the head the entire force
moved back to quarters to the tune OF
yankee Doodle"
! While the battle was in progress the sig.
| nal CORPS kept sending messages from yari.
Gus parts of the field. and the photographers
| were likewise kept busy sending and receiy.
/ ing messages.