Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-01
NOT A MAN FLINCHED, EITHER
When the Ammunition Gave Out
the Command Surrendered.
7 II E G A NJ P N E w

| fully tied and bandaged heads and limbs
To majority of the thousands of specta-
| tors who witnessed the affair but few
| anticipated such an exhibition. At the
usual hour "adjutants CALI sounded and
the troops, attred in National Guard IA
| tigue uniform, very peacefully entered the
| field and went through the ceremony of
| dress parade, in far better manner than
on any previous day during the encamp-
| ment. Then the colors were marched to the
front and center. and the ten companies
passed in review and left the field. So did
many of the CnlookerS.
After a wait OF ten minutes, however, a
battalion, under command of Maj Story,
| made its appearance along the river edge
| of the drill field, looking very attractive,
as each man wore a white helmet In
| obedience to a buSle command, the four
| companies formed battalion front and halt
| ed. Next, Maj. Story threw out line of
| SkirmiSherS. who began firing into Clump
! OF trees situated between the drill ground
| and the camp. The firing was answered in
a most energetic manner from behind cover,
| then the entire battalion under Maj. Story
! poured forth volley, and volley equally
! loud was returned. The invisible ele-
| ment, which comprised the battalion under
| Maj. Columbus, now put itself into ocular
| evidence, and things became decidedly more
| interesting. a few sharpShooters belonging
| to the army under Maj Columbus skillful-
| ly worked themselves to position in the
1 rear OF the Wnlte HeilnetS ana fIeI blank
| cartridges at the enemy with avidity but
| strange to say no one succumbed to the
| onslaught lieutenant. noticing the at
! tack from the rear, sent score of men
| to put the sharpshooterS to rout, but that
| end was net accomplished until one of the
| men belonging to Maj. Storys forces had
! been very realistically taken prisoner by
a daring and bulet-proof Columbusite. who
| appeared very warl.ke, attired in cam
| paign hat and wearing no blouse.
Dead and Wounded
Then of a sudden the firing ceased and lit
| was evident to all that the white-helmet
| contingent was surrounded and its mem
| bers bona-fide prisoners. As Major Column
| bus approached Major Stnry to receive an
official surrender man on the right of the
! captured party fell to Sthe ground. His
action was followed by another and another
| The ambulance corps, witch had been To-
Gated at the right edge OF the field moved
to the scsue at double times Bandages were
brought into use, and theswounded carried
OFF in filters. All that was needed 10 make
| the exhibition entirely ealistic was blood
Many of the ladies present We're very much
affected by the scene, they evidently being
OF the opinion that the men were really
hurt. UnconScioUSn eSS was wfll feigne1 by
the guardsrnen, and thersurgeons worked
over them in manner worthy of common
dation. but all poetry was. removed from
the situation ami the composure of the
ladies restored when member of the ir-
as the small boy shouted IN sSrn tone
whisky The effect WAS instantaneous,
| astonishing ana amusing, for the dead. dy-
ing and wounded jumped to their feet as
enc man and moved away with the ban
dages remaining attachefto the various por
tons of their persons.
The victorious army relieved the conquered
of their arms and marched them prisCner
from the scene Of the fray. Alleged broken
heads and various other wounds were pro-
miscuous throughout the procession, which
proved very effect from the vantage of the
spectator. Long after the departure of the
troops the ambulance corps was kept busy
removing animate and inanimate bodies
from the battlefield.
Throughout the strife Major Suess, at
tended by Private Thuee of troop A, as
orderly, and accompanied by Lieut. Mellach.
all mounted, added much TO the scene by
galioping at fun speed about the field. AL
though the defeated army deserved to lose
for appearing in full view before an enemy
| VI der cover. when it should have concealed
itself behind nearby embankment the first
sham battle at Camp Blake was big sue
cess. II win be repeated on Thursday and
Saturday evenings. each battalion taking
It's turn as conqueror.
They Were Heroes.
Many old army officers and number of
other persons who participated in or wit
messed many battles during the late war.
as we'll as engagements with the redskins
on the western frontier, were interested
spectators at the fight. They were unani-
nous in declaring that the white-helmcted
warriors, under Major Story are heroes of
the. first water. Not since the battle of
Waterloo has such bravery been witnessed
anywhere. These men of the District of
Columbia National Guard stood in solid
column. wearing pure white headgear, with
the green sward for a background. making
excellent targets for the enemy concealed
among the trees. Not fer an instant did
they fir ch before that awful fire, but stood
heir al them
selves to be captured, according to program,
in the smoothest manner imaginable.
Goodness" The star man overheard an
old soldie-. remark when he saw how the
engagement would be fought, won't this
ambulance corps have to work. bet there
won't be five men living at the conclusion
of the battle" Had ball cartridges been
used, the prediction would undoubtedly have
proved correct.
The usual routine of camp life was carried
cut during the day. Guard mount was well
nigh perfect, and at Its conclusion the COM
ranies drilled for an hour or more After
breakfast the entire command was ordered
out for police duty, during which the entire
quantity of rubbish and camp refuse was
burned or otherwise deStrC yed.
Raising the Flag.
As reported by carrier pigeon in yester-
days Star. fiagpole was erected in front
of post headquarters shortly after o'clock
Two squads of men reported to Lieut.. Mel
ZACH, who lined them up to the right of
headquarters and in the rear Of the flag
pole. Then the lieutenant reported the
squad to Maj. Suess at present arms The
post staff was stationed near the tent, and
the lawn was crowded with officers, enlisted
men and visitors. The co ors mounted the
top of the pole. and Maj. Suess pulled the
string and unfurled them to the breezes.
The same instant, by command Of Lieut..
Mellach, a volley announced to the country
around that the flag had been officially and
tremendously raised over Camp Blake.
Three volleys were fired, the first to be
heard in the camp. The first and second
voiieys were followed by ''rufHe'' OF the
drums, and the third by "colors'' and Star
Spangled Banner by the drum corps, the
spectators standing with uncovered heads.
Color Sergeant E. e. Alger appeared with
a platoon, which was halted Immediately in
front OF headquarters tent, where the flag
Of the fifth battalion had been flying since
the beginning of the encampment. Maj.
Suess returned the salute Of the color SER
geant. and directed him to deliver the flag
to Capt. Columbus. at battalion headquar-
tiers. Then, turning to Capt. Columbus. the
major said: Captain, you are fntrusted
with the flag that has never waved over a
defeated army. Guard it as you would your
life, and see that no act Of yours or of the
men under your command shall stain 4 sim
gle star or stripe" To this Capt. Column
bus replied: Major, 1 feel proud In the