The sun., 1896-08-23
FIELD WORK FOB STATE TROOPS.
n Mimic War Conduet By Iniaois Militia
-Autumn Maneuvres.

Among the present summers tours Of caml
and field duty for the organised militia. III,
short campaign carried on by the Illinois Ma
tional Guard is especially interesting.
1t was decided tn introduce q variation upor
the routine encampment with its regular drtils
and this was done when the First Brigade. Gen.
wheelers, went into camp. Lieut.. d. J.
Baker, Jr., Twelfth Infantry. having been as
signed by the War Department 10 duty with
the State troops, devised q programme simulAt.
ing os far practicable the operations OF war.
The brigade consisted OF three regiments and
battalion Of infantry. battery Of artillery,
and two troops Of cavalry. numbering :, 700 en-
listed men. These were divided into hostile
forces. and n series OF operations was plarned
covering four Of the seven days OF held duty.
The camp was near Springfield. the State
capital. and without going into minute details
IL may be enough TO say that the plan included
the defence OF Springfield against attack, the
capture Of Chinckapin Bridge. with the defeat
and nursuit of tho force holding 1t. the laying
Of q field telegraph and its use for transmit
ting orders, and combats resulting from the
efforts of the two sides TO do the work as
signed 20 them.
Interest was added TO these operations by
leaving the commanding officers to solve their
problems, after certain data had been given
10 them an3 certain conditions named. So
far from making the result q foregoue conciu-
sion. additional army officers were called in TO
help the mAneuvres and 20 decide who had
won. Capt. Eben Swift. Fifth Cavalry, was
appointed umpire. and the day before The
movements began gave address TO all the
officers. which concerned not only the particu-
lar problems 10 be solved. but the proper
methods OF handling troops on the march and
in the enemy's presence. AS all three arms
were employed. three other regular Officers,
Lieut.. J. P. Ryan. Sixth Cavalry. an honor
graduate OF the Fort LeavenwortL school
last year. Lieut. W. A Phillips. Twenty-sec-
ond Infantry. and Lieut. J. A. shipton. FRS.
Artillery, were assigned to aid the troops.
During the four days the troops were forced
to camp wherever the marches and move
ments might find them, cooking their rations
and having taste Of real campaigning.
subsequently. in the tour o. duty of another
portion Of the Illinois National Guard af the
same camo. q di1eren. problem was sub
nitted by the army officers II concerned the
escort OF wagon train. By a regiment of in.
fnntry, TO point at some distance. avoiding
the threatened capture OF it by an enemy
supposed TO be at prescribed pointa
There are arguments. no doubt against
as well as in favor Of such nanauvres. as a
substitute for ordinary militia camps Of
instruction. That they sdd novelty and
variety is certain. and they also give prnc-
tice in field operations that resemble what
troops would Go called upon to do in time
Of war. On the other hand. one objection Is
that, unless troops keep to travelled roads.
they would have TO encroach upon rivate
property. It is said that the Adtutant 6 en-.
subject, overcame this objection by purchas.
Ing N1s .he rSh5 to & use an extended area Of
1amaSes for any, injury. done TO the fields
That course might not be practicable In ali |
National Military Park grounds for practice |
roops thither might be a. serious as tSat ~
airing grounds and paying damages for the |
Another objection is that these exercises
interfere with the important routine Of in |
iivtdual instruction and company and regi- |
Between this instruction. and the more I,SeIy
.tc, ma spe,iacIIa exercises OF the sham fight,
ns ;o0d Judges a have s ;e,ted down upon the for
his reason the employment OF the week In
amp An tGr such purposes as those adonted by
raj i.t,s atn.n; troops is not likely TO find gen
rl,a;n. Th11. is way. however, in which the two
.ood results OF both. at least in some State.
;s that OF experimenting the summer
u,qmn ranGuvfes. This "a most nem day, nyscfi 81
aole In the ne!gnborhood Of large cities. or
rtIt, ,tGre many troo:s arc concentrated. As
4 tax upon the citizen soldiers time, and
5 also an affair OF c,,nsiderabe cost to the
,idsly scattered organizations for y tuqthsp rG,se
rills in tho fall. hut where a whole briSnde
r a,dd more e., - already concen rated il eau 6e
ruuble and cost. ' ~ si''H+
There is no doubt that In the practice Of N.
rlGade work which is not supplied by the or.
he escor, G SaI0 G,nIenial camps. Outpost duty,
anee al and rear guard. picket duty. siirmisS.
1s 1srctss On broken THH, Eround and through long
he Limits Of camp like that Of PeeIssili I''h'h
,nos; \, aapFsns that New York aad brooklyn are
ere indicate !. They have many recim.nIsand
tchh' tch' thoIsand men within their limits, and
sch zen t 81 the braades can summon a strong
bIce ioF au u.umn nlanuuvres whiie II ,hs twS
on Iy s,i grloysa sFns toSeheT the results wcud
re from the various harbor forts shmniSgn inS iISgn,
aiien IN to participate, thus giving ali the aS.
ahtasrs Of tho professional trsinins OF III thsir
ii'nE ever attempted In this country In tjp3s |
Dor and anu cns, that too, with remarkably little
As As to the best place Ryaia 9ls for such work
New way Yors 9e SON some dopbt, The Firsl Brigade
hfe Prospect Park is In like manner opea sarx; ;o
,"upds i scSnd Sd Brigade and both these V drill III
,n ,G sham battles have been fought. Bnt ner,
'ps 'i1od dor series OF movements taking in 10Th
'faues ana alEo the regulars IL minbt ~ !
i'd eSat II in 20 sbs out on Long lsnd It has been
.aihs there could he found pIeptv oimiPslead ~
iPhhnn; ithnn;; which % would be available. probsbI h
nd 'IIut ~ cost, nor being under cuitiyatto1'
ihIIe i,I IN IN autumn, with crops gathered snHt
y .t niaIGhes by roads forming great part ~
~ dfIS,ses dfIscseess there would probably be little II
. . uIincuity ou the score OF dama9es Will
Cessive. "oulu also not DO
Ia me advantage OF gathering and s,s-o,s,,
y,9n 19n numbering more than a diyfsion Is
of,ic.,s =. lis rs certain that the value TO r.un
o opera,e most eagerly. On the ctner SanH 20
ar y y, stem nt the IoekskIll camp is so nsAfIi
ar I,nI ~ pnt oupnt not to be intsrferei with AN
tppinmehtary Y = ~ autumn maneuvres WonId proSt nSSt
~ lhest al the requirements MeannphH1o- p1o-
tsauo neIu days at Van CortlandI 80 nnuo'