The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-29
A BIv0UAC IN H RAIN
SEVERAL REGIMENTS STARTED ON
A MARCH TO BROAD RIPPLE.
Tented There Last Night-An Attack
to BE Made on the Fairview
Camp at Daybreak.

few found il convenient 10 offer excuses
for remaining in the snug camp at Fair
view. rather than start out In the face of
a severe rainstorm to tramp seven or eight
miles in the mud. sleep on the bare ground
at night and live on hard tack and bacon
of their own cooking.
This was the programme for a part of the
troops at Fairview. At moor yesterday the
order was issued from headquarters that
3 O'Clock had been fixed as the hour for
the departure of the troops. which were TO
act as the attacking party in the encoun-
ter. The First and Second Infantry and
Batteries c and Z of the artillery received
marching orders. The sky was clear and
bright when the order went forth, but while
the preparations were yet making for the
expedition the ominous sound of thunder
gave warning of the storm which was
about to break, and before the start was
made great black clouds hung about the
northeastern horizon and threatened every
moment to pour forth their deluge.
1t was not a cheering DrosDec for the
oldest of the old timers, who have had
some experience: IL was practically dis
heartening for the "feather-bed soldiers.
OF whom the Indiana National Guard, as
well as the guards of other States. is
largely composed. There were few whim-
pers. however. Some of the younger men,
bers of the detachment did not realize the
hardship of even a single night on the
road in the rain and in camp with nothing
but the canopy OF heaven above them.
They were at first eager for the march, but
the dampness which penetrated their gar
ments also played havoc with their ardor.
Others, who would probably have liked
very much TO have turned back. were una
BILE to find a tenable excused Only a few
who had been under the surgeons care,
were left in camp.
1t was just exactly 3 o'clock when the
last man of the detachment passed through
the east gate of the park and the soldier
boys who were to attack the camp marched
away to the place of the bivouac for the
night. The detachment is under the COM
mand of Colonel James X. Ross, of the
Second Regiment, the senior regimental
commander. The Second Regiment was I'M
der Lieutenant Colonel II. b. Smith. the
First under Colonel G.. H. Pennington. of
New Albany. and the artillery under Cap
tain F.. E. Stevenson, OF the Rockville bat
terry. The detachment carried everything
necessary for one days outing. To each
man was given one days rations, consist
ing of bareback and bacon. Each man car
ried a blanket, which makes his only bed
and protection from the elements at night,
his canteen and five rounds of cartridges.
Each mounted officer carried forage for
his horse behind his saddle. 1t was the in
tention of the officers to enforce strictly
the rigid rules Of the regular army In such
cases. Every man was expected to do his
own cooking, even the officers declaring it
their intention TO do the same.
CROSSING WHITE RIVER.
TIL orders of the detachment were to
proceed north across White river to the
second bridge over Crooked run, just west
of Broad Ripple. Here a camp was to be
pitched in true military style, with out
posts and picket lines, guards. etc. Here
the detachment was to lie until orders
were received from General Mckee, in
structing that the attack be made. This
will be about daybreak this morning. 1t is
TO be assumed that the camp at Fairview
has been maintained in true military style
and that the scouts and outposts have dis
covered the fact that an enemy is an
preaching. As the river cannot be forded
and the camp is safe from attack on that
side, the army in camp finds ii advisable
TO defend itself in open territory in the
direction where the enemy is camping for
the night. So the break OF day this morn
ing will find the Third and Fourth regi-
ments. infantry. and Battery a, artillery,
on the road, marching out TO meet the
enemy.
The engagement will consist simply in
the moving of men, either by battalions or
companies, or in a body. The umpires will
pass Judgment as TO whether or not a posi-
ton of ofense or defense assumed is a good
one for the purpose for which il is taken.
or Is one which might in actual war re-
orrlr IN dfanafn M
not In any case 10 come closer than 100
yards. When a force secures a position
where the opposing forces would be under
fire. one round is to be fired, and if the
position assumed by the attacking party
has been a good one. the party attacking
is to be considered by the umpire as ex-
treated, as the case might be were real
war in progress. Likewise, If a force as
sumo an untenable position and is fired
upon by the party attacked, the attacking
party is to be judged accordingly. After
the engagement proper there is to be q re-
treat TO camp. the retreating party TO keep
out Its advance and rear guards.
Barring the possible seriou results from
the exposure of 500 or 900 young men and
boys to the rains. 1t is believed the practice
Will be of value to the Indiana Guard. Cen
eral Mckee says the plan has been worked
successfully in the United States army,
as We'll as in the militia of several States.
He said he expected the drill would be
rather roughly executed. but he consid-
cred this merely a start for valuable work
of the kind in the future.
The maneuvers will be umpired by the
following officers: Brigadier General Nc
kee, commanding officer of the Indiana Ma
tional Guard; Capt. Ralph w. Hoyt. Elev-
enth United States Infantry: First Lieuten-
ant S. w. Willer. Fifth United States In
fantry: First Lieutenant Thomas NJ. De-
frees. Fifth United States Infantry: Second
Lieutenant John T. Barnett. Fifth United
states Cavalry (retired). and Adjutant-gen-
eral Robbins.
A WET CAMP.
Yesterday was a quiet day in camp. The
heavy rains of the night before and the
threatening aspect of the clouds In the
early afternoon kept the number of visitors
TO the minimum. Those who did visit the
camp found 1t a disagreeable visit. The
grass was wet and the street through the
camp muddy. The soldiers themselves and
their headquarters presented a very differ
ent appearance from the preceding day. The
blue uniforms were wet and b~edraggled. the
company streets were in disorder and many
of the tents were wet inside. Mattresses
which had laid in tents not prop
erly protected by bitches. were soaked.
and were lying about In disorder. with
little prospect of becoming more comforta-
BILE to-night for those of the troops who
were to enjoy what pleasure there might
be in staying in the camp such a night as
last night. Through all the hardships which
the weather enforced. the boys seemed to
find the bright side of the life and enjoyed
themselves as best the occasion permitted.
Down near the south fence. where the ar
tillery Is camped. seven OF the red legs
found a spot dry enough on which they