The sun., 1896-10-16
OUR TROOPS INSPECTED.
THE MEN At G0TERNOR'S ISLAND
PUT THROEGH THEIk PiCES.

M,,muvr,nr, Camp Driii, aud sham
Fight, Ending with ~ Giorious Charge.
Yesterday was n great day for Governors
island. II was tho day set for the inspection OF
the troops by Major lIasbrook OF the Fourth
ARTILLERY, who IL to mako n report OF what no
has seen to the authorities ut Washington. On
Thursday he went through the barracks.
1T was rather IL momentous moment yesterday
morning when Euglcr tiuehlcr OF b company
ptood in the path nj the west end OK the Parade
Ground aud began TO toot his horn theoretically,
and in way that made tho cchos jump BACK
from the side of the house on the far side or the
ground In few moments the men up in tho
barracks were brushing each Others cloths
nice new parade suits which. when the brush
ing had been finished, were spotless. Inc
men gave their shoes a polishing that was
very severe. one at timc sometimes
three or four At once. the men cane
down out of the barracks into the square
formed by the barracks buildings with rifles In
their hands and with proper soldier ike eN-
pressions on their races. They were arranged
in three companies, B. +, and ID. each before lts
own barracks while tho band had another set
of barracks on tho fourth side. The men OF
each company formed in two lines. Then roll
was called, and it showed that out OF the 2ol
men II were off parade duty, being on guard
The band led out and was followed shortly
afterwnrd By the companies. and the inspection
began with the mon ranged in close battalion
form-that is. stretched out in two lines face TO
back and shoulder to shoulder across the field,
with openings to show the division or COM
panies The inspector stood by little tree,
looking gorgeous in his artillery dress parade
suit. His helmet had flowing red plume. and
down each of the legs of his trousers was two
inch strip Of bright red. There were few in-
terested spectators. Ladies' were among them,
the wives and daughters OF some or the othcers:
Gen. Ruger. commanding the Department or
the East, whose head quarters are ON Governors
Island, was also there.
The, soldiers formed by cnmp9niss and
their legs chasin. along IN unison Before me the
RsDect%r they presented II "rms eF r capt MS
CreZer OF Company ID, and Capt Gilman OF
Company B. This inspection was repeated on
The platoon drill was then gone through with;
and at the end of ii the street column"
was formed. The street column Is used in time
square. all facing the same way. with the otii-
Company f put the street column into practi.
cal use ut Chicago during the great railroad
strikes, about two years ago Firing practice
was had after the street column was formed
into battalion order, and then the men were or
were hot, and their faces were red, and all
showed that they had been exercised.
A bout 80 o'clock the men came marching
out Of the barracks through the gates over the
drawbrdce. through the winding alley and Into
the parade ground; Then they We're spLdIGTs, r
suit of clothes. About their waists werc broad
belts, each one to hold two rows OF the long.
belts were broad blnded bowie knives weighing
a pound each. and long bayonets that on occa-
ston would serve to cut II leg of beef at stroke.
Over the shoulders of the men hung straps that
supported the canteeus.
with none of the stiffness that had been shown
in the morning. They formed in battalion
swing. Not the least conspicuous part Of the
soldiers makc-up were the broad brown felt
hats that would keep the rain out OF their eyes
their s&s&g&e Of cold. The hats S %s.S 49, ~
was the happy -go.lpcky angle Of the sombrero
of the Westerner who has killed his man and IS
wiling band to s a,sr sS drill and
marching with the troops. Then the troops
S I far ds of 1 np. "ns
stacked. Then the men laid ont the streets OF y
viiage: an army Village M taxing ,b 1he s WALK as
1t In open order they stopped Two rows OF
men were II or - feet apart, then came space
Of three rods rods then two two more rows % OF men. An
it was straight. This done; the packs
unstrapped and unrolied. Hs each soldier car
ries half n shelter tent. two men make one tent
n single tent by huttoning four pieces together
and using portable tent sticks US braces. The
wooden pegs were driven with the heavy knives
In very few minutes there was a village OF
nearly 200 inhabitants. with houses built and
thing open a. for for Inspection Tns II men @ stood
up in regular lines before their temporary
1hs SA AsF whpp the @
spector looked them over carefully. The tents
were taken down IN short order; The flaps
thrown to the mems shoulders. The runs were
and the M he sFS "nsa around
Here they went into fighting trim. They took
of everything in m The line OF accoutrements save
. long row OF piles. five or six to pile. They
marcned down the walk toward the ferry land
nn lisnnDna ed fa,t
minutes later a soldiers head showed up down
toward the landing, but TO the right Of it, be:
up, and elevcn men came into view. They
were crouchnE as they, came. stopping now
ahead few yards al time and dropped fiat to
the ground with their rifles beside them: Three
rises on the parade ground and stopped
snS bS. das he G sSPt
Suddenly one Of the men saw some.
thing. He ,dropped down and raised his
who had been coming into sight slowly
and stealthily. Every one Of them stopped ad;
held up their arms as the first man had done
1t was the signal to stop The scouts had dis
behnd isSf th q" hS
line; rapidly forming down in i" the woods " be-
The scouts having discovered the plckets of
the enemy it was necessary for the skirmshers
TO come up and drive in the enemy's outposts.
The men came forward irregularIy. dOdging be-
hind imaginary rocks and trees I'LL there was a
long row Just behind the brow Of the hill be-
yond which the enemy had hcen located. Them
numbers Of the enemy being in sight. the order
was to fire on them. Noileys were fired slowly at
first, but that was quickly followed by sharper
command The guns beganto be Tired by the mag
Azineful. The enemy reiterated. The skirInisAers
pushed forward. company by company, till the
onemy's main force was reached. Therenpon
the skirmshers were driven back slowly and in
order one company covering Hnothers retreat
till they returned to their original line along the
first ridge before the fort.
Down among the trees marched reinforce
ments. which from timo TO time came forward
to take the place Of the wounded and killed
Then came the charge. With wild wLoops
and with bayonets fixed they made for a strong
outpost hold by the enemy. With great cheers
they captured the post and then were ordered
20 go to the long row OF knapsacks. sling them
TO their shoulders. and 20 to the barracks. The
review was ended.