The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-27


service were assem- bled, and in accordance
with orders previously issued the officers
moved their commands TO the respective
positions that were assigned them and
whichsthey were required TO occupy in the
demonstration of the problem. A section
of the Light Artillery was moved along
the road to a point on the road to Central
avenue, and was placed at the entrance to
cross road, from which. while being shell.
tered by trees from the view OF an ap-
preaching enemy, the artiiIsrymen
had q commanding view of any body of
men approaching the center, and from
there could have moved them down with
out being in Danger to any perceptibte
extent. 1t was magnificent position
and very creditable to the one who Sc
lected it. Another section OF the artillery
took up position at the entrance from
the First-avenue gate, and there, under
the shelter of tall trees, occupied a COM
handing position, but possibly not so safe
as the one occupied by the artillerymen
near Central avenue. The cavalry was
assigned to the duty OF covering the ter
ritory from First avenue TO the mouth of
Point Lobos Creek. That was long
stretch OF country, but in the light OF
subsequent events it was well protected,
Tire infantry was marched up the ave-
nue. on the north and then, when on the
avenue, moved toward the east. As
viewed from the eminence at the Central
avenue gate, the men coming down the
grade at route step, close order, presented
a fine appearance, but iormed good tar
get if the enemy had been there to fire
upon them. In a few minutes after ap-
pearing on the road men were detailed
from the ranks to act as sentlnels, and
they were posted on the line of Jackson
street on the south, then there were
sent out artillery men as sentinels east of
Central avenue, and in the meantime
sentinels were sent out from the cavalry.
Men were also stationed at places behind
the wall.
One of the men who was against the
wall, but with his head so exposed that it
was plainly visible 10 the enemy, was ad-
dressed by one OF the officers, who asked
if he could see one of the sentinels a Pa
cific avenue. The reply promptly given
was Yes, sill" Then" continued the
officer, you can be seen too and you had
better pet behind this tree" pointing to
one near by. The soldier obeyed and,
when in position, was asked if he could
still see the sentinel. Again he answered
ayes, sir" and the officer volunteered the
Information, You are in just as advan-
tageous position rs he, but you are better
protected" 1t was brief lesson, but one
the soldier will proba bly, never forget.
While the ssntinels were going to their
respective posts SIN all groups of men were
sent into the trees at certain distances
apart. These were the pickets, aud behind
these were larger groups of men called The
supports, and at the northern end of the
open was the reserve, composed of the
light artillery not otherwise disposed, and
back of these was, in place of the main
army, the quarters that were being de-
tended.
The men who were the supports were.
in for CT ii1o -
sistance, for in case OF battle they would
have been advanced 10 the picket line to
engage the advance of the enemy. The
position that the infantry held was as de-
sirabe as could be asked for. Had the
enemy forced this line it would have had
to move across the open, where it would
have been met by the fire of the guns on
he east and by the batteries to the north
of them, which fire would have created
great havoc in the midst OF pody of
troops.
The sentinels made good showing: at
their several posts, but the infantry was
not in appearance as formidable as the
troopers, who, mounted on their charges,
stood fast with either carbine or revolver
in hand. The pickets took 1t easy under
the shelter of the trees, and stretched
themselves on the ground while waiting
for orders
While the men were Eat ease" Lieuten-
ant Dennis e. Nolan, who the day before
had through three decoys been led into
trap by Lieutenant Bent, who was in
charge of the Browns detailed to capture
wagon-train, got upon the top of the
wall to survey the situation. Just at that
moment Lieutenant Bent, who was um-
pire for the day, happened to come along
and civilian who had witnessed the
event of the day previous addressed the
um pire, saying: Lieutenant, there's the
officer you got into a trap yesterday and
me phoricalIy killed. He is in very ex-
posed position, is he notf" Yes" said
the umpire. that Lieutenant Nolan is the
most reckless officer in the post. He
don't know what danger 49,"
While the men were being posted Cap
tain O'Conneil, the promoter OF the event
who was mounted on q fast dark horse
and accompanied By an orderly. was rid
ing from point to point to see that every
thing was being carried out, and besides
these two horsemen there were mounted
couriers and cour.er asoot carrying orders
from one officer to another, and for a
while there was being done everything
That is done on the defensive when an
attack is expected.
To many spectators who were watching
the event and were expecting to witness q
skirmisn, hear the roar of artillery, the
sound OF volleys and the clash of sabers,
the movements were strange and did not
have the amount OF excitemeng that they
anticipated, but as military movement
i, was one we'll planned with possibly one
exception, and all the orders were well