The San Francisco call., 1897-05-19
REGULARS FIGHT
ON GOLF HILL
The Way the Harbor For
tificationS Were Pro-
tected.
Demonstrating How Troops Are
Handled With the Great.
est Safety.
Three Branches Of the Service Ad.
vance 10 Show How They Would
Move to Attack the Enemy.

The battle of Golf Hill was fought yes
airy, artillery and infantry stationed at
the Presidio post, and it was a fine demon
stration of what the men would have done
had they actually been in front of an
enemy.
There were engaged two troops of cav
airy, two light batteries of the Third Ar
tlllery and two companies of infantry in
fatigue uniform, all under the command
of Captain Ramsay d. Potts of Light Bat
terry F.
The plan which was presented By Cap
tain John ]. O'Connell, Company E, First
Infantry, was for the companies desig-
mated to approach Golf Hill from the west
for the purpose Of defending the fortifica-
t1ons at Fort Point from an attack by a
supposed enemy concealed in the forest
on the northern brow of the hill, which
hill is situated just north of Mountain
Lake, and the problem was to make the
advance in such manner as to least ex-
pose the men to the fire of the enemy, and
at the same time dislodge and drive back
the supposed enemy.
The several companies formed in front
OF their respective quarters and were
marched by long road to the top of a
hill southwest of Golf Hill, the cavalry
which led being under command OF Cap
tain James Lockett of Troop |, the artil-
lery under com and of First Lieutenant
John D. Barrette of Light Battery @ and
the infantry under command of Captain
Charles G. Starr of Company F, First In
fantry.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the cavalry was
seen to approach the top OF the south
western hill, where the commander called
a halt, and a survey of the ground was
had. Then scouts were sent ahead, after
which skirmishers were sent on in open
order with carbines at ready, and they
moved slowly and cautiously down the
grade, and at the same time another de-
tachment went northeast and entered a
small forest directly in front of the line
in which they were marching. In few
minutes they discovered the enemy, for
there was rapid firing.
Then those who were on Golf Hill saw
the remainder of the troop coming down
the incline about 200 yards behind The ad-
vance, and after these came the light bat
teries down the grade, followed by the
two companies of artillery, and as the
men were marching onward in battle ar
ray they presented very interesting pic
ture. Suddenly the troop made quick
advance up Golf Hill, and as soon as they
reached its crest they were given the word
of command and opened fire on the en-
emy. While this was going on the light
artillery came up the grade. and the in
fantry was moving in open order toward
the eastern side of the hill at its base to
get out of the reach of the shrapnel of the
enemy, which was coming thick and fas t..
In quick order, the artillery having
reached point of vantage, the eight field
pieces were placed in position and fire
was opened on the woods in front. The
firing was by piece and report after re-
port followed as quickly as the word OF
command was given. While these orders
were being carried out the troop moved to
the eastward ana from the reports of their
carbines 1t was apparent that they had
found something to attract their atten-
tion and fire. and the infantry at the same
time having gained position where it
could present battalion front fired volley
after volley in the direction of the enemy.
For q lew minutes the booming of the
guns, the irregular firing of the carbines
and the reports of the volleys of the in
fantry, together with a view of the several
branches of the service gave the onlookers
very realistic idea OF what battle is,
and that without any of the attendant
dangers.
AS a bit of practice in the art OF war the
event was q success and the men ac-
Quilted themselves well. When the bat
tie was over the cavalry and the artillery
returned to quarters by the road from the
hill, while the infantry dashed through the
forest and in that way reached the main
road.