The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10

way .. shutdown, satisfied that they had seen
the finest military show ever given in Van
Cortlandt Park.
Never was battle fought or military paEeantry
displayed under fairer skies or moro pleasant
conditions of weather. A cooling breeze, in
which there was no suspicion Of chill. swept
across the fields from the westward, relieving
the arduous work Of the soldiers of much of
what must otherwise have been discomfort.
Fleecy clouds yelled tho face Of the burning
October sun enough to temper it's ardor. and yet
left 1t brilliant enough to glitter upon the arms
OF the moving troops and disclose their whore
abouts to the eyes Of the anxious watchers. No
hint Of haze or fog obscured tho air and those
who watched the contest could follow the for
tunes OF friend or foe by the shifting puffs or col
umns Of smoke. even when, in the closely wooded
slopes Of the picturesque park LANDS. the troops
themselves were hidden from sight. Only when
the battle ragged at far distant places were these
evidences hidden from sight, and at these times
the air bore the sounds of contest with true d.
rectness to those who awaited its outcome at
the parade ground.
The thousands of spectators as they arrived
massed themselves principally along that part
OF Broadway which skirts tho parade ground at
the westward, opposite the broadcast part of tho
open field. From the north and west Of there
were to come the invading forces OF Col. Seward,
advancing upon Kingsbridge from Riverdale
station, on tho Hudson River Railroad. Tho
defenders OF the city. under Col. Appleton, were
to come to meet them from the eastward. at
woodlawn and Wiliamsbridge.
The scheme Of the engagement as arranged by
Gen. Fitzgerald supposed that Col. Stewards
force was the left wing of an army which was
moving down the Hudson upon New York, with
the main body Of that army occupying all the
territory between Van Cortlandt Park and the
Hudson River. Col. Appleton's forces were tho
left wing OF an army of defence moving to meet
and check the advance Of Col. Seward. Under
Col. Seward were the Eighth, his own regiment.
the Ninth, under the command OF Lieut.. Col.
Thomas Rand. and the Twelfth and Twenty
second. These were supported by Capt. Louis
Wendel's First Battery and one troop
Of Major Roe's Squadron A cavalry.
Under Col. Appleton was the Seventh. COM
manded by L'eut..Col. Kipp. the Sixty-ninth
and seventy-frst regiments. Wilson'S Second
Battery and two troops OF the squadron. Tho
preDonderance OF force was on the side OF the
invaders. they having approximately 300 men
to Col. Appleton's $500.
Long before the first visitor arrived, oven
while the infantry were on their way by train to
Riverdale, Woodlawn. and Williamsbridge, tho
first movements Of troops began. Squadron A
had arrived the night before. pitched their camp
upon the far eastward side of the parade
ground, and before o o'clock were in the
saddle bound for their meeting places
with their respective forces. Tho bat.
teries with fun compliments of horses
had started at midnight and marched to the
field. At 10 o'clock Wilson's battery was al.
ready in hiding behind the wooded top OF Gun
Hill. near Van Cortlandt station, and Wendel'e
Tour guns were in hiding just beyond the
precipitous hill which separates the northern
part of the parade ground from Broadway.
Now IRON east and west began the move.
they nCarcd each other there spread out In
ever thinning lines bodies OF skirmishers and
AMI dale. each man with loaded piece and
3t lo ~! a thG ar f9r s siShs OF of the BATH sne wS:
Mo.h2iu bridg crosses Tibbett's brook. The
Twelfth and Tweniy.second advancing toward
JeFomc ave le had met the Seventy-frst and
Ssven,h moving to the scene OF strife along
East Chester avenue. Scattered shots followed
a. Col. Stewards. pickets were driven back,
am then a troop OF cavalry anne dashine down
iGom the north TO secure and hold. II possible,
between swamp and lake at Van Cortlandt sta
Away up Broadway the beat of drums wal
heard. and presently, with cleaning arms, came
lhitmli9n OF the Ninth down the gulch at the
t a1Ss sh 10, 'He p E'VTa "mit f Hii ! and az Is , nsjsSf or es so s.n
porl Wend"l's battery lying there, Skirmisheri
GGrr' Ilgn'ing now in earnest 10 the eastward
force and been driven back 10 tn,
INFUSION house, and as they fell back the infan
Wy under the MI advanced to their assistance
iley stayed not long in the exposed plain, for
battalion of The seventh. driving tho enemy be
lore lhrm, had gained a commanding position
on lht walled hqUeduCt and poured a volley int.
tlhrm which drove them back under guns o
N.cndei'- battery.
The c yalry OF the invaders was driven in
nlIhS as hey rrtTetted up the parade ground
nlu Lhe smith came forward In battle line, MI
M lht ar with noise and smoke as they al
,oHNVL ana checked the troopers of Col. Apple
,3n' WHO were in pursuit. With u wild charge
tne lr'enulhE cavalry drove that OF the invader
!hr NJ, inc ,ic!d, and then wheeling they ied il
urn ir shelter from the infantry Are 10 In
s'Sn" ana 'pw lands beyond the mansion house
uSnw ne baitl" Was well joined beyond Vaul
mn PEI wecn he Seventh and Sevcniy.hrst an
me lWelilh ana Twcnty. SECOND. Smoke rose A
!ons, lines among the hills, and the rattle OF M
nusAetry was sometimes like the beating of ro