The San Francisco call., 1897-06-17
RECONNOITERING
FOR THE ENEMY
A Problem Worked Out on
the Preside Reser-
vation.
The Blues and the Browns Seek.
ing TO Find Out Strength
and Movements.
Practical l uStr alton cf the Manner
in Which Batteries Are Brought
Into Action.

Oh tne TreSldlo reservation yesterday IN
which the blues figured on one side and
the browns figured on the other.
The proposition was that each side
should move from opposite directions
with a view to have the reconnoitering g
force from each side discover the
strength, position and movements of the
other and report 10 the commander in or
der that commands for attack or defense
could be given.
The blues, consisting of light batteries C
and f and troops 3 and 1, were under
command OF Captain Ramsay D. Potts,
and the browns, consisting of five COM
panies of infantry, were under the COM
mand of Captain John J. 0Connell.
Both commands left the parade grounds
in front of their respective barracks at the
same time-S:45 O'Clock in the morning
lor the field of action, which was the di-
versified country between the mouth of
Point Lobos Greek and First avenue. The
cavalry moved up the road to Central ave-
nue. and Broadway, thence along the road
on the southern line of the reservation,
and then turned into Mcdowell avenue a
First, and thence along roads leading to
the west in the direction OF the forufica-
tions, while the artillery followed and
went as far as First avenue. This long
detour was taken in order to give the in
tentry an opportunity TO march west TO a
point near the fortihcations which was to
be its base of operation.
The cavalry-that Is, the main body
got under cover of the woods on the
northwest OF Golf Hill, and then sent out
mounted scout IN various directions to
watch for the advance of the scouts of the
infantry. Under orders each man moved
forward, revolver in hand, ready to resent
Il
the two batteries of artillery, four guns
each, reached FRS avenue, a halt was
called, and three mounted troopers were
sent out by Captain Potts to discover the
infantry, which was expected along at
any moment, and to report the strength
OF the men discovered and their move
ments. Off he scouts went at breakneck
pace, and then = dozen or more mounted
troopers were sent out in open order
across the open country to watch for the
arrival OF the enemy. In the meantime
one of The batteries was placed in position
al the eastern end of the open country in
such a manner as to command the vari-
Gus approaches to the territory it occu-
pied.
The caissons were sent to the rear, and
after the guns had been brought to bear
on the several points desired, the horses
were unhitched and taken to the rear and
the men took their positions by their
pieces. These several movements were
well executed, howing that the men were
well drilled, and it gave a very clear ex-
empliticstion Of how battery goes into
action. The other battery was posted on
the road leading south from the First
avenue gate.
The men and pieces were to a great ex-
tent under cover, yet they had command
OF territory for a distance OF about 400
yards 10 the north and west. The batter
les in place, the men in position and a
number OF mounted scouts moving here
md there, darting in and out smoug the
trees or moving cautiously through the
shruobery, presented a pretty military
picture.
While the artillery was being placed in
position, which in the judgment of the
com manding officer was [ e best under
the circum stances, the infantry was ad =
vancing o its base of operations Having
reached tris point the movements were
then in extended order, but before they
had proceeded far the scouts of the cav
airy discovered some OF the infantry
scouts. and, seeing that they had a good
opportunity to open fire on the approach
ing enemy, did so, 10 the detriment of the
browns. Upon hearing the fire the main
body of infantry rallied to the defense OF
the fortificatIons, while a squad was de-
ployed by the left flank to gain a point
from which the desired Information as 10
the blues could be obtained. Down dale
and up dale and through brush and un-
dergrowth the men advanced 10 point
from which they had full view OF the
blues, and, while out of view themselves,
were in such positions that they would
have had no difficulty in picking off in a
moment the entire line of mounted troop
ers who formed q skirmish line in the
open country. These troopers added
dramatic effect to the picture already
alluded to, but they were in an exceed
inglv unsafe place, being less than 600
yards from the scouts and entirely at their
mercy.
One Of these men being asked what he
was doing in that exposed position re-
pied: ~ was posted here" "B BIt don't
you see that you are in the direct line of
fire from the brownsP Il know that"
replied the trooper, as he winked one eye,
"but if it was actual warfare you wouldn'; !;
cover, and l wouldn't be losing any time,
either"
After the placing Of the batteries two of
the three mounted scouts who had been
sent out with instructions to watch for
and report as TO the approach OF the in
fantry returned at gallop, and riding up
TO the commanding officer reported that
they had discovered a troop of cavalry on
q certain part OF the field and proceeded
TO tell of their actions and mum bers when
they were stopped with the information
that they had discovered men of their own
side, and after receiving further instruc-
tions they rode off in the direction whence
they came, their companions of the bat
terry exclaiming ks they flew past, "Y ou' re
all right; you found men who wouldn' t
hurt YOU"
ASIDE from this little incident the pre-
senlation of the problem and it's explaua-
tion was very good. viewed from a mill
tary point of view, and was good prac-
ticai lesson for the officers and men who
took part in it. One result of the workin g
out of the problem was the demonstration
of tn superiority of the cavalry branch
of the service for accommodating pur-
poses. The men on horseback can go a
mile or two away from the main body of
the army TO obtain information. while the
infantry can go but few yards Without
resting or fear OF being lost In the wood 8
when in a strange country.
Another result was the placing of the
artillery where it could have done good
service and the demonstration that the
infantry, when well directed, can, under
cover, advance and do good work in re-
connoiiering. The object of the browns
yesterday was to find out abort the blues.
and they did it. They reported to the COM
manding officer, who, in turn, reported to
his superior.
Last week there was practice on the
reservation with small mortar at a tar