The herald., 1897-08-13
Great Carnage on the Field
of Cow Run
THE MILITIA PLAY AT FIGHTING
REDS AND BLUES SHOOT WADS
AT EACH OTHER
March Up Hill and Down Again
Baseball and Camp Fire at the
NJ g. c. Encampment

CAMP SANTA MONICA, Aug. 12.-
Especial Correspondence Bang, boom,
bump, were the sounds predominant in
the vicinity of the Soldiers home this
morning, for the Seventh Regiment N
&. e. had the long expected sham bat
tie. AT 1880 the command was given to
fall in, and every man in camp except
the guards, those in the hospital and the
cooks lined up, and in few more min
utes the troops were out on the ground,
where ammunitioC, ten rounds of blank
cartridges to each man, was issued, and
the march to the battlefield was taken
up. On the march the route step was
given, every man carrying his rifle in
the way he thought best. The First
and Third battalionS hurried along until
the Soldiers home was reached
After a rest of about fifteen minutes
at the home the men were again started
on the march. This time it was toward
camp instead of away from it, for the
reason that the battalion under Major
Prescott, who represented the attacking
party, had marched down to gully near
Santa Monica canyon, and were ex-
pected to come up on the opposite or
west side. The army of the defense
was marched over the ground from the
Soldiers home to the hill, which has
been nicknamed Cow Run" by the
boys, so as to arrive about in the center
In few minutes the enemy were seen
approaching, and it was found that in
stead of attacking in the center they
expected to make a flank movement
around the base of the hill and take the
defense on the right flank and rear
This movement failed, for they were dis
covered before they could see the Ge-
fense, and were forced to make stand
and fight right in the center of the line
of battle.
In just a few minutes after they We're
in position a spy came running in with
the information that the Blues" or
attacking army were making their way
up a small gully to the right of the line
of skirmishers. AS quickly as possible
the order was given to load, and just
the minute that the head of the Blues
came in sight the order ready was given,
and at the first gun fired by the Blues
they were given the full benefit of a
rafting volley,
Then the battle ragged for a few min
utes when occurred one of the features
of the day, the capture of the Blues
artillery, represented by a detachment
of signal corps and cavalry men, by the
cavalry from the Reds. They rode down
and around the foot of the hill until they
were in the rear of the artillery, and
made the movement without being dis
covered. After a few minutes rest they
charged, and the artillery, seeing that
they were outnumbered, had no recourse
but surrender.
Very soon after this the firing ceased
and the march to camp was begun.
The official decision as to who won the
battle and what companies had the best
percentages will be given tomorrow.
The men were all pretty well tired out
when camp was reached, and great
many of them stayed there all the rest
of the day resting up for the camp fire
which came off this evening. The camp
was a pretty sight, the fire blazing and
sputtering, the men in their uniforms
and a great many ladies in their vari-
colored dresses. Songs were sung, stor-
les told and a general good time was
had by all.
Tomorrow morning there is to be re-
lay race on the polo track between the
cavalry and signal corps. There are to
be four riders and eight horses. The
riders will change all their horse furni-
ture at each lap The riders for the
cavalry are Bonebrake, Dunnegan,
Smith and Wilcox. 1t is not yet decided
who will ride for the signal corps.
The Seventh Regiment baseball nine
played the Santa Monica team this
afternoon and beat them by the score
of IA to TO- 1t was a close game AL
through, and was only won by the splen-
did playing of the Seventh Regiment
team.
There has been rifle practice all after
noon at the ranges, and two of the COM
panies shot at the silhouettes.
Dress parade was omitted this after
noon, and only the signal corps and
cavalry had their drills.