The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-27

ty-Second Kansas did not go. The Third
New York and the Indianians marched the
distance to this camp in four hours and fin
ished in good shape. The One-hundred-and-
fifty-ninth lost two men on the road, or,
rather, two men fell out from exhaustion.
The number of cutters" in the New York
regiment ran away up, and about two COM
panies would have been lost altogether
were it not for the work of the rear guard,
which was formed by Companies and 1,
of the Observation-Disclosures ty-ninth. The
men went into camp in about fifteen min
utes after striking camp on the banks of
the small but swift little stream known as
Difficult creek. They occupied the small,
abbreviated little tents known under the
familiar title of dog houses" 1t is won
derful the manner in which these men fall
into the habits and manners of soldiers.
About two hours after camp was pitched
Major McAuliffe and his battalion were or
dered out to do outpost duty for the camp.
The men were ready in five minutes. Last
night the outpost was kept on the alert by
a report of contemplated attack on the
camp by the cavalry. The attack did not
come and there was some disappointment.
There were no drills in camp to-day, the
only duty being guard and outpost duty.
Camp Barnett will be vacated at 4 o'clock
in the morning and the return trip begun.
This is the preJtiest part of Fairfax county,
and is rather thickly settled. The people
are pleasant and friendly to soldiers of all
kinds.
Private Collins, of Company d, of Wash
ington, fell against bayonet accidentally
yesterday and received a cut on the side.
The wound is not serious, as the blade was
stopped by rib.
a a
own expense He was approached by two
natives who wanted to furnish meals for
some officers. I'VE are able to board a few
people ourselves said Mr.. Weaver, pre-
tending to misunderstood the query. BE
you the chaplain?' asked one of them
Yes; why do you ask?" During the last
war" said the native, 1--WE had preachers
for chaplains.'
During the morning the camp was
alarmed by firing above in the timber. The
effect was electrical Within a remarka-
bly, few moments the regiment was in posi-
ton to resist an attack The regiment was
in line of battle, moving up the hill which
rises at the side of the camp, even before
the sound of the Assembly by the bugler
had ended. The camp is in a hollow be-
meath sharp hill. The men moved rapidly
up the slope to gain the vantage of the top
and the timber which covers it. The men
formed, moved out and responded to the
signals of the bugle in a manner which
highly pleased the commanding officers. Be-
ing without ammunition the attack was not
very spirited, but it enabled the men to
guess at what real surprise attack might
mean When the alarm was sounded there
were a large number of peddlers present
in camp and there was a stampede to get
out of danger. All wagons leaving the
camp must cross Difficult creek at one ford.
About a dozen wagons tried to get out at
one time during the excitement, and the
officer Of the guard had q busy time trying
to prevent blockade. Women hid behind
let's were not being used by the advancing
party. Lieutenant Donehue, one of the at
lacking party, was captured by line of
skirmishers from his own company. Capt.
Lieut.. Will Davis, acting surgeon of the
dred-and-tifty- ninth, and the entire
hospital corps accompanied the regiment on
the trip with two ambuianceS and were on
hand to treat the cases of illness promptly.
At this hour the only case of note was that
of man struck by bayonet. G. w. B.
When Operating Against an Enemy.
WASHINGTON, June 26.-The attorney
general has rendered an opinion for the
War Department bearing on the question of
when the troops are operating against an
enemy" which has arisen in connection
with the case of officers who claim the pay
of a higher grade to which they may be
temporarily assigned in time of war. The
War Department officials have held that
not until the troops leave the United States
are they operating against the enemy, but
it is understood the attorney general holds
that when the men are in camps like those
at Camp Alger, Chickamauga, Tampa,
Jacksonville. San Francisco and other
places, they are operating against the
enemy. thus differing with the war officers
on this point There are said to be certain
exceptions made by the attorney general
notably in connection with some of the
troops who may be left at garrison posts.