Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-12
District Guardsmen Engage in a Sham
Sanguinary Encounter.
COL. MAYS TROOPS VICTORIOUS
Lieut.. Col. O'Brien's Men Made a
Determined Resistance, However.
NOTES OF TIL CA M P
Special From star cOrrespondent.


LEESBURG, Va. June 12-The battle Of
Leesburg was fought today. When the field
of carnage was examined after the fight it
was found that many guardsmen lay dead,
fguratfvely spea king. of course. The conf
pet!ng forces comprised the list Regiment
with the 1st Separate Battalion, all under
the command of Col. Harry May. on the one
hand and the I'd Regiment. commanded by
Lieut.. Col. O Brien, the other side. The
Judgment of the umpires was that the Isl
Regiment and LIST Separate Battalion acting
on the defense, were successful in the con-
test. There was fierce fighting, with all the
accompaniment of real war except blood
shed.
The battle maneuvers were carried on in
a driving rain storm. Each man in the
rslnks was supplied with fifteen rounds of
blank ammunition. Col. May was assigned
to the far end of field adjoining the camp.
The ground was undulating in character
and formed an excellent basis for strategic
action.
The I'd Regiment constituted the attack
ing force Lieutenant Colonel O'Brien was
IN ignorance of the position OF Colonel
Mays command He sent out half dozen
scouts. however and followed them by
battalion in skirmish line. The command
ing general and staff occupied high point
of ground. from which the whole field
could be seen. Each force was accompa-
MED by a detail of signal men,
Opening of the Battle.
Colonel May had out a picket line. and
the moment the first scout of the I'd Regi-
ment showed the top of his hat above
knoll he was fired upon. The scouts had
set to all to themselves, while another bat
talon of the I'd Regiment was deployed.
and Colonel May strengthened his main line
OF defenses- The opposing forces gradually
approached each other the firing becoming
very active. On the extreme right of his
line Colonel O'Brien succeeded in isoiating
and capturing an entire company of the LIST
Separate Battalion. Matters were more in
teTestlng, however, at the extreme right of
the defense.
With a rush the remainder OF the list
Separate Battalion made a movement to
Outhank the advancing party. One COM
pany of the ID Regiment however quickly
extended its line. and portion of the 9Th
Battalion, under Maj. Graham, was hur-
RED UP to its support. The LIST Separate
Battalion, though. maEaged 10 put in three
good volleys at the smaller body along its
front and the umpire declared the latter
wiped out of existence.
Matters waXed decidedly exciting. how
ever. when the defeated party refused to
die ordered. The fight was continued
men coming so close together with fixed
bayonets that the situation assumed an
alarming hue. A number of prisoners were
captured by the 1st Separate Battalion. 1t
required nearly five minutes for a number
of STAN officers to separate the LIST Battal-
Ion and the enemy with which 1t was
gagged. portions of the 4th and 9Th Bat
taliOns.
After the War Was Over.
At the conclusion of hostilities the re-
naming blank ammunition was expended
in yolIey firing, and the commands re-
turned to camp. the victorious body cheer
ing enthusiastically. A large number of
spectators viewed the actions
Owing to rain the visitors will not come
today. They will be here Thursday. when
ceremonies arranged for today are to occur.
The visitors will return TO Washington
on the train leaving Leesburg at o'clock.
In honor of the citizens of Leesburg, Gen.
Hdrries has arranged for a concert by the
National Guard Brigade band tomorrow
evening at ! o'clock on the grounds 'front.'
ing the court house in the town.
The signal corps today constructed tel
eEraph line from camp TO the railroad sta
ton at L.eesbLrg. The work was done with
celebrity and in Il finished manner. The 1St,
ID and 18th Battaliuns. that started forth on
practice marches Saturday morning return
Ell 10 camp early yesterday The majority
of the men were IN good shape, and their
~ Periences were similar in 4 material way
to those Of the 9th, 9Th and LIST Separate
Battalions.
Regret at Presidents Absence.
General regret WAS felt in camp because
of The inability of the President to visit
Lere today. The fact that he would not be
able to come was made known in the fol-
lowing telegram to Gen. Harries from Act
irg Secretary Cortelyou:
owing 10 the pressure of official mat
tiers aud Preparations for the trip shortly
10 be taken 10 New Fl gland. the President
sInc erely regrets that ne will b6 unable 10
visit Camp Ordway although il would af-
ford him much pleasure to DO So if it were
possible"
The failure Of the President to put in an
appearance was also a source of keen dis
appointment TO the residents of this part
OF Virginia. many of whom stayed at Lees
burg over night or drove great distances
today 10 see the chief executive.
For the instruction OF the brigade as well
as for the entertainment of the official Wis
iOTs at camp. an extended order drill will
be given between and I o'clock this after
noon by provisional battalion, organized
from the gUdrd-at-large by Lieut.. Col.
O. Brien of the ID Regiment, and command
Ell by that officer. The battalion will be of
the maximum strength and will comprise
the most efficient officers and men of the
brigade 1t is impossible to make very
much progress In skTmsh work in the
aTmOries. or. in fact. in the city. so that
the drill this afternoon will be in the way
of mJst desirable novelty Maneuvering
Will take place in Il field adjoining the
camp grounds.
Brigade Dress Parade.
Ali Lessburg and all the surrounding
country were unalimous in declaring the
brigade dress parade. and the ceremony of
trooping the colors that followed ii. yester-
day afternoon Camp Ordway one of the
prettiest scenes they had ever witnessed.
People for miles around came to camp.
and, with the quota that journeyed from
Washington. made up an assemblage of
large proportions. They came in public
Couveyances. private vehicles and on foot
They came as individuals. by pairs and in
groups The lower part Of the camp and
the lower part of the roadway running
alongside of the grounds were blocked
with carriages and wagons. The fences
were lined with spectators and "a large
group was stationed near headquarters and
along the front of the parade.
special train was required to bring to
Ieesburs the Washington people who visit
ed camp. Most of them returned on the
train. leaving here at O'Clock the boys in
blue going TO the station In large numbers
to see them on II was gala occasion for
stald Leesburg, so many people at one time
seldom congregattng at the little station
Religious services We're held in the opan
air at O'Clock yesterday afternoon in
front of headquarters. The visitors and
soldiers TO the number OF several hundred
formed in a circle near the band stand the