The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-19
MISSOURI GUARDS
BIG SHAM BATTLE.
Thousands of Visitors Witnessed
Skillful Maneuvering at
Camp Bell.
FIVE PARTICIPANTS HURT.
BriCadier General Clark Directed
the Rattle-Colonel Sinclair
Surrendered to Colonel
Fleming.
FIVE PARTICIPANTS HURT.
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

REP. BiIC SPECIAL
Camp Bell. Springfield. Nc. July ls.-Fif-
y. teen Thousand visitors arrived in this city
to-day on excursion trains TO witness the
field maneuvers Of the Missouri National
Guard. At the sham battle. held during
the afternoon. there was assembled the
largest crowd ever seen in this city. Con-
SENTATIVE estimates place the crowd at over
enosn Tonight every ihoroughtare in the
business district is crowded with soldiers
and civilians.
The morning broke bright and clear over
Camp Bell. and for the first time since the
National Guard went into camp the soldiers
could turn out at reveille without being
soaked with rsin. Early in the day prepa-
rations were under way for the sham bat
tie. scheduled for o'clock in the after
noon
Brigadier General Clark issued general
order 81 o'clock commanding regimentsl
and battery comm sndeJs to nave their com
msrds in shape to assume the positions al
lot,ei them promptly at 1 O'Clock General
Clark with his staff and reg;meutal COM
marders held a council Of war and went
thoroughly over the field. after which they
drafted the plans of battle and assigned
positions to tbs troops. Ordnance officers
received ammunition to be used In the hght.
The general order provided for the uni
form IN be worn 1t WIS campaign hats.
blue shirt, blue trousers and leggings. Tho
first call to battle sounded from brigade
headquarters at l =. m. This was signal
for all the troops In camp TO leave quar-
ters and march to their positions. Hard
Is had the last note of the call died away
when. spontaneously. along the entire
length Of the brigade line. there issued
columns Of troops fully equipped and ready
for the fray.
Across the parade grounds Battery 4 gal
Hoped from its camp md was the first com
mand 10 reach its position. The brigade
divided into two opposing armies
Battery and III. First Regiment under
command of Colonel Sinclair. took the de-
Tense: opposing them were the Third. Sec
ord ard Fourth regiments. commanded by
Colonel Fred ". Fleming General Clark
supervised the entire maneuveTs.
Colonel Snclairs army took up strong
position at the north end Of The battle
ground The infantry was broken up into
companies of skirr1ishers and placed In
open order. so as tn get the greatest pos
sibie advantage Of the location. The right
wing was protected by Battery AS four
guns. while rapid-fire gun covered
the advanced sk;rnishers on the extreme
left
The attacking army used battalion forrne-
tiou in Its plan Of advance. bet achmen.s
were thrown Into every position which
would afford shelter to conceal the adj
vance. A dense thicket almost entirely
screened the right wing. Just out of this
IS a series of long. low stables. A strong
detachment of the Third was thrown into
this 70 harass the enemy's artillery.
Colonel Mitchell took direct command OF
the center. which was stretched across q
detection in tho field back Of brigade
->headquarters. At the opening gun his pr-
sition was about one mile in front OF
Colonel Sinclsirs. The left wing extended
IN broken line back of the Fourth and
First regiment camps.
Promptly at o'clock the battle Was
opened by Battery a. The fire of its heavy
guns was directed against a party of skir-
rlishers on the eperny's right. Almost I'M
inediately the fight became general With
the first discharge of artillery, several