Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-08-31

| it was an ice house compared to Wash.
ington park yesterday afternoon,
Here there was a sham battle raging
for three hours. and ii made the thou
sands Of old vets who looked on fair
ly siZzle with enthusiasm Vet
erans of the civil war did not take part
in it. but the full strength OF the First
and Second regiments, Illinois Marion
al Guard, was there under the COM
mand of ColOnelS j. b. SanDorn and j.
z. Stuart. respectively. Colonel L. Z.
Young and his First cavalry and Cap
c:din Ford and his police battery also
assisted in making things exciting. In
the action about 10000 blank cartridges
We're exploded and the attacking party
finally Won the battle. There were
l 800 men on the field as combatantS.
The plan of the battle was for the
attacking force to drive tha enemy
from his position in the thicket 1t the
north end of the green. Gatling guns
were used by the attacking party. In
fantry, cavalry and artillery took part.
The defense consisted of only small
detail from the infantry regiments. and
this was concealed in the Shrubbery 1t
the north end of the greeen. The main
body of troops. comprising three bat
talions each of the First and Second
III dHlIS anu IOtiA iiOOp> Vi ALC L II -
cavalry, was sent to break up this un-
known but supposedly small body OF
the enemy.
The First infantry formed in the
bushes at the southeast end of the
green, the Second infantry occupying
a similar position ut the southwest end.
Two Gatling guns were placed in the
center of the line. The defense was
scattered along the north end of the
green concealed in the bushes. with
outpoStS about 200 yards out in the
open. \ troop of cavalry opened man
oeUVer; with a reconnoiter in open Or
der. They We're fired upon by the
scouts of the defense, and retreated TO
the rear of the position occupied by the
infantry.
Meantime the scouts rctired "fter ex-
changing a number of shots with the
cavalry. The condition of the defense
enabled them to throw ZIP light in-
trenchmentS. which was done during
the preliminary Skirmi$h. The first ad
vance of the infantry was masked by
the trees. Two battaliOnS OF each reg
iment We're placed in the front line.
with the Gatling guns IN the center A
reserve consisting OF one battalion
from each regiment was stationed
some distance in the rear. At the sec
ouu SldSt' Ol Nut tOHltSl iIt' ScNtldl
companies We're divided into firing line
and a support. lust at the edge of the
bushes they began vOlley firing to COW
er the advance. and the force developed
into line of SkirmiSherS.
The advance was then MADE by
ruShes. one squad firing while others
made n dash forward under cover of
thepoWder smoke. The Gatlings moved
with the firing line. The ruShes were
about fifteen yards each. Supports
from the reserves in the rear We're
gradually fed into the firing line from
the start as the men We're incapaci-
tated. The cavalry was on the fiankS
of the attacking force in order to deliv-
er decisive stroke at the oppOrtune
moment The rusheS continued until
within 300 yards of the enemy. Then
they formed a continuous heavy line.
Just as the attacking party reached
this position the reserve moved for
ward, Joined the firing line. and the
whole force opened upon the enemy
in rapid fire. And the enemy emigrated
IN quick time and rapid movement,
giving the assailantS the victory.