The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-30
FORT RILEY EXERCISES.
soldiers Play IN Minnie Warfare in
spIeadid Style.

s,,diers Play IN Mimic Warfare in
splendid Style.
Fort Riley. Kan, Sept. 29.-March-
Az, over soggy field swept at fire.
a,1ent intervals by binding rain, driven
~, a forty-mile gale, the men of the
'.one,,ver division carried out their
.o,,,e nroeramne in splendid style. The
work was without a flaw, and at the
aonclusion of the days work the UNI
rires pronounced it the most satisfac-
torv undertaking, that has so far been
oorried out in the maneuvers.
In working out the problem of the
aav it was presumed that a Blue force
.,tth headquarters at Abilene, Kan,
vas operating against a Brown force
odvancing from the east. A division
Of the latter was presumed to have al
readv reached Stockdale. Kan. Col
George q. Rodney of the Artillery
,orns. was in command of the Blues
and was camped on the banks
If the Republican river on the
Fort Riley reservation. His
command comprised the Sixth Battal-
ion of engineers acting as infantry, the
Nineteenth Twentieth and Twenty
oiobth batteries of Field Artillery and
the first squadron of the Eighth Caval-
~ The plan of the day for Col. Rod
new was to make a demonstration in
force toward Stockdale, to gain infor-
nation of the enemy said to be about
10000 strong.
The Brown division, which was sup
nosed to be encamped near Stockdale
was under the command of Col James
Miller of the Twenty Infantry.
The troops left the camp at $3.50
o'clock and thirty minutes after that
time the scouts of the Blues, under
command of Capt. Farher of the
Eighth Cavalry, were sweeping north
ward, covering a front of nearly two
miles The Blues gained an advan-
tage at first by Selling Mars Hill, the
highest point on the reservation. One
command of the Eighth Cavalry was
dismounted on the southern slope, and
advanced on the run to the summit.
where it was employed as infantry. A
few minutes later Marsh's battery
came tramping through the long grass
at headlong speed. 1t was ready for
action in a marvelously small space of
time, and then ensued wait of near
~ forty minutes before any of the
Browns made their appearance.
to the north and Capt. Farber. with
his scouts, pushed straight on to the
front, believing that the main force of
the Browns would be developed in that
direction.
However, instead of operating in
front Col. Miller was marching around
the right flank of the Blues and en-
deavoring to gain their rear. Now and
then on the horizon line, form about
one-half the size of a pin could be
seen. These were the Brown scouts.
working in the right flank and rear of
the Blues.
Three times March's battery changed
front on the crest, and, finally as
detachment of Brown infantry appear
ed upon a crest one mile away, the
battery wheeled once more this time
to the right and opened a heavy fire
upon the advancing infantry. Sudden
ly, while Marsh's battery was pound
ing the thin line of Browns lying fiat
upon the ridge mile away, there was
an answering clash from a hill one
mile in the rear of the Browns. 1t
was their artillery in action in their
support. A lively artillery duel con-
tinued between the batteries.
The battalion of engineers, acting as
Blue Infantry, came marching up the
hill and hurried off to the right of the
ready visible, coming on steadily
through the grass. Their advance was
ceverly made and every advantage
was taken of the ground and of the
tall grass which hides a man very ef-
fectually. The light brown khaki uni
form proved a decided advantage over
the blue. man clad in the latter is
visible instantly, while the dust-colored
khaki cloth renders it's wearer much
more difficult to diStin o11iSh
The Brown line advanced steadily,
spreading out to the left as it. came
and In few minutes the line was
thrown squarely across the Blue line
of retreat. The engineer battalion kept
up rafting fire, but they were not
able to prevent the Browns obtaining a
position from which they directed q
heavy fire at the Blue artillery II
was position such as must have caus-
ed the destruction of the battery, and
the umpires decided that it had been
put out of action. The Browns came
rapidly through the grass, keeping up
their fire without slackening in the
least. Aid was now coming to the
hard pressed engineer battalion, which
was clinging desperately to it's work
Company ID of the Sixty Infantry came
up the hill on a run, and plunging into
Inc night on the flank they pushed for
i@PlulS upon the brOWnS. ne
latter were speedily driven back and
company of the Fourth Cavalry was
captured. The line of retreat was re-
opened, but the Browns were coming
up SO strongly for a second attack
mat the umpires called halt
IN order to discuss the situation. 1t
was finally decided that the forces
were so closely in contact that further
continuation of the maneuvers would
SIMPLY mean close range fighting and
at Il O'clock the war for the dav was