The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-16

yells. Their parents and the general
public also turned ont in great numbers
to witness the drill, and the grown-up
folk Joined in the roofing
1t would he hard to imagine a more at
tractive sight than the cadets presented
as they stood in the center Of the big
e1lipse drawn up in regimental front. The
day was perfect. The air was warm, and
the sky without a cloud. The boys form
ed one long, straight line across the big
grass-covered lot. Their polished gun
barrels glistened in the sunlight. And far
back behind it all the snowy white shaft
OF the Washing on Monument rose above
the green treetops and stood out clear
cut against the faultlcss blue of the May
sky.
Band Played "Coon Songs"
At one end of the regiment stood the
Marine Band, sending forth the notes of
stirring marches and almost irresistible
coon songs" The crowds were happy,
and never for an instant tagged in their
endeayors TO make this fact manifest.
Each school We'd with the others TO make
the most racket.
To Col. Edgar A. Barnes, who was in
command of the regiment. and his stan
alone is due the credit for the excellent
showing which the cadets made before the
assembled thousands. The young officers
were allowed to use their own discretion
and judgment regarding the maneuyers
during the sham battle, and they handled
the conflict as coolly and intelligently as
veterans.
At $50 O'Clock the regiment formed on
the north side of New York Avenue. with
the right wing resting on Fourteenth
Street. Here the cartridges were dis
tributed, and final Instructions given re-
garding the drill After the maneuyers
and review, the sham battle promptly be-
gan.
The attacking party. under the COM
nand of Lieutenant Colonel Boesch and
Majors Sniffen and Winter. consisted of
Companies A. B. d. of the First Bat
talon, and Z and C of the Second Bat
TALON These companies were in charge
of the following officers: Company A,
Captain Guss; Company B. Captain Greg
DRY; Company ID. Captain Reynolds; Com
pany E. Captain Manning, and Company
G, Captain Bowies.
These forces moved down to the terri
tory south of the monument where they
were supposed to have landed from ves-
sells at the river front. Slowly. and with
siSirmishing parties out on all sides, they
began to creep up upon the defensive
party.
Defend an Imaginary Fort.
The latter. commanded by Colonel
Barnes, and consisting of Companies C.
Under Captain Tompkins; F, under Capt
Fred Robinette, and H, under Captain
Lehmer, were defending an imaginary fort
on the north side of the ellipse. Each
man on both sides was provided with
twenty rounds of ammunition, and in
addition the defense possessed a 4-inch
Calling gun of the latest type. The men
were stretched out on the grass, ST.
lently watching for the first sign of the
approaching enemy. Every now and then
the head of a scout would be revealed
from behind a tree In the distance, and a
few shots would be fired in his direction.
Finally desultory fire was begun By
the attacking party. Immediately the
shouts of the spectators became hushed.
The firing grew louder. although the en-
envy still remained concealed behind the
trees south of the ellipse. Presently the
puffs of smoke from thirty guns became
visible. followed a moment later By
glimpses of blue uniforms and glistening
gun barrels.
Finally the ianking parties o. the de-
Tense encountered the skirmishers of the
enemy and were driven back into their
lines. Then the parties in the fort opened
a slow fire, which grew In volume as the
enemy approached. Before long the two