New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-06
SHAM BATTLE IN STORM.
Broscn Forces apparently Winners
of Engagen,ent at West FOant.

r-a,,r yonn1 vss. Point KY Oct Sin a heavy
rainstorm and on ground that was In places a4ios
a uuagmire, the most important engagement 'Hu'
far in the war game fought to-day. TAKEN as
n whole the conditions more nearly approached
actual war than anything before seen III tliS
country In time Of peace. The. programme ol u
chief umpire Colonel Wagner called Tor an attaeA
By the advance guard Of the Blue army 'on rear
outpost OF tho Brown army Nearly 500 state
Guards and regulars took part the forces oeins
almost evenly matched regards numerical
strength, but with slight preponderance In iaVor
of the Blues. due to the strong cavalry loice.
which was about offset by the Brown rear guard
having a chosen position and operating on inner
lines.
The Brown forces marched out from camp on
Sunday evening. and spent dismal. sodden night
under tents. Early this morning they took
position along roads the contour of which was
somewhat like inverted capital letter a. the
point being the rear line Of communication with
their main body eight miles away
The Blues advanced slowly. and beyond few
exchanges between plc<ets did not get into touch
with the Browns until o'clock After having
marched along nearly the entire Brown position
which was strong one. Brigader General Kobbe.
commanding the Blues directed his attack at the
Brown right centre. The blow fell on the centre
of the Michigan brigade The Michigan men were
so well posted that they partially surprised the
Blue advance party and put the two companies OF
infantry out of action with few well directed
volleys General Kobbe. however. persisted IN
hammering this point, and. bringing up his sup
port poured a hot infantry fire into the Nlch1San
brigade The Brown line gave way but little I'M
der the attack. and only two companies were al
Judged to have suffered severely. General Bliss.
however brought up the Sd Kentucky from his re-
serve and put it into action with the AIcnlgsh
brigade He also brought his two pieces or artll-
lery into play to prevent the Blues 1rOn s"itsIns
still further to the right Superior weight or IN
Blue artillery fire compelled the Brown heid plSceS
TO retreat, after having partially accompIsnet1
their purposes. The Brown right held fairy Wen
fghting accompanied by only moderate losses on
each SIDE, the encounter ended IN a pouring ram
AS the object of the Brown rear guard was 70
hold four roads and play for more tie IN stiI1
are the winners. the close OF the ense geHlenI
found the key 10 their line Of retreat ana COM
Tnunication and command OF the ROADS centIlhS Oh
their position still in their grasp -,,,a-i,11,-
Iessened the ability detect scouting parties anu
even strong skirmish lines moving through Ihe
we'll wooded country. until they opened nres WEE
not detected. Firing begun, however, IL pc
came apparent that the DO oder used by the army
is not entirely smokeless. The little blue pulls
would show for several seconds, and indicate the
a mile away When the artillery got to work the
positions of the guns were marked oy CLOUDS Oh
considerable density hanging over them
The Michigan brigade and a part OF the Rem
engaged The Indiana brigade did not get into
action at ALL being posted on. the left whlcn vas
not even threatened by the Blues Governor Dur
bin and his personal aids spent the afternoon
gan brigade.
One of the features Of the day was the work
Of the signal corps men of the Brown army. Two
men strung two miles of wire alOnS the Brown
inner line connecting the three positions, and had
sent a message by both telephone and telegraph
in twenty minutes.