The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-01
Regiments and Batteries of the Guard
Left Camp Last Night for the
Army Post Site.
PLANS LAID BY COL. WAGNER
HE TELLS THE MEN 1T WILL BE NO
LAUGHING NATTER.
Heavy CannOnading May Scare the
Ommunity-Busy Day i'm Camp
Incidents of the Day.

At exactly IL o'clock last night the bugles
of the Third Indiana Regiment sounded for
the soldiers to fall in marching order The
call had been expected the greater part of
the evening. and the men, restless and eager
for the signal, responded promptly. Tents,
provisions and ammunition had been packed
the preceding hour, and the troops assem-
bled in line with their belts heavily filled
with cartridges and their knapsacks packed
upon their backs. The command for a
forced march was given, and the Third Reg
iment, accompanied by Battery c, under
Captain GlasscOck, marched quickly from
the fair grounds into the dusty road, where
only the tramp of their feet broke the still
ness. The sounds grew fainter and fainter
until they died out altogether, and only the
commands of the officers came back to the
waiting troops in camp.
Continually during the night and early
this morning troops left the camp, all on
forced marches to the east. Their destina-
ton was the site of the new army post, near
Lawrence, Ind, where to-day will be held
the greatest sham battle ever fought on In
diana soil. The entire forces of the Indiana
National Guard are now camped upon the
new battle field, preparing for the conflict
that will follow during the day. They are
supplied with two days rations and their
tents, and every detail will be followed as
in time of war.
FIRST INTIMATION.
The first intmation of the forced marches
and the sham battle was received last night
at o'clock by the officers of the different
regiments. AT that time Brigadier General
lad lie fof
with the Governors staff and all the COM
manders of three regiments and the artil-
lery battalions, in the amphitheater. where
Colonel Arthur L. Wagner, assistant ad-
jutant general of the Department
or the Lakes, gave talk on
the military maneuvers that would
follow until the close of the camp.
In outlining the plan, Colonel Wagner told
the officers that by o'clock this morning
all the forces of the Indiana National
Guard should have left or be ready to leave
on forced marches for the army post.
where they would be thrown against each
other some time during the day in a fierce
sham battle. During the evening the SOL
diers seemed to smell the powder i'm the
air and the greatest excitement and spec
ulation were manifested. When the tents
and equipments were thrown on the army
wagons. the men knew that something of
Importance was up When they were in
formed of the march to the army post and
the sham battle to occur there. their antic-
ipations were realized and they were as
happy and excited if they were going
into their first battle
NO LAUGHING NATTER
In his talk TO the officers Colonel Wagner
said that the sham battle would be no
laughing matter. but that il would be as
fierce and as rigid as such an affair could
be without bodily danger He said every
thing would be carried out as 1t is In a
real battle betw cen such forces. Every man
will be supplied with fifty rounds of am
munition. and besides these the cannons
will be placed and manned by the batteries.
The scene will be well worth seeing, as il
will outstrip anything of the kind ever held
in this part of the country. The noise of
the battle will be heard for miles around.
and from the amount OF preparation made
for the event 1t will last for some time.