The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
Many Of the Young Soldiers, Foot
sore and Weary. Were Unable 10
Keep Up to the End.
UMPIRES WERE MERCILESS
REGULAR ARMY OFFICERS READ
GUARD OFFICERS A LECTURE.
Commanders and Men Glad to Get
Back to Camp-First Regiment
Band-Review of Troops To-Day.

For the first time in the history of the
Indiana National Guard the members were
taken outside of camp yesterday and par
ticipated in sham battle that lasted the
greater part of the day. The battle was ar
ranged by Col. Arthur l. Wagner assist
ant adjutant general of the Department of
the Lakes. He, with Capt. Blanton Win
ship, of the same department took charge
of the troops from the time they left FRI
day night until they returned to camp yes
terday afternoon at o'clock. AS a result
of the maneuvering of the troops IL was
said that the Second Regiment under COM
mand of Col. Harry B. Smith. and Battery
A, of Indianapolis, outgeneraled the other
forces.
The sham battle took place at the site OF
the army post, near Lawrence. 1t was ad-
mirably adapted to the work OF the troops
The men were called to arms late Friday
night and it was nearly daylight before
the last of the troops passed through the
gates on their way to the scene of war.
The Third Regiment was in command OF
Lieutenant Colonel Bowen of Waterloo. The
regiment left about midnight, supplemented
by Battery c. of Lafayette, under COM
had been out about two hours, when an
order was given for the remainder of the
other troops to proceed. These consisted
of the Second Regiment. under command
of Col Harry b. Smith, and the First Reg
iment, under command of Colonel Mccoy,
of Vincennes. These regiments We're
slsarded by batteries A, OF Indianapolis,
and b, of Fort Wayne.
AN INSPIRING SIGHT.
The gray dawn of the morning had be-
gun to make its appearance over the east
ern horizon when these troops started to
Lawrence. The men were in full marching
equipment and presented an inspiring sight.
The troops were preceded by Governor Dur
bin and the officers of the United States
army, followed by Brigadier General Nc
Kee. The Second Regiment with Battery
b left by way of the Allisonville pike. The
First Regiment with Battery A went by
way of Broad Ripple. About one mile from
Lawrence the attacking forces halted and
took up quarters. Scouts were sent out and
i'm short time found the enemy. The scouts
were intrenched behind heavy hedge
feuce. Precisely at Z o'clock the warning
fire was given by the scouts of the First
Regiment. These men were i'm good shape
and lost no time in ar0uSng their troops
by firing the warning salute. The retreat
was made, followed by the members OF the
the middle of the government reservation.
The troops of tie latter regiment with their
battery at once set out TO follow the re-
treating troops. This ruSe worked nicely.
as the Second Regiment and the members
of Battery made a flank movement 40
get in the rear of the defensive troops. The
officers of the Third Regiment discovered
their mistake before they were surrounded
by the Second Regiment Instantly the in
fantry began firing, followed by the thun-
dering of the artillery. Leutenant CoioheI
do fn
troops and save them from the heavy mr.
ing but was unsuccessful Mhiie ne was
endeavoIing to get into action win the
Second Regiment the members or the FIRST
took advantage of the SITUATION ana
marched to the left flank and poured m a
heavy infantry and artillery hre- AT THIS
iunct,Ire the umpires-COlonel wagner,
Captain Winshp. Captain Ridenhour.
Major Stevenson and Colonel Barnett-Iode
up and declared one battalion OF the IhiId
regiment out of service
forbidden firing zone. being within 80 yards
of each other. The orders issued were Tor
the troops to not fire at one ahother WITHIN
zoo wards Some surprise was expressed AT
this Part of the men of the battalion We're
so excited over the incident that they hau
entirely overlooked the matter IL was the
same case with the members OF Battery
B. who had been firing at the infantry at
such short range
When the troops were again assembled
the attacking forces sHrro1ndeo oa xhsn me us ~
canarel NcKee's orders. the bugle sounded
..cease firing" the remaining members OF
the Third Regiment showed strongly lndl
they had been worsted.
IN BATTALION FORMATION
The troops were then drawn of the field
and assembled into battalion formation.
The officers of the regular army then gave
a lecture TO the men and officers on their
work. The men were complimented and
their battle. General Mckee then gave or
ders for the troops to return TO camp. The
march home was not as fast as when going
TO the battlefield IL required about two
hours for the troops TO reach the point OF
attack which was about nine miles from
the fair grounds. On the return march the
troops were on the road about three hours
Although the march TO Lawrence was
made while the air was cool, II proved haTd
for many OF the Infantry. Many men OF the
three regiments sunered greatly from the
long march. Long before the enemy was
sighted soldiers fell along the route, and
the hospital corps had all il could do pick
ing up the sick. The strenuous manner Ia
which the troops We're put into action also
put many OF the men out OF commission
There were two green companies in the
First Regiment. and these suffered greatly
from the march. Company @, OF this regi-
ment took out forty-eight men and re-
turned with twenty-nine- Most OF the men
fell from exhaustion and sore feet. Com
pany l.. Of Connersvilie. also new COM
pany. took out forty-five men and returned
with thirty-hve.
But one serious accident occurred during
the battle Sergeant Ebberly, OF Battery
c. of Lafayette. was the victim He was
shot i'm the foot through his own careless
ness He was handling a loaded carbine.
which ne had no right 10 do. according TO
Colonel Smith Sergeant EbberIy and sew
'eral gunners had just finished lfirfng several
large charges and reloaded and ptimed the
gun for another discharge He ran TO the
rear OF the cannon 70 ire the gun. In