The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-07
SOLDIERS FIGHT
IN MIMIC BATTLE.
BROWNS BEAT BLUES BACK.
GRANT COULD NOT WIN THOROUGH
FARE GAP.

Blues Could Not Break the Line of
Defense of the BrOwns-SOme Hard
Fighting occurred-HOw the Um-
pire Summarized the Work OF
Each Army-Massachuse ReGi-
ment Had Its COIOrs Captured.
Corps Headquarters. Gainesville, Va.
Sept. 6.-The Blue and the Brown arm
les were in fierce combat when halted
by the chief umpire at o'clock this
afternoon. Previous to this the COM
manders of the two forces had spent the
time maneuvering for position.
The net result of the day is that Cen
Grant, who is charged with forcing
back Gen. Bells Brown army through
Thoroughfare Gap, has not been able
to break the line of defense established
by Gen. Bell during the early hours of
the morning. This line extends north
and south, bisecting the maneuver
zone, and is composed of infantry ami
artillery.
Cen Grant opposed this force in the
extreme north early in the day, but
with no success. After five companies
of the Blue army had been ruled off the
field for attacking in the open a strong
concealed defense, hostilities ceased for
three hours.
During this time, Gen. Grant swung
the bulk of his infantry and artillery
to the south in an effort to flank Gen
Bells line of infantry on the right
Gen. Bell, however, learned of the
movement of his adversary and rushed
up his reserves to the threatened point
The two forces came to combat shortly
after o'clock. Artillery was brought
into play by the Brown army and the
rapid-fire guns spoke on both sides,
while volley after volley of musket fire
added to the sound of the battle which
could be heard through the Virginia
hills for miles.
The battle had proceeded only a short
time when an order from the umpires
was given to cease firing. AT this time
the forces were practically equal and
the situation was such that decision
from the umpires seemed to be de-
manded. Instead Is minutes was
granted each side to rectify it's lines.
Battle Was Resumed.
Then, at a signal from the chief
umpire, the action was resumed. The
First Vermont, a portion of the Twelfth
New York the Eighth Massachusetts,
and the second Maine made a charge
on the Blue position, moving over
open ground, and under very heavy
fire from the SeVentieth Virginia, the
First Maine, and the First Texas.
The Brown charging force was order
ed back after sustaining heavy loss.
The success of the Blue army at this
time was but temporary, as an en-
filading fire of infantry and artillery
from the Brown troops on the right
Blues to hold its position, and an or
der to fall back was given.
Gen. Bell had ordered up reinforce
ments consisting of the greater part
of Barry's brigade, which had been
holding the line still farther to the
south. The immediate line of the
Browns defense then consisted of the
Second Maine, First Vermont, Eighth
ssachusetts, Fourth New Jersey,
Ninth Massachusetts, Twelfth New
York. Ninth Regulars, Third North
Carolina and Second Georgia, amount
ing in all to sixty companies of in
fantry, besides a battery of artillery.
Opposed to this force was the Sew
entieth Virginia, First Maine and
First Alabama
The situation was critical for either
side. The fighting forces were APP
preaching closer and closer, and the
firing was growing hotter. A decis-
ion from the umpire would have been
imperative had a halt not been called.
summary of the Fight.
The record of the Blue army for the
day is summed up by Col Wagner,
chief umpire, as follows: Gen. Wint's
brigade, which took up position early
in the day on the extreme right of the
attacking line, has not been heavily
engaged and his troops are in bivouac
tonight Prices brigade has been
seriously engaged and has suffered
great loss. Frost. on the left, has not
been heavily engaged, while the bri-
gade Of Bliss, still further on the left,
has not been in action. The fighting
for the Blue army was done almost
exclusively by Prices brigade and by
the advance guard of Wint.
On the part of the Brown army the
brigades of Smith, Lee, Regan and
Barry have all been in the fighting.
Four troops of the Seventh Cavalry,
a part Of the Brown army, made trou-
bic for the Blue advance before day
light. and there were rumors that ne
had been put ont of action, but these
were not confirmed BY the official re-
ports of the umpires
Massachusetts COIOrs Captured.
A colonel os the Blue Cavalry was
captured, as were the colors of the
Fifth Massachusetts Regiment. These
colors were returned to corps headquar-
ters tonight by Gen. Bell with a let
ter. stating that he should have re-
turned them to the regiment, but did
not want to take any action that
might be regarded as spying on his ad-
versary. The colors were returned
through corps headquarters.
Gov. Hayward Of South Carolina and
Representative Price of Illinois, MEM
ber of the House Military Committee.
were arrivals at the camp to-day. and
each responded to toasts at dinner
First Lieutenant Cornelius X. Van
derbilt of the Twelfth New York was
compelled 20 submit TO medical treat
ment to-day on account of the heat.
His condition is not regarded as seri-
Gus.
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