New-York tribune., 1904-09-09
STATE TROOPS PRAISED.
IN SUN and DUST.
No Serious Fighting Yesterday
Preparing for 4ttack on Capital.


olive Irab uniforms. were fatigued and when .
o'clock arrived. marking the end Of the hvst
half OF the second problem, they were slld OF
the suspension OF "hostiiities." The miIitlauen
60 not lack ardor. howeves. and tbs military
observers are emphatic n their praise of The
state soldiers who have taken part in the work
with spirit.
The official report of the chief umpire, Colonel
Wagner. will deal with the performance OF the
militia commands most Of the men OF which
are now having their first experience in such
work It is found that some of the troops have
been without food, and after the manpuvre day
Is over it is usual for the soldiers to buy out
tn, nearest country store the demands upon
which have far exceeded even the special pro-
visions made by the enterprising proPrietors- Tt
is one of the faults of some Of the militia COM
nands that the cornIpissary supplies have failed
them at the critical time "A defect In reginentaI
administration which viii also be described in
the official comment of the observers. 1t IS note
worthy that the regulars have not 50 suffered
at any time. no matter how Tar they penetrated
into the country from their camps.
Elaborate arrangements are being made for
the grand review of Saturday. This viii occur
on the Wheeler farm. at Wellington. i've or six
miles from the corps headquarters. This
is criticised by army officers as the most useless
part of the manmuvres and one which Is bound
to impose hardships upon the troops entirely be-
yond anything offered by the work in the held.
For the troops encannped at ThoroUghfare Gar,
including the 18th New York, the 4th New-Jsr-
sey and the I'd New-Tork. this review means
march of no less than sixteen miles over road
deep with dust. or. should it rain, over roads
OF heavy naud. They must be at the place OF
review by 10 O'Clock Saturday morning and
return to their camp afterward. Coming after
four days Of hard work in the field and two
nights in bivouac the review VIII not be a
blessing to those who are obliged to create
spectacle for the ediacation OF visitors
The sixteen army paymasters are getting ready
to pay the troops, about 100000 havin, been
shipped from Washington for this purpose Each
pay officer viii pay of his regiments beginning
on Friday. and as everything must be in readi-
ness for the departure of the soldiers on Satur-
day and Sunday the officers ind their task a
difficult one. The quartermasters are already
engaged in preparing for the entrainment OF the
commands. and it is hoped to effect this with
the saE7e facility which gained much credit
for the department doing the entraining
The two armies were again In the field to-
day. This time the brown army was the ag-
greSsor 1t was TO strike the blue army as
preliminary operation against the Capital at
Washington.
the Bull Run Valley. His instructions were TO
hold this position until reinforcements Cnag-
inary) could reacn him fron Annandale These
reinforcements. according to the conditions i'm
posed. could not reach him in much less time
than forty-eight hours
General Bell was assumed TO have reinforce
nfents at Salem, distant about twelve hours
He rno=ed his force forward to the defence line
with the object OF holding Grant. If possible. IN
hts position until his achievements could reach
him, and then overwhelm him before the blue
reinforcements arrived
General Bells force spent most of the day on
the march They swarmed down the Warren
ton ana Thoroughfare pixies in parallel col
urns. The greater part Of to-day was con-
sumed in getting in contact with the defence
line. The march wes conducted exactly as II
would be in actual warfare. and. while there
was nothing spectacular about the days opera
tions. General Corbin said that the work would
be OF great beneht TO the men engaged
The outposts Of the blue and brown armies
got together about IL o'clock this morning neal
Pageland Lane. The lines OF each were strength
ened by reinforcements. and lighting continued
to grow more lively UP to the time to stop.
o'clock The forces engaged were those of the
First Brigade Of the blue army, under General
Wint. and those Of the First Brigade Of the
brown army, under General Lee The artillery
OF the brown army was unlin beTed on the edge
OF wood on a hill south of the WarTenton Pike.
The first Skirmish was between regular troops
on either side, and, after the rattle OF musketry
had continued for some minutes, firing ceased.
The umpire decided that no damage had been
done L either side Of sufficient consequence 10
demand q ruling.
An hour later the brown line had advanced to
the edge of the wood occupied by the blue line.
consisting OF the whole 9th Massachusetts Regi-
ment. II was at this time that the brown army
was strengthened and advanced 10 the wood
under Of the artillery he 81
back through the wood and reformed outside.
Just previous to this skirmsh sixteen members
OF brown cavalry troop were captured by the
blue. 1t was only short time, however. until
a troop Of the blue cavalry rode into half u
dozen volleys from thirty brown Hfantrymen
concealed beside the road, and they were ruled
out of action. When the vouey was fired the
cavalry stampeded down the road. and 10 was
some time before it could he apprehended by
the umpire and declared KILLED The indica-
tions are that every foot of ground from this
point, which is on line north and south with
Wellington. will be contested holly by the blue
line.
The blue main position. however IS back of
this point The attack on the main position will
not occur until tomorrow morning. General
Joe" Wheeler arrived at headquarters camp
this morning and Immediately rode out to the
firing line.
General Grant, commanding the Blue army
has taken up strong position behind Bull Run
This fact has not yet been aScsrtained bv Cen
eral Bell commanding the attacking Brown
army. This advance along the Wellington Pike
was haraSsed Just west of Pageland Lane by
tho first brigade OF General Grants army. under
General Wint- General Bell opposed this force /
With his first brigade. under General Lee.
Taking this as his adversaTy's centre he threw
The hrigades of Barry. RegaR and Smith 10 the /
right OF Lee, seemingly in an effort 10 get
around what would be the original LETT wing OF /
The Blue army. When operations ceased at q I
o'clock this had not been accomplished, owing 1
70 the distance the main line of the Blue army |
was behind its rearguard. or Wint's brigade
General Grant selected the position behind !
Bull Run in which to defend Washington in or /
Ter that 1t might be as easy as possible for his /