The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-15
BATTLE PLANS
ALL WORKED OUT
FOR ATTACK ON FIT. SCREVEN
PROBLEM OF FIRST REGIMENT ON
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.

OHicerS OF ReSIment went ONer
Ground on Tybee Yesterday and
Conferred With Officers of Regu-
lars Now at Fort ScreVen-State
Troops, to BE known as army of
Brown" Will Take Offensive.
Regulars Will BE "Army of Blue"
Review of state Troops to Follow
Exercise.
very large attendance at drill is
expected of the companies of the First
Regiment of Infantry tonight. All of
the officers and enlisted men have re-
ceived a special summons to be present
at final instructions will be given and
the problem to be worked out in the
battle exercises on Washington's birth
day, will be rehearsed. Thursday night
there will be a school for non-commis-
stoned officers when the theoretical
part of the problem will be discuss
ad
Three officers of the first Regiment
visited Tybee yesterday and made q
careful examination of the ground over
which the exercises are to be held.
They also conferred with Capt. Whit
ney, in charge of the post during the
absence of Lieut.. Col. Anderson in
Florida, and with his assistance, and
that of a number of other officers the
plans of the problem were worked out
The problem will be the attack on, and
the defense of. a position. The regu-
lars. members of the companies of
heavy artillery forming the garrison
of Fort SCreven, who will constitute the
Army of Blue" will act on the de-
Tense, and the state troops, to be known
as the Army of Brown" will act on
the offensive.
The volunteers will be uniformed in
khaki coats, and trousers. wear cam
paign hats and be equipped with, can
teens, haversacks and forty rounds of
blank ammunition. Instead of leaving
on the 10 o'clock train, as had been
planned. the commands will leave on
a special train that will leave the city
at 1870 p. m. city time.
Umpires on Horseback.
Col. Alexander r. Lawton, Lieut.
Col. Jordan F. Brooks, retired, and an
officer of the Fort Screven garrison,
to be detailed by Capt. Whitney, will
accompany the First Infantry on
ilOl SCOei1h, anu Will act DIS CTlLlCS oil
the engagement. Lieut.. Col. w. L.
Grayson has been detailed by Col g.
A. Gordon, commanding the First Reg
lment, to remain with the regulars and
observe the engagement from the
standpoint of the defense.
Several signal corps men will be lent
the volunteers by the regulars, which
means that messages can be rapidly
communicated from one end of the line
of advance n tho
The train bearing the troops to the
island will go straight through to the
South End, where the companies will
detrain, leaving their overcoats in the
cars, and will then march on the po-
sition of the regulars. These will have
cossack ports, and patrols in front of
their position. The engagement will
begin when the advance guard of the
attacking force comes in contact with
these outposts. A line of guidons will
be placed in front of the regulars po-
sltlon, and the volunteers will be in
structed not to proceed beyond them,
which will thus prevent any chance
of an accident.
After the exercises are over a re-
view will take place on the parade
ground of the fort. Afterwards the
men will go to Bohan's pavilion, where
an oyster roast will be served, and
where dancing will continue until
o'clock, when the train will leave for
the city. The friends of the regiment
will leave the city on the regular aft
ernoon train, carrying materials for a
sort of basket picnic.
Country Companies May Come.
1t is possible that in addition to
the Savannah companies of the First
Regiment, some of the country COM
panies may come to the city and ac-
company the other commands to the
island to take part in the exercises.
To such of these as will come the rail-
roads have granted a rate of 1 cent
mile for all soldiers in uniform. and a
rate of 1-3 fare. plus 25 cents, for
the round trip to their friends.
The members of the Fort Screven
garrison are taking an active interest
in the proposed exercises, and every
one on the island is doing whatever is
possible to make the day a success.
So far as is known. this will be the
hrst time such exercises have been at
tempted between regulars of the Unit
ed States army in garrison duty and
state troops located near them, and the
outcome is awaited with much inter-
est. In the event that the country
companies make the trip to Savannah
they will have to secure permission
from the Adjutant General of the
state. before they can leave their home