The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-07
Takes Position in Press
Camp to See Maneuvers.
vICIsSITUDES OF THE FIGHT
Some Amusing Happenings on Picket
Lines-Regulars Play Jokes
on the Militia.

Gen. Henry c. Corbin, corps command
cr. and a party Of his guests. The gen
eral and his staff were out all this morn
ing watching the drawing together Of
the lines OF the opposing armies, but re-
turned shortly after / o'clock to head
quarters. because Of the belief that no
decisive engagement would be fought
until today A few minutes after
O'Clock. however. the big fight of the
day began. two miles away, in good
sight Of the hill on which the press
camp is situated
Many newspaper men were watching
the progress of the battle from this
point. and in a little while they MOTTO
ed General Corbin I'm their midst. With
him were Mrs. Corbin her sister. Miss
Patten. Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant. Gov
ernor Wsrfeld. of Maryland. and Gener-
al Crozier
The party stayed at the press camp
until the rocket bomb was sent up at
o'clock to bring the days operations
to a close. Mrs. COrbin and Mrs. Grant
we're chatting each other on the probable
outcome of the contest, Mrs Grant ar
IDENTIFY supporting the blue" army,
commanded by her husband. while Mrs.
Corbin championed the Brown army.
Corbin's Fast Mare.
Members OF General Corbin's stan are
IN rueful humor whenever they come
back from "A ride with him, because Of
the accomplishments Of his Kentucky
saddle mare. This mare the general has
had for some time, and he has taught
her Z peculiarly easy and rapid running
walk When she strikes this gait. the
horses of the staff officers have to trot
10 Keen up with her. General Corbin
goes along as though he were in a rock
ing chair. while the staff jolts along be-
hind him. His blooded little mare can
keep her gait all day, so the longer the
ride the worse it is for the staff
Uniooked-for Happenings.
Many were the vicissitudes of war en-
countered by the Blue" and Brown
armies and more things occurred
than were down on the maneuver
program. 1t is often the unlocked for
that sways the tide Of battle. and the
unlocked for occurred again and again
during the working out OF the first
problem of the two armies as they
swept TO and fro over the maneuver
territory.
Companies got lost, officers got lost
aides-de-camp OF the commanding gen
erals were captured by NaSOual Guard
regiments. whole companies were put to
fight by three or four men, horses be-
came entangled in barbed-wire fences
and were severely cut troops of rival
cavalry regiments forgot they were only
playing at war and entered into hand
10 hand engagement with their fists
while another troop OF regular cavalry
became so chagrined at being totally an
initiated by a National Guard infantry
company that IL wheeled after being
pronounced collectively dead by the UNI
pire. dashed into the enemy, and car
ried of their flag
These are but few Of the many hui
morous incidents which helped make
the DUH moments Of the nights and
early mornings interesting. while the
main armies were maneuvering for po-
sitions.
Fun Begins at Midnight.
The fun began at y o'clock on Monday
night and lasted until o clock yesterday.
when the first problem ended, and the
Blue" army, under Gen. Frederick
Dent Grant. fell back 10 Camp No !.
at Manassas. while the Brown" army
under Gen. J. Franklin Bell, fell back
on Camp No 2, at ThOroughfare Gap.
The humor OF the occasion was fur
nished by the men of the regular army
as well as by those Of the National
Guard, for both were victims OF cir
cumstances. the outcome Of which were
often laughable.
Lieutenant Humphreys, Of the Seventh
Cavalry. which was with the Brown"
army. was sent TO the picket line on
the Warrenton and Centerviile turnpike,
with seven troopers. After taking up
his position he discovered the picket of
the enemy a quarter of mile down
the road. consisting OF two COmpa MES
OF militia. Knowing the habits OF the
average militiamen on dark night
Lieutenant Humphreys decided 70
amuse himself at their expense. Call
ing a trooper. he babe him dismOunt
and walk 70 within a few hundred yards
OF where these militia lay in state Of
nervous expectancy When he reached
that point the lieutenant ordered. he
was 10 discharge. in rapid succession,
all the chambers Of his revolver. The
trooper obeyed the order 70 the letter.
The Ruse Succeeds.
As soon as he began firing commotion
arose in the camp OF the enemy. A com
pany fire was Immediately ordered. com
unands were shouted out in loud voice.
all OF which could be heard half a mile
IN the stiffness Of the night, giving the
exact location OF the Blues pickets
Lieutenant Humphreys trooper quiet
IL retired and left the militia hornets
nest a buzzing. Later in the night The
lieutenant bethought him Of stirring he
militiamen UP the more. so. taking
taree troopers with him. he went him
self to field at the edge Of the woods
where the enemy's picket line stood and
spread his men out some distance apart
At a given signal they all opened fire
again, just az the single trooper had
done. Again pandenonium broke loose
This time the militia were sure thai
n whole regiment was after them. and
they fell back. firing and calling for re-
endorsements. The men. OF the Seventh
then went back TO their post, put one
man on guard and slept until daylight
Early yesterday morning as the press
camp awakened and prepared 20 conduct
the days campaign In true Richard
Harding Davis style, they saw foul
blues" being brought into the infantr,
line, which was just back Of the camp
The members OF the Ninth Infantry
proudly stated that they had captured
these pickcts at a m. while they were
Worlds Fair Rates via C. g. o. Route
Coach excursions each SATURDAY On