Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-08
DECISION QUESTIONED
Browns Contend That Their
Line Was Not Broken.
CHIEF UMPIRE'S VIEW
COL. WAGNER HOLDS THAT THE
MOVEMENT WAS NOT DECISIVE.
Blues Might Have Been Defeated Later
Short Rations.Troops Tired
Few Depredations.
Special From a Staff Correspondent

Special From Staff Correspondent
PRESS CAMP, GAINESVILLE, Va, Sep
TENDER S.-'Did the brown or the blue army
win in the first probe moi the maneu-
verso
That question is disturbing the serenity of
the camps on the maneuver field more than
anything that has happened here The long
marches, short rations, dusty roads and
the hardships incident to such extensive ex-
erclses are forgotten in the discussion of
the all-absorbing topic. The browns. from
the commanding general down, contend
that their position was absolutely so strong
that nothing the blue army could have
brought against it would have had effect,
On the other hand the blue contend. and
are supported by the umpires, that thew
broke through the enemy's line al the CEN
| Ter. However. even though this should be
admitted by the browns, and 1t is not ad-
mltted by them for minute no less au-
thority than the chief umpire Col Wagner.
stated that this movement was not decisive;
that the brown army might yet have re-
formed their line and driven the blue out.
and to make his position perfectly clear
ne cited the instances of Kearney's move
ment against jackson in the second battle
OF Bull Run, when the Union general broke
through the confederate line, but was later
put out, and action of the same kind in
the battle of Franklin Tenn But the
disputed movement was made within four
minutes of the time which Gen Corbin
! had set for the close of the days maneuver
| and there was no time to show whether or
not the blue could have been driven out
The Attack on the Browns.
The action in yesterdays engagement
was practically as described in The Star of
yesterday up to II 80 o'clock yesterday
morning. The attack made on the center.
which is said to have succeeded in breaking
the brown line was made just after that
when the troops of Wint's brigade and
part of Bliss brigade of blues were thrown
heavily on the point at the center of Gen
Bells line. At this place the line was
weakest A portion of a battery of artil-
lery had just been withdrawn therefrom
and was stationed not a thousand yards
directly in the rear awaiting orders for a
further movement 1t was supposed at that
time that the battery would be ordered
into action on the left and preparation
was made to do Gen. Bell ordered the
guns to the right of the center, however,
but they were not used there. In addition
to the battery of artillery in the rear of
the line where the blues are alleged to
have broken through there were two regi-
ments of infantry that were not engaged
and had not been since earlier In the day
This infantry detachment was between the
battery and the line of defenses and could
have been deployed and sent into action on
the line in less than five minutes.
Maneuver Stopped at Noon.
Gen. Corbin had noted. from the rear of
the center of the brown position, that the
troops were worn out and directed that the
maneuver be stopped at IL o'clock. 1t was