The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1905-12-02
The Sham Battle.

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The much anticipated sham
battle and competitive drill be-
tween some of the crack com
panies of the third battalion in
fantry, State National Guard,
came off last Sunday at Haas
Park. All of the soldier boys
were in the best of humor, and
so far as general appearance
goes, made very creditable ap-
pearance. 1t was expected that
ak companies of the State Ma
tional Guard would participate
in Sundays festivities, but for
reasons unknown only three COM
panies of infantry arrived, be-
sides. the third troop of cavalry
from Lake Charles. The COM
pany of infantry of Lake Charles
was unable to muster sufficient
number to participate in the
festivities, and while the disap-
pointment was general that they
did not come, it is conceded
that Company Nj of Baton Rouge
felt their absence more keenly
by reason Of the fact Ethat sthe
two companies are rivals: Com
pany X of Lake Charles having
won the prize as the best drilled
company of the State over the
Baton Rouge Company at the
last State encampment, by mar
row margin. Preceding the
sham battle last Sunday was a
competitive drill between Com
panies Il, of Rayne, F, of Crow
lev and NJ of Baton Rouge, the
fifty dollars prize being captured
by Company M of Baton Rouge.
Following the competitive drill
two races were run, both trotting,
the first being won by Rob Roy,
owned by DR.. r. L. Walker, in
2:3O; the second race was won by
Roy w. in 2:40.
Following the races the sham
battle was fought. Companies
NJ and E acting on the defensive
as against Company F, supported
by the third troop cavalry. Four
successive charges were made by
Company F, supported by the
cavalry and each was repulsed
after a sharp fighting; the battle
reaching a termination on the
fourth charge, when, by a flank
movement, Company M captured
the entire company r, and re.
pulsed the cavalry with loss.
The only unpleasant feature OF
the entire day was the serious
wounding of James Strawbridge
|of Company M, on the last charge
| One of the cavalrymen rode hi:
horse close into the lines and a.
Company M was retreating from
the charge, he fred with the muz
lzle of his gun almost touching
Strawbridge's sholder. Straw
bridge fell to the ground ant
while many supposed that it wa
l.spart of the game" it was sooI
realized that the young man was
IseriousIy hurt. The red eros.
corps, in charge Of Rev. Fathe1
y. Girault, Chaplain of the Stat'
National Guard, administered t.
1.-THE wounded, and in the case o
1.-THE wounding of Strawbridge die
Isignal service. The young maj
was Immediately brought to th'
Irear and given the best of medi
| cal attention, and while his wount
was pronounced very serious, i
lis not believed that it will prov
/ fatal.
! Among the prominent men con
Injected with the State militia VIII
were present and participated il
1.-THE exercises were: j. j. Thomp
son. of the Governors staff
ICol. Gabe Filleul, Asst. Adjutan
General; Major A. D. Stewart
Icommanding the third bsttaliol
infantry; Major Juste Fontaine
Iof New Orleans, and Rev. j. Gi
lrauIt, Lieutenent Colonel on th
.IGovernor's staff and Chaplain Q
1.-THE State militia.
4 An immense crowd came u
i on the excursions, which adde
to the attendance from the SUI
rounding country, swelled the at
tendance at the park to some
thing over three thousand, bu
1.-THE streets of the town wer
literally packed and it is safe t
estimate that fully eight thousan
visitors were here for the festiy
tiles.
i Governor Blanchard and Ae
Iiutant General Stafford were e,
pected but were both unable t
ATTEND.
The soldier boys we're loud j
their praise of the treatment a.
corded them, and while some Q
them had to undergo rathe
, strenerous trip to reach herr
they state that the welcome give
Ithem amply repaid the incol
d yaIlience which they nnderWeI