The Washington herald., 1907-07-28

CONN. commanding the artillery OF the
District of the Potomac, and Mrs. Coffin
gave a reception tonight to all the regu-
lar and militia officers Of the post and
ladies'
Thus 70 the dreamy strains Of waltz
music with a full moon shining brightly
on the scene Of enhancing beauty on the
colonels lawn, was wound up the week S
hostilities on the Potomac, and the two
weeks encampment Of that portion Of
the National Guard stationed here
1t was the big social event Of the
week, and the grand finale to the most
memorable mimic campaign ever partici-
pated in by the District militia, or any
portion of it. Canvas had been stretched
taut over the west lawn, for dancing, and
myriad of electric lights festooned on
wires and in the trees. The full moon
shone respondent from a cloudless sky
on the glittering uniforms of the men
and the soft flmy vari-colored gowns Of
the women floating and mingling fairy
like in the maizes of the waltz.
soon after the moon rays began to
supplant the fading twilight the guests
began to arrive. They were received by
the colonel and Mrs and Miss Coffin. The
spacious lawn filled rapidly. and with
the coming OF tn elate arrivals the dane
ins which lasted until the wee sha' hours,
began.
List of Those Present.
Mere man could not attempt TO describe
the gowns. but 70 say they We're beautiful
IS sufficient There was not an absentee,
those TO whom invitations were extended
being Col n. Emmet Urel. Lieut. Col.
r. y O'Brien, Maj. r. D. Simms. Chap
lain G. F. Dudley Capts II. II. Brian,
J. E. Brooks, r. 3. Clayton. R. R Dufie.
q. V. Sayer. Z. G. Schafer. Alex. sum
mers. C. T. Tolson. F. J. Woodman; First
Lieuts- A B. BENEFIT, r. "A. Foster, H. L.
Burton, F. H. Heidenreich. +. vs. Holt,
Hugh Kneipp. F. d. Lakeland, A ".
Leonard, G. p. Philips, J. z. Redman, a.
b. Weir, J. C. Whitaker, r. J. Totten, and
Second Lieuts. L. a. Clausei, l.. b. Err
nest NJ. B. Hodgson. J. J. owen, It. S.
o Haloran, and Is. F. Stewart
Regulars-Maj. Stevens. Mrs. and Miss
Stevens Capt and Mrs. Doores. and Mrs.
Bond, Capt. and Mrs Macon, Mrs. Bailey.
Capt. and Mrs Golderman, Capt and Mrs.
Connolly. Miss Gibson. Chaplain and Mrs.
and Miss Perry. DR.. and Mrs Morris.
Miss Simms, Lieut. and Mrs. Terrell,
Lieut. and Mrs Herring, Lieut. and Mrs.
Totten, Lieut.. Grain, Lieut.. RubOttom,
Lieut. and Mrs. Crissy. Lieut. and Mrs.
Patterson, Lieut.. and Mrs. Wiggan, Lieut..
Donnelly. Lieut.. Bristol, and Lieut. Brab-
son.
Reception at Fort Hunt, Also.
4 cf-
Ballentne and Mrs. Ballentine. nee Reed
daughter of the ex-Speaker, at Fort
Hunt. Il was a counterpart in every
respect Of the reception on this side
All the militia and regular officers there
were invited, with their wives and
daughters Capt. and Mrs. Ballentine
received their guests on the spacious lawn
in front Of his quarters at the same
time Col and Mrs Coffin took their post
on this side.
a final sham battle was held in the
morning. when the land forces at Fort
Washington repelled an attack by q
heavy force endeavoring to take the forti-
ficatiOns from the rear This was one
of the most spectacular battles Of the
campaign.
After being partially successful and
capturing Battery Meigs the biggest mor-
tar battery in the artillery district of
the Potomac the enemy were driven
back with heavy loss when an attempt
was made to effect a further advance and
take the main post
Attack from the Rear.
Capt. Summers commanded the attack
ing force. assisted by Lieut.. Bristol. as
instructor. This force, consisting of COM
panies l and K of the militia, made a
theoretical landing below Marshall Han
and, making a wide detour inland, at
tackled from the rear. They carried Bat
terry Meigs BY storm. and forming in a
solid phalanx. advanced at the double
quick
Capt. Clayton, assisted by Lieuts. Brab-
son and DonneIly. commanding the de-
fense. took a position in front of the
hospital building. They were charged by
the enemy. and after short, fierce fight,
in which several volleys were fired, were
forced 10 retire BY a clever strategic move
the attacking forces turned the left flank
and they would have been split In twain
and annihilated if they had not retreated
10 the point whore the dinky railroad
passes over crest between two steep
ravines that are impossible Of ascent
In this position both fianks were pro-
tected and the entire force could be con-
centrated on a front of a hundred yards
Consequently the enemy's advance was
met with a hail of lead from Colt au-
tomato gun and the rifles in the hands Of
the infantTymen The attacking party
had two machine guns. and the battle
ragged for nearly an hour the roar of the
musketry making a fearful din. The
sharp crack Of the rifles was plainly
distinguishable from the heavier tone Of
the Colt guns. that poured a continuous
stream of bullets.
Enemy Forced TO Retire.
Finally the enemy. this time themselves
in the open, gave way under the wither-
ing fire, and were forced to retire. The
commanders Of both armies were in
formed that an armistice had been de-
clared, and the battle-begrimed soldiers
returned TO their camps TO make prepara-
tions for their departure for Washington
this morning.
Early Yesterday morning the headquar-
tiers tents If Col Coffin, commanding the
post; Mai. Stevens, second in command.
and the entire regular staT were struck.
and the officers returned 10 their old
quarters on officers row.
The militia officers were busy packing
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