The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-25
SAVE CAPITAL AGAIN
Fort Washington Forces Re-
pei Fierce Night Attack.
BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY
Attacking Party Succeeds I'm Effect
ing Landing, Despite Terrific Fire
from the Oefenders-TYvO Guns,
Battery, and the Old Fort Are
Captured After sharp Struggle.

Prom star Correspondent
! Fort Washington. July 2L-Washington
was again saved from capture tonight.
when the hostile forces were repelled in
/ a combined water and land attack on
Fort Washington. There was a great
loss OF life on both sides. theoretically.
and the engagement. while It lasted, was
a fierce one.
/ For a second time the hostile boats
succeeded in landing men from the gun
boat and did great damage 10 the fort.
with considerable loss on both sides.
Three companies landed on the upper
wharf and succeeded in cutting their way
through. capturing one slx-pounder. a
Col automatic gun, fire command head
quarters, Battery Wilkin. and the old
fort
Lieut. Col Brien commanded the fort.
Rapidly drawing in his Outposts and re-
serves. he centered his entire force on the
enemy, holding the bastion and parapet
Of the old fort The engagement was
terminated there.
Under the command Of Capt. BaIIentine.
commanding Fort Hunt, and Mai Steph
AIIADITK
reserves, the attacking force. estimated
TO be one battalion of infantry ana one
battery OF coast artillery, left Fort Hunt
by the military road. leaving thar most
unguarded They embarked al Harners
Landing. below Marshall Hail IN = flo
ulIa OF bateaux and gunboats. From
there they swept up the Maryland shore.
Prepared for Enemy.
Maj. Stevens was in charge of Fort
Washington, Col. Coffin turning the com
mand over to him temporarily. Every
precaution had been taken against at
tack, and with the coming of darkness
searchlights were put in operation. sweep-
ing up and down the river for a distance
OF several miles. As the bugles sounded
to arms the moon was partly obscured
by light clouds. This aided the search
ing
Every pleasure and merchant craft
coming in range was closely scrutinized
and the crowd Of excursionists cleared
from the path. The night was ideal and
beautiful
About $50 p. m. No. light one of the
big searchlights at the southern end of
the reservation, reported. as sighted what
sssAleu 10 De a idndlng party. The light
was kept centered along the MARYLAND
shore while the smaller light SWEPT the
channel and the Virginia shore for a dis
tance Of about LOCO yards below Fort
Hunt. The reports kept pouring In from
all the lights and outposts. the orders be-
Ing TO keep covered every craft that ap-
preached.
Enemy Is sighted
The boats being followed by the big
light were. after they passed Marshall
Hall, made out to be the enemy. They
were hidden behind a yacht, and what
was thought to be a gunboat and was
fairly well covered When the enemy
was within 4OO0 yards the command rang
out sharply:
Battery White and Battery Smith
open fire on target in No. ? light"
Tne two batteries opened up stimuli
taneously. the first boom OF the big guns
reverberating through the hills.
-Four white bombs were exploded in the
air as a signal that the enemy had been
sighted and four boats destroyed
No. , light picked up another boat
few minutes later. and both batteries
again went into action. Other boats