The Washington times., 1907-07-25
ATTACK BY SEA
REPELLED BY FORT
Thrilling Engagement on
Potomac as Militiamen
Defeat WarShips.
Another Effort on Part of
Marine Forces to Be
Made Today.

FORT WASHINGTON, Nd, July 26-
Immediately after breakfast this morn
ing the officer Of the day sent tho COM
mand TO the different camps for out
post duty, and by 1880 sentries had boon
posted along the shore lines Of Forts
Washington and Hunt as an attack from
a naval contingent was expected momen-
tarily. While the men were lazily lOll-
ing about in their tents discussing last
nights battle. a call TO arms aroused
them and within three minutes after
the first sound of the clarion bugle
notes had rent the air the companies
were standing az attention, awaiting
further orders.
A detachment was amassed at a point
just below the old fort, two others at
the quartermasters' and engineers
wharves, and at various others advan-
tageous positions along the water front
With bated breath, the soldiers awaited
the coming Of the enemy while the Of
fcers and men I'm the fire and battle
commandery stations swept the distant
horizon with the powerful field glasses
in search of the zoe.
Chaplain Discovers Foe.
1t fell to Chaplain Dudley. Of the
Second Regiment, District National
Guard, to be the first to discover the
enemy's boats Just before the Oneida
and three other boats which comprised
the attacking fleet steamed around the
Marshall Hall point The warning cry
OF the chaplain was Immediately fol-
lowed by an order from Major Stevens,
in command of the commandery station.
Enemy sighted; prepare to load and
fire As the oncOming boats rounded
the point, a thunderous roar from every
battery and all the smaller guns along
the shore at both forts opened on tho
neet' pouring a merciless cross-flre of
Ehot and shell into the boats from every
point This reception of destructive
missiles was kept up for hour, and
at the expiration Of this space Of time
with the attacking party theoretically
sunk and the invasion successfully re-
PEELED with great loss to the enemy, the
command TO cease fire was given, and
the men were allowed 10 return 10 their
company posts 70 prepare for the noon
day mess.
This afternoon the mornings pro-
gram viii be repeated with but snght
variations on the part OF the fleet and
the opinion Is general that again vic
tory will rest with the defenders OF
Forts Hunts and Washington at the
end of the engagement After supper
still another attempt will be made by
The same boats to run by the two forts
This last attempt will occur some time
between and y o'clock at night and
will end the maneuvers down here.
Disapp1ove of Use of Regulars.
While both regulars and militia COM
missioned officers are conservative in
their statements regarding the employ
ment of the regular troops, In com
bination with the District guardsmen
stationed at Fort Hunt, in the attack
which the latter made on this place
T.u
show no hesitancy in disappearing OF
the participation of the regulars in the
movement against them.
Colonel O'Brian, who was in charge
Of the defense last night, said this morn
ing that, although according to strict
est interpretations Of the rules which
have been promulgated for the carrying
on Of the maneuvers down here, were
not exactly violated by the Fort Hunt
contingent in using regulars against the
militiamel stationed. still IL had been
generally understood that only militia
men were to compose the forces attack
ing Fort Washington.