The Washington herald., 1907-07-27

Fort Hunt Va, July 26.-HOstilities
have ended. At 10 o'clock tonight the
dove Of peace settled over Forts Washing
ton and Hunt after lowering over the
flushing guns. the smoke clouds, and the
: piercing rays Of the searchlights for over
two hours.
In celebration of the armistice, marked
by the eentering of searchlights and two
red bombs from both forts the remaining
blank charges unused in the attack were
fired or, along with quantity Of fire
works, that were watched on both sides
of the river by many guests and by thou
sands OF excurSionists. The mimic war
ended in blaze of glory and the hercest
battle of the campaign.
The army rallied its undaunted forces
and met the attack by land and water.
The plans for the defense were perfect,
and the first onslaught found Forts
Washington and Hunt, Washington's i'm
pregnable defenses, ready. and for the
sixth time the enemy was hurled back,
defeated
All day the men had been resting on
their arms, while the foe was lying below
the sheltering Marshall Point preparing
for the onslaught. The sky clouded and
a few minutes after sunset. when the
boats swaTmlng the river became dimmed
10 the naked eye. the call 20 arms re-
sounded across the river, the gun crews
rushed to their respective batteries, and
the supports and reserves concentrated on
the parade ground waiting for the order
TO move.
Red Bomb Opens Battle.
At $50 O'Clock a red bomb whistled up
from the embankments Of Fort Hunt, and
the battle was on. The first craft of the
enemy had been sighted Maj. Stevens,
in fire command headquarters at Fort
Washington, ordered the guns of Battery
Humphrey and Battery Nieigs loaded and
kept on this target.
Below Marshall Hall the heiograph be-
gan 70 fash the message that a hostile
fleet was coming UP the river
Although it was not yet dark, the
searchlights were put in operation, and
the big telescopes in fire command head
quarters on both sides of the river were
trained on the point.
10 be sure that everything was i'm read
mess and the guns working smoothly
-'A"J. 1tcN tliS bIutitO edcn battery 10 NIe
Siven number of dummy shots at COM
mercial vessels. A few minutes later.
scout cruiser was discovered making up
the Maryland shore. close to the Fish
commission wharf, and Battery Hum
phrey opened fire. She was followed by
the main squadron. with the flagship
oneida bringing up the rear, and the bat
tie ship Cushing in the van
Gunboat squadronS. covering landing
parties, on either shore and under cover
OF the big ships in line OF battle forma-
tion. separated and hoped, under cover Of
the shelling of the batteries by the bat
tie ship squadron. to effect a landing and
take both posts by storm. if possible, but
TO secure one as a strategic point at any
rate. Consequently the main attack was
made against Fort Washington. the larger
post which, if controlled by an enemy,
could easily silence the guns Of Hunt.
Boats shot to Pieces.
No. I light held the Oneida while she
was literally, or theoretically, shot TO
pieces The other boats were picked up
in succession and served a like fate, each
one having been followed. from the time
it made its appearance, by the light. the
watch towers, and the signal station One
OF the most strategic moves Of the de-
fense was the planning Of the signal sta
ton TO give warning Of the advance.
Every battery and most Of the support
and reserve companies participated in the
fight, while Capt BrOCkes, regImental ad-
jutant, temporarily relieved of his dsties
took command Of a squadron of gunboats.
comprising landing party in the aid of
the attacking forces of the naval reserve.
He was 10 make a theoretical landing in
NJ rsrraf
Whether this landing was effected Is stiIl
in doubt, for although a greatly re-ep-
forced CossaCk post with machines re-
ceived Admiral BrOokes, it is claimed by
the attacking forces that he got close
enough IN 10 make the theoretical landing
At 10 o'clock all searchlights were TO
cusSed to a center in the mir and two
red bombs fired from each fort 10 indi-.
cate that peace protocol had been
signed. Following this all the remaining
blanks, which were black powder and
useless, were fired. along with dozens of
bombs.
The Oneida anchored in mid-strean.
above the forts and took in her landing
parties, and the oft-destroyed cushing
steamed into her dock.
Early Attack RcpuIsed.
There was but little sleep last night for
anyone within the vicinity Of Fort HINT
and this post There were several aIarr,s
after the first attack early Thursday
night. each one of which proved false
until At a. m. bugles sounded the call IN
arms The explosion of a big signal
rocket followed The guns were manned
in record time, Battery Humphrey report-
ing in readiness to open fire before Col
Coffin, Mai Stevens, and their assistants
were 1T their posts in the battle and fire
command stations. The big guns and
mortar batteries opened fire almost stimuli !
taneously
Under command Of Admiral Stratton.
the enemy were attacking in full force
by both land and sea, and had gotten
close in under the guns before being dis
covered. At the mouth of Piscataoua
Creek were a cruiser and four gunboats
making all possible speed for the shore
Col. O'Brien rushed in all the outposts
and concentrated them at this point. The |
men were massed in the underbrush. well |
under cover, with colt automatic and ma /
chine guns 4 hail of death dealing |
proJecules went crashing into the
squadron from the big guns. The boats
were caught in a yithering cross fire from |
the big lO-inch and the 6-inch batteries, |
ana two batteries of six-pounders sta |
Toned on the lighthouse wharf They
We're theoretically blown 10 atoms In jls /
tilhe' and the infantry, rapid fire, and |
machine guns dealt death to the men /
theoretically struggling in the water.
Landing Attempted.
Despite this fact. however. the boats /
Kept ahead as rapidly as possible through /