The Washington herald., 1907-07-24

CBy STAFF Correspond,
Fort Washington, July
phan commanding the Dt
and Capt. BaHentine, con
Fort Hunt, successfully repu
b;ned water and land attach
tihcation tonight, and the
ital is not in immediate dam
tile forces, endeavoring 10
way of the Potomac.
The enemy succeeded in m
ing. and captured one Of
but they were hurled back
parts with great futter.
made to take the fort by ST
my coming up the river in
under the ceyer Of darkness.
Enemy Effected a Landing.
They were conveyed by "a feet Of gun
boats which were sighted by the big
searchlights when 500 yards away.
| Within a few minutes the consoTt OF the
/ gunboats was blown out Of the water.
leaving the attacking army unprotected.
/ Several boats. hugging the Virginia shore,
| sGcceeded,s however, in effecting a land
/ ing without being discovered. It was this
force that captured the battery.
/ The enemy was composed OF the irfan-
/ try force OF militia acting as supports at
/ Fort Washington. consisting Of companies
/ 1. *. /. and II, under command Of Lieut..
/ Col. 0 Brien.
! Maj. Stevens. Capt. GolIerman. Lieut..
Totten, and Lieut. Crane Of the regula-
army. acted as umpires and L-.eufs- Ru-
/ bottom Bristol BradsOc. and Dounely.
also or the regular army. were iusJruc-
/ tors. The force embarked from Fort
| Washington at o'clock, that fortiGcasiOn,
| according 10 the rules Of the game, being
/ eliminated from the defenses OF Washing
| ton.
Use the Tug.
The enemy went on the tug Alozzo H
/ Cushing with a feet OF boats IN tow.
/ Starting down z,e river. they made q
reconnaissance OF Fort Hunt. and once gct
/ in sight OF that post. The trecns were
aboard the bateaux. those intended for
/ the main attack having been hidden be-
/ hind the Gushing on the way down
stream. Soon after nightfaH they ad-
vanced on the fort. the main force hug
ging the Virginia shore. and a faint at
tack going likewise on the Maryland side.
under cover Of the fleet.
/ All lights were extinguished and the
scene was inspiring. Searchligbts flashed
in wide circles, and soon after rounding
/ the point the fleet was made out. despite
the bright moonlight. which was said to
act as a deterrent for the searchliehts.
/ When within $3.50 yards Of the fort the
/ fleet composed Of the Gushing was fred
/ upon and annihilated-
/ Most OF the fotilia was destroyed. like
wise, but some Of the small boats. ap-
preaching within a few feet OF tie shore,
under cover Of the overhanging trees.
made a landing.
This was the force that succeeded in
] capturing one Of the batteries. and the
/ oretically injured the power plant Of one
Of the lights. This small force was re-
pulsed by the miiitiamen. At this juno
ture the engagement was brought u an
end
Get Active Very Early.
! All during the day. from early morning,
there were abundant signs Of tie ap-
preaching engagement. The Signal Corps
was in the field AT sunup and there was
a portentous stir among the companies
acting as supports. Sharply at o'clock
assembly rang cut, and. in detachments.
the supports scat1erek 10 the north and
TO the south on reconnaissance and out
4 post duty. They were out for two hours
or more. and completed the requirement
of thorough knowledge of the country.
/ They took the various positions they
should occupy in case Fort washington
is attacked. 4 big detachment made a
/ reconnaissance Of the place OF enbarka-
/ ton used later in the evening in the at
tack on Fort Hunt
/ All day. OF at least during all the early
part Of the day. there was an amicable
! exchange OF wig-wag signals between
/ headquarters OF The two pests. The army
men stationed on either side read these
signals readily. but to the lay mind they
are a mystery.
/ Mystery to the Lnyman.
Right and left, up and down. with now
and then pause the signal mar stand
! ing on the high promontory at th, foot
of the Fort Washington flag staff talked
/ across the river. Now and then he
would lay down his flag. and Fort Hunt
would answer To the Impractical eye
/ the three by four foot white flag with
a red square in the center could be
seen moving, but each motion was in
distinct.
| Other signal men with the field outfits,
both telephone and telegraph, were also
out all day, stringing wires and making
connections. Lines Of communication
were run TO the outposts. and by follow
| ing the work of these men, several Of
them were located Most Of them are in
good positions 10 the south on both sides.
Two detachments. acting as outposts, on
the landings at Fort Washington. pitched
their tents in the woods. which run down
70 the waters edge. The same arrange
ment exists at Fort Hunt. The whole
waters edge is sprinkled with them. and
while, during the day, the watch was a
little lax, the meE lying at ease. with the
fall of darkness they took positions from
which they could observe the entire
stretch of river from the turn below Mar
shall Hall almost 10 Alexandria, without
being themselves in sight.
Signal Corps Busy.
To each of these outposts, and to those
lying inland. the Signal Corps has either
strung wires or established communica-
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