Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-23
BIC GUNS BOOM
ON THE POTOMAC
Mimic War at the Forts in Its
Incipiency.
"REAL" HOSTILITIES LATER
National Guardsmen Win Praise From
Col. Coffin.
WORK THE BATTERIES ALONE
Will Be Given Full Charge During
Main Fight-Night Attacks
In Prospect.
WORK THE BATTERIES ALONE

STAR DISPATCH BOAT, Fort Washing
ton, Nd. July 23.-When big guns doomed
from both sides of the Potomac last night
1t was the boys Of the District militia who
were behind them. Cannon roared and
searchlights stabbed their broad beams of
dazzling radiance through the night, and it
sounded and looked as If Washington were
being defended in earnest by her own
guardsmen.
So proficient have the militiamen become
with the guns that Lieut.. Col. Coffin, COM
mander Of the artillery district OF the Po-
tomac, says that by Friday the boys will
be able to take full charge at the climax
of the land and water attack on Fort
Washington and Fort Hunt, which begins
Wednesday.
Tonight there will be land attack on
Fort Hunt by the Fort Washington sup
ports, Companies l, X, l.. and NJ, under
Lieut.. Col. O'Brten, who will use the army
boat Gushing for transportation. in con-
necton with small boats. Col. Urell. with
officers of the reserves and of the staff will
witness the attack. The men of the re-
serves at Fort Washington will have moth
ing to do with the attack, the guns of this
fort remaining silent, since the at
against single fort. But the men will go
through gun drill. Maj. Stephan. at Fort
Hunt, will therefore have both his reserves
and supports in action.
At o clock yesterday afternoon an order
was given out by Lieut.. Col. Coffin for
battle command drill' at s o'clock. Lieut.
Col. O'Brien was also ordered to take his
four companies Of supports and do outpost
work. reconnoter etc. The boys started
out in the moonlight at o'clock, having
shed their blouses and side arms, the Off
GERS also leaving their swords. They looked
very business-like as they liked out of
ga m q hQ 1hrqv CHI rfy
tight-laced leggings. At about half past .
their work was done and they were back at
their tents, having encountered no more
fierce foe than the musical mosquito and
the insidious jigger. This night patrol was
to prepare them for the defense tomorrow
night. when Mai Stephan will hurl his
serried cohorts across the river to try to
capture the redOubts.
Thunder of Big Guns.
While Col. O'Brien's men were scouting
In the bushes the thunder of the big guns
began.
Precisely at 8 o'clock the armory boat
Cushing left dock at Fort Washington and
started down the river. towing a file Of
four row boats. fifty yards apart. each with
q light at the head of short mast
After the Gushing had gone down the
river about five miles she turned and then
the range finders picked her up and the
battle opened. From battle command
station general orders We're given by Col
Coffin to fire command stations and throw
searchlights on both sides Of the river
First the big guns opened on the eDemv AZ
long range. then, the vessel drew nearer
the smaller guns and mortars Joined the
chorus. till If the Gushing and her boats
had been actually under fire they would
have been reduced to kndling wood. Al
though the militia officers and The Star re-
porter were shown every detail of the work
of directing the firing, and all the appa-
pXDllinel in linn do
tail, such specific information regarding the
defenses OF the Potomac must not be pub
liShed.'
1t may be said that last night the battle
commander sat at his post and directed
every operation. the movements of search
lights, discharge of guns, ETC., with abso-
lutte precision and without the slightest