The Washington herald., 1908-07-31
NINETEEN KILLED
IN HOT SKIRMISH
Captain FOrSythe and Two
Squads Are Annihllated.
At LEAST. so UMPIRE SAYS
They're lively CorP-es, but Tech
nicaIIy Dead Ones-Dfstrict SOL
River Forts and Aequft Them
selves AdmirabIy-NOtes OF Camp.

Fort Washington, Nd. July So.-Capt
F ForsyJhe and Two squads Of Company II,
Z First Regiment. were killed IN action at
Fort Washington to-day-theoreticaIly
+ They were on patrol duty 10 the east Of
/ tue parade ground, when they walked
/ into the arms Of the enemy, and. accord
/ ing 70 the umplres, were absolutely wiped
out.
/ The outpost battle at Fort Washington
was a furious one, and the day from
every standpoint was the most exciting
so far OF the encampmeaL The big guns
were turned over to the militiamen. as
we're all the defsnses IN both forts. Col.
/ Conn stood back Of Col Ure1 while ne
took command OF the battle command
station. and with great enthusiasm the
GUarGsmen blew everything out of the
river but the mud. which is an insepars-
bic attribute OF the Potomac and cannot
be budged. One rowboat was found
sunk on the Virginia shore OF Fort Hunt
The men at Fort Washington claim this
as their first victory. There IS suspi-
cion. however. that the bozt IS just nat
uraIIy leaky.
Henceforth the miiitiamen will be the
lELeEl44LE AbAEES VI BDA-4 -DA - DO--A a.
the big guns and in the rear. or on the
land side They viii be under control OF
their own officers. and the regulars viii
act as observers and ump1res-
Brother Soldiers Bitter Foes.
This morning the two battaHons Of sup
ports at Fort Washington. the Second
and Third Of the First Regiment, went
out at O'Clock as opposing forces The
/ Third Battalion. under command Of Mai
/ Glendie b Young. took I'D a position be
tween the hospital TO the east of the pa
rade ground. and the water tank. cover
I ing a front Of 800 yards The Second Bat
talon. commanded by Mai. Joseph F.
! Hodgson. took up position on the prom
I ontory TO the south, covering an equal
| front between Battery Humphrey and
/ Battery Emory. Each was instructed to
/ send out patrols. to discover. 4 possible
/ the position and strength OF the oppOs-
! ing forces To distinguish between the
| two forces. that under command OF Mai
I Young. the Third Battalion, wore dark
blue blouses. and Mai HOdgsOn's force.
the Second Battalion, wore cllambray
I shirts.
/ After half an hours work the blue
! patrol discovered the chambray force
/ The discovery was Immediately reported
]
! by written message to Maj. Young, who
/ ordered Capt. Forsythe, with two squads,
| TO move forward, discover the enemy. and
| fnd out their exact strength and loca-
ton. In moving forward trying 10 do
/ this. they went in too close on the men
/ in chambray. who caught them IN an
/ exposed position and opened fire.
Whole Force AnnihiIased.
This FIRE swept them completely. and the
umpires decided that under actual war
/ conditions Capt FOrsythe and his men
would have been annihilated Conse-
Quently they were ruled out as theoretic-
/ ally dead. IN sending back a report OF
| the engagement TO headquarters. the
chambray men worded It as follows: The
/ enemy came out Into the open. walked
/ into the mouths OF our guns. and were
| killed dead" Lieut. Gunner. one of the
/ umpires. also reported the death OF Capt
/ Forsythe. saying that he was shot n