Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-05
ATTACK FORT WASHINGTON
Force From Fort Hunt Crosses Pc.
tomac With Hostile Intent.
NIGHT ENGAGEMENT SPIRITED
Conditions to Be Reversed This
Evening, With Virginia Reserva-
ton Field for Attack-Reasons
for Coast Defense Exercises.

Tor Coast UefenSe Exercises.
Special From star Correspondent by The Star
Dispatch Boat Fairbanks.
FORT WASHINGTON, Md, August g.
Events are happening in the artillery dis
trict of the Potomac. The progressiv.
training of the National Guard of the Dis
trict of Columbia since the beginning Of
last week is showing results. For the
past two days and nights the guardsmen
assigned as coast artillery reserves, un
aided, have manipulated the big guns and
performed the other essentials in connec
ton with the operation of the batteries
The companies assigned as supports have
Unanswered with the view Of protecting
the reservation from attack from the rear
and from landing parties.
A most interesting exercise held the atten-
ton of nearly every one for several hours
last night. among the observers being Gen.
Harries, commanding the District Of Co
lumbia militia; Lieut.. Col. CONN, com
handing the artillery district of the Po-
tomac. and Lieut.. Col. E. M. Weaver.
chief of the militia division of the War
Department. While the reserve companies
were manning the batteries and a portion
of the Signal Corps was busy dischargins
rockets and bombs and signaling the re-
serves were engaged In an effort to repel
an attack by water. The batteries had
nothing to do with the exercise of the
supports. and the use Of searchlights was
barred. AS the exercise was far removed
from the category of sham battle" be-
ing merely drill, solely for instruction.
umpires not being employed, victors and
vanquished did not figure in the proceed
ing. although to the onlooker 1t seemed to
be rather clearly established that the at
lacking party was successful In making a
landing.
Issues a Field Order.
The movement first took tangible shape
late yesterday afternoon when Col. Ou-
rand summoned his battalion commanders
HID. Support, FIT. Washington. Nd.
4 Aug. 'O6.
Field Orders. No. l.:
l. According to reports received, the
enemy, about 800 strong, will attack Fort
Washington tonight after $50 pm, from
direction of Fort Hunt
2 The Supports will hold the line
pumping station. inclusive. quartermas-
ter's wharf-southeast corner of reserva-
ton. inclusive. along Swan creek, Poto-
mac river-Piscataway creek. nj case OF
attack the support will be reinforced.
g. (a) Support No. 1. 2 Companies Sd Bn.
LIST Inf, Maj. Young. Comdg.. Pumping
Station, inclusive-Q.M. Wharf. inclusive.
(b) Support No. 2, Companies I'd Bn.
LIST Inf. Maj. Hodgson. Comdg.. ON.
Wharf, exclustve-S.E. Corner or ReSerVd-
ton inclusive.
Supports will be in position by pm
(c) The Reserve. consisting of two COM
panies Sd Bn. and one company I'd Bn-,
list Inf, will assemble on lawn 70 yards
north of guardhouse at 7:3O pm.
4. Reports will reach me at Hospital
Tent. 100 yards east of Post Flag Staff.
Lines of Information to Pumping Station.
Wireless Station and Support No. 2
OURAND, Comdg.
Dictated tn battalion commanders and
STATS.
Troops Take Position.
The situation was discussed with each
Of the battalion commanders, and in com
pany with Capt Mitchell. instructor. an
inspection was made of the ground to be
covered, and the plan of defense was out
lined. Promptly on time Col. Ourand es-
tablished headquarters near Col. Comm 5
tent. On a table was spread map OF
the reservation. The disposition OF the
squares of cardboard. penetrated by pins:
The Signal Corps established the lines of
communication by running wires to the
points indicated in the order and con-
Meeting up telephone instruments ana
buzzers. Capt. Coope. regimental adju-
tant. and Lieut.. Terry were at the head
quarters end of the wires. with Capt.
Mitchell acting in a supervisory capacity.
Just across the roadway the companies.
commanded by Capt j. Harry Bean. 5.
NJ. Forsythe and Alvin Hathaway. stacked
arms and waited orders. as reserves.
Promptly at $50 o'clock report was
received by telephone that two boats,
each containing about twenty men. had
put out from the Fort Hunt wharf.
Thereafter the affair was exciting to the
watchers at headquarters of the defense.
1t seemed as though Col. Ourand was
playing a game of chess. Each boat re-
ported and its position was indicated on
the map Finally. when Maj. Hodgson
had announced that several boats had
passed up Piscataway creek. Capt. Beam
company was sent as reinforcement to
that portion of the reservation. Patrols
were on duty all along the shore line.
quartermaster's wharf. when brisk firing
and two boats were reported from that
direction. and at last Capt. Hathaway and
his men were hurried to the pumping sta
ton. on Swan creek. to help Capt. TAFT.
who was reported engaged in deadly COM
bat there.
Demonstrations in Force.
1t became clear that the attacking party
WIS making demonstrations in force on
both the Piscataway creek and Swan
creek sides of the reservation. with the
probable intention of endeavoring to ac-
tually gain entrance by the Potomac river
front That this assumption was correct
was later admitted.
BY means of the telephone Col. Ourand
was Informed that Capt. TAFT had cap
tured force of forty men and three Of
ficers at the pumping station. A moment
later the news arrived that two com
paEies of the 1st Separate Battalion had
landed without being detected. on the
Swan creek side. and that after meeting
the defense companies there, twelve OF
the men and an officer had made a dash
for the center of the reservation. l,
seemed that Col Ourand and his head
quarters were in imminent danger. as his
reserve companies had been sent to the
river bank as reinfOrcementS for tho trooI
there.
A little later. Lieut. Col. Reichelderfer
with Capt. Chiles of the army, and a
large party strOlled up with the air OF
cont,uering heroes. They explained the,
had landed. without opposition to the
north OF the engineers wharf. had made
Their way past the artillery district com
mander3 quarters, had theoretically cap
tured Gen. Harries' headquarters and tn,
contents of the mess officers refrigerator
had theoretically destroyed the powe
plant. had leisurely partaken of refresh
ment5 found at the 'lyceum" and other
wise enjoyed themselves. finally locating
Col. Ourand.
In Hands Of the Enemy.