The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-08-05
LAURENS BOYS BACK
FROM ENCAMPMENT.
Traynllam Guards Returned Sunday From
Chickamauga Fought in Sham Battle
on Lookout Mountain.

Traynham Guards returned home
Sunday after their ten dav encamp-
mcnt at Chickamauga park. Follow
ing is an interesting account of the
trip and camp life, written specially
FOR The Advertiser by member of the
company:
Probably the most exciting and inter
csting event that occupied the attention
of the troops of the First Regiment
during their stay at Chickamauga Park,
Ga, was the big sham battle that took
place on Thursday morning, July Both.
There were approximately 1 500 on each
side. The Brown army was composed
OF the lst Regiment of Infantry from
South Carolina, six companies of the
7th Regiment of Infantry, U. S., six
troops of the 18th Cavalry, U. S., and
several batteries of the Bird Artillery,
u. s., with detachments from the u.
s. Signal Corps and the Hospital Corps.
The Blue Army consisted of the 10th
and 72nd Regiments from Virginia with
the same number of regular troops
from the 7th Infantry, U. S., 18th Cav
airy, u. S., and Bird Artillery.
Col. w. w. Lewis, of the 1st Reg-
ment, n. G.. 5. c., was in command of
the Brown army and Col. Robert Lcedy,
of the 10th Virginia, was in command
of the Blue army. The lst Regiment,
N. G.. S. c., marched from their camp
to Fort Orglcthorpc, distance of
about q miles, where they joined the
cavalry, infantry and artillery of the
Regulars The Virginia troops had
their base about 5 miles from Fort Or
gIcthorpc.
At the proper time the command was
given to move forward, the 18th Cav
AIRY leading, followed by the 7th u. S.
Infantry and Bird Artillery with the lst
S. G. Regiment in the rear
After a march Of about "a miles the
advance guard Of the Blues started
firing on the Browns. The lst battalion
th'owir ua;t as sKr;rmiShers and were
sent to the extreme righirLo Ct the battl
line. As the advance guards OF Thu
Blues slowly fell back before the fire
of the Browns supports began to come
up and in a short while the artillery
became engaged. The cavalry of the
Brown army executed flank movement
and made fine charge driving back
the IilucS. About this time company
from the Brown army made charge
and captured the artillery Of the Blue
army The lst Battalion of the 1st
South Carolina during this time were
driving back the line of the Blues,
fTcmg them first from their position in
Il body of woods, then from strong
position on a road and driving them at
last out into an open field After that
the battalion was moved in to the left,
where "D" company captured about rs
of the enemy. About this time the
command to cease firing was given by
the umpires who rode up and down the
lines getting the positions of both ar
mics. When the comparisons were
made it was found that the Brown
army had successfully taken every
point and had the battle been real
would have completely taken the day
During the whole of the battle the
umpircs were kept in touch with all the
points by the telephone and telegraph
lines of the Signal Corps. 1t was quite
interesting to watch the operations of
this interesting and important branch
OF the army. For instance, in the lay
ing of the telephone lines n horseman
carrying a reel Of wire was sent out
and as he rode along the wire was un-
rccled and after him came two other
men on horses who placed the wire on
the branches of trees with long poles.
Some people probably wonder how
the battle is decided since nothing but |
blanks are used and one could shoot at
man all day and never harm him.
The method of deciding the battle is
this: UmpirCS, who are known by white |
bands around their hats, ride up and
down the lines during the battle taking
note of the positions of the various
lines. the rapidity with which the fire
of the enemy is returned the way the
men use natural resources to protect
themselves from the fire of the enemy
AS shooting from behind stumps, fallen
trees, etc. the manner in which com
mand$ are executed, the positions held
al the close of the battle and the move |
mcnts executed during the battle. AT
the close of the battle notes are com
pared and the umpircs then announce
Their decision In this case the decision
was that the Brown army won.
The two armies returned to camp at
about II o'clock
"No militia regiment which has ever
visited Chickamauga has come in for
larger share Of favorable comment !
from soldiers and citizens alike than the |
South Carolina soldiers now campcd on
the hillside in front of the headquarters |
Of General Potts.
There is not a tough looking soldier
to he seen i'm tho olive drab Of the regl- |
mrnl The men seem to have been Sc |
lcrtCd, not taken because they wanted
r1 have a trip at government expense
aud pitched into any sort of mlstlt
clothing to comply with the laws, as in
the case in many militia regiments.
The clothing seems to fit the men who
wear it in way to Indicate that the
men have been in the service at least
long enough to know how to wear their
parb. They also seem to have enough |
clothing to keep them clean and .hcre
h.; no slouching around with coats un-
hutloncd and awry.
"In their camp and out of it military |