Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-06
FORT HUNT NOT TAKEN
Why, Shucks! the Invaders
Were Just Slaughtered.
DEADLY PAPER BULLETS
Commissary General Neumeyer Sus-
poets Point of Attack
AND SITS ON THE WET GOODS
Star Man at Fort Hunt Objects to
Defeated Force Sticking Out
Their Chests.
DEADLY PAPER BULLETS
AND SITS ON THE WET GOODS
Special From a STAFF Correspondent by The Stars
Dispatch Boat Fairbanks

Special From a Stair Correspondent by The Stars
Dispatch Boat Fairbanks
FORT HUNT, Va, August 6-Although
the instructors did not give a decision
as to last nights attack on Fort Hunt, 1t
is the opinion Of every officer and man
at Fort Hunt that had the paper bullets
been lead most of the shouting con
querors'' who returned to Fort Washing
ton after the engagement would have been
stretched on the sod and weeping relatives
saying Doesn't he look natural?
The fire command station, the water
tower and the guardhouse were not cap
tured last night. despite reports to the
contrary. Maj Simms. operating the fire
command station had every man armed.
and at the landing Of the opposing force
ordered lights out and doors barricaded.
The nearest approach to a capture Of the
station was by a private who stubbed his
toe over a wire near the tower When
he got up he remarked, where is that
thing they wanted us to capture anyhow!
AS for the water tower, no one was de-
tailed to blow it up even II the landing
party legitimately reached it. The near
est to guardhouse that any one saw
was the guard tent of the LIST Field Bat
terry. Seven mon and a corporal from Com
pany H, 1st Regiment. were captured sim
gle handed by Corporal Richmond of the
in the grass looking for Battery Mount
Vernon, when the hard-hearted gunner
demanded that they lay down their arms
They did SO with alacrity. First Sergt
Wilson of the battery was called and con-
Quoted them to the guard tent where they
bemoaned their wet and bedraggled state.
Later they were sent to Fort Washing
ton.
Ready for the Attack.
AS early as o'clock the men took up
their positions along the coast line of
the reservation. Two companies OF Maj.
McCathran's battalion marched to the
southwestern part Of the reservation:
Company B formed the line of outposts
and Company A was stationed farther
back on the slope. as the supports. Com
panies G. and D were stationed on the
parade ground near Col. Reichelderfer's
headquarters, as reserves ready TO move
out at a moments notice to any point
where achievements were needed. The
list Separate Battalion. under Maj.
Brooks took up a similar formation On
the next section. guarding the coast, with
outposts formed of Company A. with
Company C as supports and Companies
D and 3, stationed near headquarters. as
reserves
The effect Of this arrangement was to
have every yard Of coast or river front
guarded and observed. When the enemy
alarm. fire on them IL necessary and the
supports would move to the point Of at
tack. Then, If necessary. the reserve
force could be sent to any point where
the attack was making Roadway:
Fort Hunts river front Is hard one
for landing party to tackle. The Star
correspondent went over the ground early
in the morning with regular army Of
hcer and picked out the two vulnerable
places. or. rather. the only two places at
which a landing could be attempted. as
the bulk Of the water front is swampy
and covered with thick underbrush. AS
1t turned out, the enemy chose both of
those places, one for the real attack and
the other for a feint to draw the reserves
The feint was unsuccessful, however, as
their force was annihilated by Maj. Nc
Cathrans men, and no damage was done
to Fort Hunt in that direction.
Hark! Here They Come.
In Col. Reichelderfer's headquarters two
signal corps men were stationed to work
the field telephone that had been laid
during the day. and which connected ev-
cry point with headquarters. Lieut.. Sher-
wood and Capt. Chiles of the regular
army were at headquarters.
The first heard of the attacking party
was from outposts of the 1st Separate
Battalion, who say three large boats load
ed with men going down the river. This
was telephoned to headquarters. where
1t was retelephOned to every post on the
coastline, with instructions to watch for
them. They were finally reported by
Maj. McCathran as heading toward the
fort at the extreme southwestern edge OF
the reservation. 1t was known that this
was merely a feint, consequently no at
tention was paid to them by the re-
serves. and then when they attempted to
land vofley after volley was sent into
their boats.
Capt. Walsh. commanding the supplies
at that point. moved his men down to
the water front and. spreading out his
line. completely annihilated the enemy.
Notwithstanding the fact that the enemy
was ruled out at that point. some Of his
enthusiastic soldiers waded ashore. and
in their attempt to capture the fort were
captured. as mentioned. by men from the
LIST Light Battery. Two others, Lieut..
Sergt. Robbins Of the I'd Battalion. I'd
Regiment. He saw the men trying to
worm their way into one of the small
gun batteries. Reporting the fact to
Capt. Sayer, they were taken into camp.
although the captors were armed with
only field glass.
Meanwhile the main body Of the attack
was being towed over by tug, the fleet
of transports" containing three hundred
men. The tug carried no lights. but Its
sidelight to escape a collision from a
steamer coming down the river. A watch
full officer of the guard saw the light and
Immediately telephoned to headquarters.
A little later the entire flotilla could be
discerned and the outposts and supports.
Company A under Capt. Webster and
Company under Capt. Richardson, pre-
pared for action. The statement that the
attack was complete surprise is not
exactly true. as headquarters had seven
pins stuck In the map, representing the
seven boats. for long time before firing
began.
Dash for the Shore.
When the tug shook loose from the
boats and the dash for the shore was
made the two companies mentioned
opened fire. They were spread out and
completely covered the enemy with their
guns. Volley after volley was fired. and
had the attack been an actual one the
attacking party would have lost perhaps
10 per cent Of its force. Two companies
or reserves were hurried to the scene and
reinforced the outposts and supports.
Capt. RYAN, commanding Comnanx 9 de-