The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-18

Aiiddleboro. Mass, Aug. 1.-THE battle
OF Cemetery Hill. the first general con-
flict between the invading Red armies Of
Gen. Tasker H. Bliss and the defending
Blues OF Massachusetts. was fought to-
day while the countryside ran water and
the clouds swung low to dump gulfs OF
water on the heads OF the antagonists.
At the end the invaders had broken
through Gen. Pews line OF defense just
athwart the center, and had pushed their
column ten miles nearer Boston. but Il
was at the risk or having TO grapple
with old Gen. Pneumonia in the end.
For three hours this morning on a rise
outside Of the little hamlet OF Eddyvllle.
about three miles northeast OF here. one
regiment Of Massachusetts infantry. the
Eighth. lay in tho slanting drive OF the
rain. and from behind solid stone walls.
and the messy headstones OF the old
graveyard on the hill held at bay the
entire strength OF Gen. Bliss hammering
columns. Prior TO that skirmish. which
almost developed the strength OF bat
tie. had taken place at the green on the
outskirts OF Middleboro. and for several
miles along the Plymouth road constant
collisions between outposts OF the two
armies kept the whole neighborhood in a
pother Of nerves.
Spend Night in Rain.
Last night the rain began 70 come
down in a steady sheet. Where the TWO
opposing armies had pitched their camns
green soldiers lay down TO sleep IN rools
OF water, and seatries felt the swasbinr
Of their feet in water-logged shoes. II
was a gray day for any section thar
broke through the clouds. Bur action
was on the cards Of the most vigorous
sort.
The Scouts OF the Blue army. which lay
stretched in an irregular crescent north
OF the compact columns OF the invaders
had discovered during the night that over
near the village Of Rock the Red lines
were nearest in touch. and this report
having been received a Gen Pew's head
quarters, orders We're given for a dash bv
a wrecking squad to seize and DESTROY a
bridge that spanned small river di-
rectly In the path Of the enemy. So the
very first thing that happened in the
gray light OF this morning was this
stealthy advance upon the bridge and the
cutting Of its timbers according To the
rule OF theory laid down by the umpires
The early morning advance Of the Red
outposts discovered that the bridge in
their front had been destroyed-a soggy
notice scrawled on paper and tacked 10
the fanking timbers Of the structure con-
veyed that information
Damage Quickly Repaired.
Within half an hour a detachment of
the Twenty second engineers was on the
ground and after twenty minutes the
umpire accompanying them decided thar
they had repaired the damage and the
bridge was again serviceable.
Maj. Oliver 3. Bridgeman. in command
Of all the cavalry detachments OF the Red
army, acting upon orders received the
night before. then led across this debat-
able bridge a flying detachment OF cav
airy that was to p4y an important part
in the days fighting.
With ponchos cloaBing their shoulders
and hat brims pulled down over faces.
rode the picked squadron which was sent
out 10 screen the left flank OF the Red
army, while ell Of the columns In the
center were swung over into line for The
concerted attack upon the center of tb.,
Blue line above. Mai Bridgeman had
with him hOrsemen from the Essex Troon
Of Newark. a score Of the crack Sguad-
ron A OF New York. and some ConnectI-
cut men from the Troop A contingent.
The route OF the cavalry led through
the dripping woods around the head of
the great pond which had separated the
two armies the night before.
Advance Made With Care.
: Carefully the mounted men pushed
their way along an old wood road halt
ing every little while to listen for the
sound OF a picket step or to scent the
smoke Of the enemys camp fires IN
yonder on the hillside.
BY this time the shots were bang-bano-
ing out like the rolling of a drur,-
mer's stick on a tight snare-head. The
heavy curtain Of smoke smudged bv
the rain completely screened the line Of
the Blue UP against the background n,
dark trees. Yelling defiance the black(
troopers and the white jumped the wall
which had sheltered them and made 70;
the bulging pail of smoke where the red
rods OF flames were stabbing in and out
They did not have to charge far before
the umpires with the Blues determined
that the advance guard there had been
forced to fall back They fell back and
still the unmounted cavalrymen were
after them. Finally with a preliminary
double volley Bridgeman's command mar.
tally surrounded the Blue outposts and
forced their surrender.
Meet With Prisoners.
1t was Just as the victorious troopers
were marching down the road toward
the Red camp with their prisoners afoot
between the guarding lines Of horse that
Lieut.. Wendt, Of Squadron A, New York.
and Troopers Hendricks and Sutton rode
up the road to meet them with twenty
four prisoners ahead Of them.
Between gusts of laughter the three
told Of how they had fooled these twenty !
Continued on Page 3. Column 8.