Evening star., 1909-08-19
Blue Army Holds Reds
in Battle" Yesterday

Special Dispatch to The Star.
SOUTH HALIFAX. Mass, August TO-
Under the very caves, almost, of the
farmhouse where Brig. Gen. William A.
Pew IT,, commander OF the defenders OF
Boston. made his headquarters. the in
vaders bivouacked last night, preparing
to hurl themselves on the Army OF the
Blue at daybreak on the morrow. Yes
terday they attacked the Blue army with
vehemence. and only the prompt REIN
forcements that arrived in. the 1st Corps
of Cadets saved Gen. Pew and his right
wing from being theoretically slain. The
battle was taste of real warfare, with
the cavalry dashing against the defense,
the infantry fighting behind trees and
stone walls and the artillery pouring it's
fire against the enemy. .-.4s.ssz3.
But though the umpires decided that
the Blue has saved the day, that victory
had visited their camp and that the 1st
Corps had arrived in time, the Army of
the Red Is jubilant. for they figure that
when they attack Gen. Pew's right wing
and turn his flank with the 10th Cavalry
the temporary victory of yesterday will
be turned into defeat today, Nor is this
reckoning far from the truth. 1t is cer-
tain that the main battle of the week
thus far will be fought near the head
quarters of the Blue army.
day yesterday. The rain fell In the early
hours of the morning and the bedraggled
private felt that another day of mud and
marching was before him. But. though
the rain ceased, the skies were lowering.
just the day when war seems suitable
for vocation. The soldiers of the Red
band were astir early. Flushed with
success and laden with water-soaked bag
gage, the men marched through the mud
dy streets of Middleboro and out toward
In, he oolr
Essex Troop of New Jersey, Squadron A
OF New York and two troops of the ne
gro 10th Cavalry.
With the bugles bIaring the advance
the troops set forth. The accommodating
of the 10th showed the presence of the
Blues at South Halifax. Roadways were
found to be impossible and the volun-
teers ploughed through the }owland on
either side of the highway and got to the
screening woods. BY this time they had
fax, where the entire I'd Brigade was en-
camped. Protecting them were three bat
teries. A. B and c. and a small force of
infantry. With the negro troops plotting
the volunteers through the underbrush,
the invaders reached the point where one
dash across the plain would bring them
to the enemy's camp.
The shrfli note of bugle awakened
the I'd Brigade to its danger. and i'm a
moment the camp was in an uproar
Lines were hurriedly formed and Mai
Cutting took command. He ordered six
regiments Of infantry to spread them
selves over the road and to draw the
fire OF the hidden troopers In order that
their strength could be estimated nesul-
tory firing followed and then came a real
battle. Out from the woods dashed the
vanguard Of the hidden troops. but they
were moved down like grass before the
fire OF the batteries. II looked bad for
the invaders and retreat seemed to be
cut on. With a rally the others niled
out OF the woods and raced for cover
Behind trees. in the style of guerrilla
warfare, they massed and poured their
fre into the six companies. Back OF
stone walls they dropped and fired at
random.
This was purely an infantry engage
ment. with the honors about even The
brigade headquarters were I'm a turmoil.
and orders were rushed here and there TO