The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-17

Middleboro. Mass. Aug 1G-Ten brave
men Of the Essex Troop. Of Newark. y.
J., yielded their lives in theoretical sac
rifce before the guns Of detachment OF
the Blue army this morning. and ten
equally brave men of the Essex Troop
carried with them from the field wounds
none the less glorious. These Jersey
lives yielded and this Jersey blood. meas
ured by the rule Of the military umplres.
marked the first fatalities Of the present
struggle for the possession Of this Com
monwealth.
Before the Jersey troop met disaster it
had covered itself with distinction by
making a swift dash far into the lines
Of the enemy
Together with a detachment OF bicycle
scouts, the thirty-seven horsemen of
Newarks pride had left their company on
the left flank Of Gen. Tasker H. Bliss
Invading army, and had worked through
the early morning shadows Of the incum-
bering woods, far out beyond the most
distant outposts OF the Red lines. into
the territory held by the home defending
Blues. Past Rock Station. which had
been in the hands of the Blue army yes
terday, stole the scouts. There was no
sign Of the enemy
Troops Grew BOIder.
Bolder grew the troopers and their COM
races on the motor cycles. They believed
they could gain the left wing Of Gen.
Pew's army and make reconnaissance
that would give their commander surety
In initiating a turning movement. They
swept through the little hamlet Of Middle
boro at top speed and beyond they were
just climbing a hill. the horsemen in the
lead. when the silence OF the woods about
them was split by a volley
Ahead OF the plunging horses where
the top OF the ribbon OF the road showed
blue against the sky was bulging cloud
of smoke. Brown figures rose from
crouching positions on the ground and
rushed forward for another voHey at
closer range. The troopers unslung their
rifles from saddle horns and the cyclists
dropped t.eir machines between their
feet and reached for carbines lashed TO
the cross bars.
R-r-r-r-r-ip.
The second voliey lashed out from the
hill crest above. Again the horses OF the
Essex Troop scouts kicked and squeal d.
Their riders strove 70 hold their mounts
by the head and to get rifles ready for a
reply at the same time They were too
slow. The umpire who was with the
shattered Red scouts jumped to. the front
and waved to the Blues on top OF the hill
TO stop firing. Then he told the New Jer-
seyites that they would kindly consider
ten Of their number dead and ten more
grievously wounded. They would retire
the Blues on the hilltop had driven them
back. Later a Red support dashed out Of
MifdlebOro and repulsed the Blues
SO Il was that when later in the day
Gen. Bliss moved the major part of his
army UP 70 position about South Middle
boro the graves OF ten heroes there at
the foot Of the bloody hill shrieked for
vengeance from the umpire's notebook.
Though this minor reverse was suffered
by the advancing Red army, some long
loose-limbed cavalrymen. who rode as If
their mothers had Graded them on colts
backs-tbose ebony troopers Of the Tenth
regulars-were winning ground and glory
Tor their commander and themselves.
out of Bed Early.
Capt Ryan. at the head of Troop ID.
had his men out OF blankets betimes
and down the road on scouting duty be-
fore the sun had touched the satiny skins
OF their mounts. They took a wood road
about the base Of the long chain OF lakes
that have separated the two armies and
bore over to the northwest in the drec-
ton OF the place where the right wing
OF the Blue army was supposed to be
encamped
In the vicinity Of the village Of AIyricks
they were trotting along YEARLY with
eyes 10 right and left for sight OF the
Blue scouts known to be in the vicinity
Just as they made a sharp corner in the
road they spotted about fifty Of the Blues
outposts gathered in a bunch and squat
ting by the roadside.
"Whoop-e-er' The negro troops clapped
spurs TO their mounts and swept down
upon the unprepared pickets The Blues.
officers and men. scrambled along the
ground through the fence and into the
pickets behind like so many rabbits. or
their horses came the troopers and with
chuckles OF delight they went in after
the Blues and collared them.
Fifty-odd they gathered in altogether
and some Of the ebony cavalrymen bore
away with them as souvenirs three khaki
jackets that bore on the shoulders insig-
MIA Of officers rank Their owners had
gone off through the brush with no
thought OF their belongings.
Gov. Draper, Of Massachusetts, who
has been with the troops since they first
took the field against Gen Bliss army.
started out with his adjutant, Gen. Will
lam H. Brigham. to run over in his au-
tcmObile to Middleboro from the Blue
army headquarters at Robbins Pond. Re
did not know that his course took him
directly into the path OF the thickest
cloud OF the Red army's reconnoitering
forces
Just before he reached his destination
and while he was in a house in the village
OF Eddyville to the north of Middleboro,
one Of HIS aids saw Red cavalrymen can
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