The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-29
BATTLE AT NIGHT
ON HISTORIC FIELD
Flashlights Show Troops
Fighting at Gettysburg.
REDS OCCUPY SAFE TRENCHES
Gen. Harries and His Defenders Get
Re-enfOrcements During Charge of
Blue Forces and One of the Most
fSpectacuIar sham Battles l. Eject
uaIly Enscted-Advance Begun.

STAFF Correspondence The Washington Herald:
Gettysburg. Pa. July 2-Within a few
hundred yards Of historic Cavalry Field
there was waged tonight one of the most
spectacular sham battles since the open
ing OF the big camp OF instruction.
Searchlights flashed through the woods
and underbrush, the defending force fired
volley after volley at the big army. at
tacking their strong position, and the
Blue army charged up the long slope
with imaginary bayonets fixed. The
thrilling advance was halted 200 yards
from the Red line that there might be
no injury from actual contact.
To-nights battle, which did not start
until an hour after shutdown and took
place during the dense darkness pCeced-
ing the moonrise. followed an imaginary
battle which was supposed to have taken
place earlier in the day The Reds. who
were on the defensive tonight, had been
roughly handled during the morning 3
conflict. the left flank suffering especially
heavy losses.
Re-enfOrcements Are Sent.
As a result large re-enforcements were
sent to that part OF the line. leaving the
center, along the Hanover road. defend
ed by only the Second Regiment United
States Infantry, Col. Mansfield command
ing. He had a company Of engineers and
half an ambulance company for use in
case of emergency
The news OF the movement Of the Reds
70 strengthen their left flank was con-
veyed TO the commanding officer Of the
Blue army. which consisted Of two
imaginary brigades and one actual
brigade The two imaginary brigades
formed the two TANKS of the attacking
army. and the center was taken by the
second brigade IN command OF Gen. Har-
ries, Of the District Of Columbia National
Guard
Gen. Harries had in his brigade the
Twenty-ninth United States Infantry;
First and Second regiments. and First
Separate Battalion District of Columbia
National Guard, Engineers and Signal
Corps lie also had in his force the Sec
ond New Jersey troop Of cavalry; the
third United states Field Artillery. and
the District Of Columbia Field Artillery.
Advance Is Then Begun.
The line Of battle was formed about
$780, and an hour later the advance be-
gan. Located on an eminence in the rear
OF the Red army the three powerful
searchiights OF Company A, United states
Signal Corps. swept the entire country
occupied by the advancing Blues an,
Col Manshelds regiment, strongly in
trenched. frequently fired whitening vol
leys" on the advancing troops. The at
lacking forces screened themselves a
much as possible by following ravines
getting into underbrush and crOuching be
hind trees until the binding light OF tn
b'g - ctis.s passed to either side.
Several times lack Of caution threw
them into the direct line OF the light
and then would come volley after wolfe.
from the defending Reds The artiner!
and cavalry did not play prominent part
in the advance. almost all Of the worl
being assigned 10 the infantry regiments
AS would be the case in actual warfare
the attacking infantrymen did not fire
but marched ahead with imaginary fixe
bayonets.
IntrenChed During Charge.
The advance continued steadily unit
the Blues were several hundred yard
from the crest Of the hill, where III
Reds were intrenched, and then came IN
rapid and thrilling charge Of the attack
ing force. The Reds opened fire then an
the woodland echoed with the reports O
hundreds Of guns.
When the Blues reached q point abou
200 yards from the Red intrenchment
recall" was sounded and the night bat
tie was al an end. simultaneously with III
real night battle the other imaginar
brigades Of both armies were suppose
10 be having equally lively struggles. an
battle lines five miles in length wer
supposed 20 be in actual conflict.