Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-05-11
FORT MONROE TAKEN
In Sham Battle First Battalion
is Victorious.
DEFENSE CAUGHT MAPPING
After skirmishina and Walking from
Back River and Harris Greek Into
Hampton, Fifty-eishth Company
Swoops Down on Prey.

| Fort Monroe said to be the strong
est fortified post in the United States
army, fell" yesterday morning ant
is now owned" by Capt Johnson ant
\ the four companies comprising thu
first battalion OF artillerymen at tina
lstation.
The fort was taken" by the Fifty
Eighth company at 1920 o'clock yes
iterday morning and the celever worn
f the advancing company is now Tho
talk of Old Point. Lieutenant Call
Iwho was in command of the Fifty
leighth company, was warmly con
Igratulated upon the way he cap
jtured" the fort and his men were in
thigh spirits yesterday afternoon and
last night over their victory. 1t was
indeed a clever ruse and before the
lsecond battalion. commanded by Capt
iNugent, was aware of the attack, the
lFifty-eighth company had gained its
way into the fort enclosure and had
captured everything from the com
Imanding officers residence to the
smallest gun at the post.
mdnOcuScTS 6t9iV.
Early yesterday morning the first
battalion, commanded by Capt. John
son, took the government tug Reno
| and was taken to Back river light
house, where the work of embarking
ifcr the shore was taken up. The ar
ltillerymen were carried as close to
Ishore as possible in small boats and
then waded the rest of the distance.
Once on land the orders were given
/ for the companies TO scatter and each
officer in charge was told to use his
best efforts in taking Fort Monroe as
| early as possible.
Lieutenant Call took his men off in
L the direction of Harris creek. He
sent a scouting party ahead Of eight
men and these scouts proved of very
great value to the final capture OF
the garrison.
Hampton to Harris creek, but the
attacking artillerymen reached here
1 a few minutes before. 1920 o'clock.
Arriving at the Chesapeake & Ohio
station, Lieutenant Call ordered his
men to board the train from Rich
Imond, which was then at the station
and enroute to Old Point The artil-
IIerymen get into the cars and by or
der of the officers, they were made
L to lie down, so that in passing Phoe-
/ bus and into Old Point no one would
/ be aware of their presence.
March on Fort.
It was exactly IL o'clock when the
train pulled into the Old Point sta
Ition Sending his scouts out few
hundred yards to see that the way
was clear, Lieutenant Call then lined
the men up and quietly marched them
fright into the fort enclosure
Through the main gate, while Capt
Nugent's battalion was diminishing
around the ramparts and in the
neigh borhood of Buckroe Beach, ex.
jpecting an attack from the enemy in
/ that direction.
Capt. johnson and the other com
panies Of the first battalion engaged
the second battalion in a lively bat
tile or Puckroe, but when the Fifty
!eighth company landed and captured
the fort, Capt Nugent surrendered
rather than have his men completely
slaughtered" by the enemy.
II is argued in army circles thai
the quick work of the Fifty-eighth
company in sneaking into Fort Mon
| roe on the train unnoticed, IS worthy
of high credit in the war records and
shows the officers in charge to be
| men ready to confront and mee'
most any emergency.
Line Of Defense.
The second battalion was left Il
defend Fort Monroe and in order Il
do this several OF the companies
we're sent to Buckroe Beach. whiIs
Others we're detached along the Ches
lapeske Bay section Nothing wa,
thought Of the train coming into OLD
Point and this is the trick that set
tied the first sham battle in favol
OF the first battalicn-
4 Capt. Johnson's battalion met tbs
enemy on Buckroc Beach and th'
members Of the FTfty-eighth compan,
could hear the firing as they wer'
going into Old Point TO capture tn
fort.
In the first battalion were the Fii
lty- eighth. the 1ssth. sixth and 1851
companies. while the second battaliol
was composed Of the sixty-niHth. IN
sevcnty-third and the I1sth company
viii March 70 Richmond.
Tho sham battle yesterday was IN
beginning Of the sumner manoeuvcrs
and. according 10 accurate reports
the artilicrymen here are going TO b