The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-05
RICHMOND SAVED
BY BLUE ARMY
ATTACKING .REDs. DEFEATED nv
NARROW MARGIN AFTER
HARD BATTLE.
SHAM FIGHT REALISTIC
DECISION or uMPIREs IS ARRIVED
At AFTER CAREFUL SCORING.
MEN HAVE ENJOYABLE
DAY.

handing the Blue army, defending
Richmond, in the sham battle OF the
First Battalion. First Regiment. Viz
ginia Volunteers at Forest Hill yes
terday morning. defeated the attack
ing Red army. under command Of
Captain c. NJ. Wallace. and saved the
city from capture.
Although the Blue army was de-
clared victor. the fight was won by
such narrow margin that Major
G. G. Boissieu. former commander
OF the battalion, who acted as UNI
pire, at first pronounced the battle
draw, finally changing his opinion
and awarding victory to the Blue
army on several technical points.
From the viewpoint of the military
strategian and students OF tactics as
well as from the viewpoint of the
spectators. the mimic battle was a
success. and probably more realistic
than any sham military encounter
seen in or near Richmond In years.
ffnc armies fought for possession
OF a hin short distance west OF
Forest Hill Park Occupation of the
hill meant victory for the army gain
Ing the vantage point, From the top
OF the rise the occupying army could
easily defeat its opponent.
Both armies gained the top of the
hin, but when the battle was declared
over il WAS seen that the Blue army
had the most desired position. occupy
Ing the largest and highest point Of
the rise from which. In actual war.
il would have been comparatively
easy to send the Reds scurrying 10
cover.
Common Sleeping Ground.
The two armies occupied the com
mon sleeping ground, Camp William
Wilson Sale. Monday night arising
to an early reveilie, brea kfasting and
preparing for the arduous la Dor OF
the day. Companies a and b were
designated as the Blue army, with
Major Price commanding and COM
panies Z and r. named az the Red
army under the leadership of Captain
Wallace.
The men tied red and blue bands
around their hats in order 10 be able
10 distinguish an enemy from a friend.
AL O'Clock the two armies lett camp
10 take their respective positions The
Blue army marched TO Belle Isle
. short distance east Of Forest Hill
and the fsrd army marched TO
point near Bon Air. about a mile and
half from Forest Hill.
1t was the purpose of each army TO
gain the covered position on top of
AhG aht thTt @Ist vi 0IESt Till IL
and at s,4s O'Clock the commands
started advancing simultaneously The
red army marched In an easteriy al
rectton along the River road and
then turned north. advancing through
woods to a clearing from which they
could see the hin.
The Blue army marched in
westerly direction to ravine. AL
the top of this raytne was the bot
tom of the hill for which both armies
were fighting. Major Price FED his
men cautiously through the ravine,
which was heavily wooded and finally
reached the top. from which point
the men could see the rise which
they We're 10 gain.
These mancuvers both brought tho
armies to positions about l.ooa yards
apart. facing each other with the
hill between. AS the Red army
started up the southern slope of the
hill the Blue army started up the
northern slope. Ii was then about
$50 O'clock. Each army knew the
enemy was on the other side of the
Hill and the advances were made
slowly and cautiously
Battle Opens.
Suddenly a miiitiaman in the Blue
army saw piece OF red in the grass
about three hundred yards ahead
and at the same instance a man In
the Red army detected Il moving ant
OF Blue. Two rifles spoke stimuli
taneousfy and the battle VAS on.
With the blarc of bugies. the sharp
snappy rattle of musketry. the shouts
OF excited men and the fioarss com
mand of officers forming an under
tone to the din, the armies advance
ed towards each other on the double
quick.
Stumbling and falling, only to rise
again. firing and reloading, yelling
like Apaches and dripping with per
spiration under the whitening heat
of the July sun the miiitsamen ran
up the grassy inciines, striving with
every. atana ST energy to gain thss
coveted top.
There were quick exchanges Of
FIRE, interspersed with desperate
gprints, with the armies coming
: closer and closer together each sec
ond. When there WIS only about
fifty yards of grass between the OPP
posing commands. the order. Halt,
cease firing" rang out and the bat
tie was over. A quick survey of the
field revealed that the Blue army
occupied the most advantageous
position. but Major Bnsaien called
the battle q draw until he could make
4 more complete examination OF the
respective positions OF the armies and
consider the stragetic points at more
length.
When the companies were REFORM
ed. the battalion returned to camp
and preparations were made for the
midday mess About thirty guests,
some OF whom are prominent resi-
dents Of Richmond. Joined the militia
men at dinner. A thirty gallon Bruins
wick stew was one Of the notice
able features OF the menu. The men
pronounced tho cuisine splendid.
After dinner camp was broken and
1t 3:45 O'Clock the march to Rich
mond was begun. The heat was In
tense, roads dusty and the men tired,
but the march was made IN fifty-fys
minutes, the battalion stopping for
only one rest OF Ave minutes and
reaching the armory at 4;4s o'clock.
MOUNTAIN LAKE CAMP
sFe: MEETING MAS RFr6SUy