New-York tribune., 1912-08-14
Defending Blues Make Fine Re-
treat After Repulse by
Attacking Force.
MANY TECHNICALLY DEAD
Seventh Regiment Finds Its
Camp Has Been Placed on
Freshly Ploughed and Well
Fertilized Field.

Stratford. Conn. Aug. lS.-In the daily
encounter between the Reds and the Blues
to-day New York came step nearer
capture by the invading forces. for after
q couple of hot hours work in the broii-
ing sun he opinion of experts was that
tho advantage was with the Reds. There
was enough glory for everybody, how
s-av. for the Blues were said to have eX-
ecuted a well conducted Withdrawal the
Reds were declared 10 have handled their
advance well. the umpres umpired to me
satisfaction of every one and the military
cvperts who had devised the problem were
satisfied that in practice 1t had worked
ct lust as theory said it should. So. all
Considered. this little handmade war was
something Of an enjoyable occasion.
To-day'c happenings grew directly out
cf Yesterdays. as all good second day
battles should. General Smith who com
mands the Red line. determined TO make
further effort to carry out his fixed pur-
pose of maSsing his troops on the west
side of the HousatoniC River, which would
5i.ng him step nearer New York.
General Mills. of the Blue defenders,
lad for his chief purpose to-day regain
ing his main body Of the I'd Brigade.
which he almcs: lost to the impetuous
1st Brigade Of New York in yesterdays
action near Milford. He knew that the
Red cavalry had on the day before
crossed the bridge at Shelton, fact that
menaced the return of his I'd Brigade.
Tae only thing for him to do. therefore,
, was 10 create diversion. He determined
a
sent Colonel kirby's brigade to do 1t.
Contrary to the Blue commanders eX-
pectatons there were more Reds across
the river than he had thought and In
stead of finding a detachment he found a
small army perfectly willing to fight The
trouble began in the form of collision
Of the cavalry advance guards of both ar
mics This was the first mounted fight
OF the campaign There was the rush OF
horses down the road, the deploying over
rough fields and all the feats that test
the cavalryman's horsemanship and de-
light the motion picture men.
The Battle Of Berkshire.
II all wound up In a running fight that
strewed technically dead and wounded
all along the road and finally left the real
fght to the infantry The main fuss be-
tween the foot soldiers took place near
Berkshire, on the Berkshire East Village
road. 1t was here that the lst Connec-
tcut and the lst Vermont distinguished
themselves in the things they theoroti-
cslly did to one another, the Connecticut
regiment being of the Red forces ard the
Nermonts Of the Blue But this was not
III Of the fight.
On the opposite side Of the road the
Red 2nd Connecticut Regiment got into
mlx-up with the 9TH United States In
fantry (regulars). This was a so be-
tween militia and regulars and was
watched with intercS, by the observers.
II looked for a Cme as though the
militia were going to get cut 10 pieces
but their commander. General Smith
had something waiting all this time
lie had been holding in reserve the 2d
Maine Regiment. and at critical mo-
ment brought them into the fight
on the Blue righI flank. causing It to
withdraw, thus eXtricating the 2nd Con-
necucut from its difficulty.
After this IT became apparent TO the
Blue commander that he had found a
much greater force than he had counted
9pon-more, in fact, than he could han
die. This is when the retreat began
that gave the advantage to the invaders
and also called forth the admiration of
the war experts at the way in which 1t
was accomplished. What might have been
in less sklful hands rout, was simply
an orderly march In the other direction
across Connecticuts embattled hills, with
never an onion trod upon or a single
cornstalk bent The Reds We're left in
undisturbed possession Of Zoars bridge.
All of this time the 1st brigade, that
had distinguished itself on the day be-
fore, remained restlessly in camp at
Orange, where they had been ordered to
retire by umpires, lest they break up the
, campaign before it had fairly got started.
Seventh Badly Chartered.
The brigade, however, was not without
its campaign troubles, or, at least, that
port Of 1t comprising the 7th Regiment,
was not. When the camp was laid out for
the four regiments, that Is, the 7th. the
Tlst, the S9th and the 18th, the three lat
ter were placed In stubble fields but the
Eth was put in a recently ploughed, fresh
ly fertilized field, and, to add TO the dis
comfort caused by nolsome odors, the
site was filed with loose stones
Il had 10 wind myself up into the shape
OF a pTetzel in order TO find q position in
which there would not be stone prod
ding me in the spine" said member OF
the command, with laugh. "A blanket
on the ground is not much protection from
stones, you know but we don't care-its 9
all part Of the war"
But although the men OF the 7th were
not complaining the umpires attached 10
the command criticised the placing Of the
7th severely. and made special report
upon it to headquarters. The blame will
fall upon the United States army corps,
which has charge of laying out the
camps.
ITO pitch camp on freshly ploughed
ground is In direct violation Of the field
regulations" one of the regular army Of
ficers said This will be investigated
The fertilizer makes 1t worse. 1t not only
is disagreeable, but a serious menace to
the health of the men. II 1t should rain
tonight conditions will be unbearable."
Although the men OF the 7th were not
complaining they We're taking certain
satisfa ction In pointing out that. whereas
they got the best of the troopships TO New
Haven when they were given the Rich
ard Peck while the other regiments were
sent in freight boats I'm camp sites they