The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-15
REDS FIND THEIR FORCES CHECKED IN
 WAR MANEUvERS
Blues Are Now Prepared to De-
 fend City of New York From Capture by Army of Invasion
General Engagement Expected Today-Big Battle Likely to Follow Tomorrow

of the Blues and Reds are best told in the official report which was com
 pleted yesterday afternoon. which is
 as follows:
 The principal engagement for today was that which occurred in the vicin- ity of Walnut Tree Hill The Blue division commander, General Mills, still having in mind accomplishment of his concentration and withdrawal of the 2nd brigade, N. Y., directed the, New Jersey brigade to take up a Tree Hill. In order that the Red commander, General Smith, might complete his crossing of the Housa- tonic river, it was necessary that the hostile forces near Walnut Tree Hill be driven back. Accordingly the 1st and End brigades. Massachusetts Vol unteer militia, was instructed to att tack this position near Walnut Tree HW, The Blue cavalry, under the orders of Colonel James Parker, U. s. A., was ordered to reinforce the Blue command near Walnut Tree Hill and to operate on it's right flank. The Red cavalry under Lieut.. Col. Charles approach of this cavalry from the south was sent to oppose the advance and to keep the Blue cavalry out of action until the hostile position had been taken. | After reconnaissance oi the Blue position by about seven companies of the 9th Massa sachusetts. General Pew, commanding the two Massac chusetts brigades, decided upon the following attack: To send the 9th, 9th and 5th Massachusetts in- fantry against the position, the 9th being on the left. \
 The End Massachusetts are held in reserve near Huntington and later one battalion of the regiment was drawn into the line to the left of the 9th Massa chusetts. Opposed to the Red troops from north to south were the 1st and 4th New Jersey, with the 9th New Jersey held in reserve. General Pew had no sooner dictated to his brigade commanders his order for the attack than firing was heard to the south in which locality the two cavalry forces had gotten tosether. Here dc~elOped perhaps one of the most interesting phases of the fight in which the Blue cavalry succeeded in getting in between the Red infantry and the Red cavalry. Expecting that the Red detachment commander would experience some difficulty in taking the intrenched position of the Blues, early in the day the Red division com rnahder ordered two batteries of the National guard of New Jersey to take up position on hill 620. About Il o'clock these batteries came into ac- ton in support of the Massachusetts troops but the Blue troops in spite of this fire held their position. About noon word was received of the ap- preach Of strong Red force from the north upon the receipt of which in- formation the Blue division com Tnander ordered the New Jersey troops to be withdrawn. Their withdrawal was in no respect an acknowledge ment of defeat for the Massachusetts troops had been held at bay until the End brigade, New York, had escaped from its dangerous position in the south.
 It was regretted that the aviation squadron was unable, on account of atmospheric conditions, to make such interesting reconnaisances as were turned in Tuesday.
 The engagement began on the road to Walnut Tree Hill about a mile north of Huntington Center and a short distance from the main road to Derby. The picket on the side road was from Major Damon's battalion of the Sixth Massachusetts, Company L.. A Blue picket ran into the Red one. Firing began and the Reds fell back. Geperal Hines, who was in command of the blue forces, ordered a support forward to ascertain the strength of the enemy. Word was sent back that the Reds were appearing in force and that there were evidences of brigade on the main highway. General Hines selected defensive position on Wal nut Tree Hth, throwing up entrench- ments. The outpost encounter con- tinued over considerable front. Gen. eral Pew, in command of the First
 Massachusetts brigade, placed tho Ninth infantry on the north side of the road, the Sixth on the right side with the Fifth on the 'Sixth's left The mt f,~ behind the Reds cavalry, was ordered out to protect the Ninth's flank. To get into position the Red cavalry went around from the east side of Walnut Tree Hill as it had been inclinine southerly; passed behind the hill. cir cled the flank of the Fifth and gal loped in front of the Ninth and into
 position. General Pew did not make an advance until about II o'clock as
 he was waiting for his artillery to come up on the left in order to sweep the hill. The artillery was from New Jersey At the time much of this YVES still in Derby, too far away for use.
 General Hines having learned thai the regulars were in force to the Aast- ward, placed the Fourth New Jersey opposite the Ninth. used the First as his center and the Fifth in reserve be-
 hind the center, depending upon Col onel Parker to use his horses to hold back the Fifth Massachusetts. A de- tachment of cavalry was sent to the left flank to help the Fourth. The engagement did not quickly open as both sides appeared anxious to get more information. The skirmishing was lively: the heat and Ynuegishness intense. The New Jersey men could be seen throwing up entrenchments At Il o'clock General Pew ordered an advance against the Blue center (First New Jersey). At the same time reg ular patrols began to creep up the southerly slope of the hill. This brought on g. general peppering. The main advance began with volley fir ing.
 The Red advance was a frontal one and the work was very hot for 20 minutes. This advance drove in two companies, one falling back on the right and the other on the left. Gen eral Pew ordered the cavalry, which he had sent to the right of his nne. to go to the left to meet the Blue cavalry which was coming up on that side. The troopers went by the flank and reached the left wing in time to go into warm action with the Blue troopers, which had been ordered north by General Hines to serve as his right wing. AS soon as the two cavalry forces came into rifle range they dismoupted, and, sending their horses to the rear, began skirmishing over the rough ground The troopers did some brilliant work, and it was a rating good contest to watch. It was hottest south of Huntington around a little eminence As soon as General Pew had developed the Blue