Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-08
meet THE ENEMY"
AND WIN VICTORY
District Guardsmen in Fierce
Engagement at Charles
Town, w. Va.
SMALL BAND OF H0STILES
WIPED OFF THE EARTH
Instruction in the Real War Game
Impaired to the Districts Ma
tional Guardsmen.
Special From a Stan Correspondent.


dead remained at IL O'Clock to tell the
story OF the victory Of the District ma
tional guardsmen this morning. The
battle of Charles Town opened short
ly after 10 o'clock, and for nearly two
hours the District troops pumped away
at the enemy in the war between West
Virginia and Maryland.
The District boys representing Mary
land, met the enemy-a firing squad only,
representing West Virginia-just outside
Of Charles Town. The hostile forces
were eight miles from Camp Ordway
when the battle began. and gradually the
line spread until there was a battle line
Of nearly three miles, necessitating the
laying of several loops to the main signal
line. The efficiency of the Signal Corps
aided the infantry materially in forcing
the enemy to retreat in disorder. leaving
their dead behind.
When the cross roads just below Ord
way were struck the main signal station
was established with buzzer and field
wireless set. Another wireless set was
sent ahead to take care of the main
guard while the buzzer lines were used
for the flanks.
Captures a Battery.
Major Lands at the foot Of the
mountain succeeded in capturing bat
terry of field artillery, but not until he
had telegraphed to headquarters for re-
fnforcements, which we're promptly sent.
The enemy did not give much trouble
on the east side. Reports of the opera
tions came to Capt. Bassett. U. 8. Army,
m NJ n
wireless. wire and courier.
The officers at the main station were
able to keep track of every movement OF
the enemy by the wireless and wire re-
ports, and these were verified by the
couriers as they came dashing into the
station many minutes later.
The District infantrymen marched fully
eight miles straight away from the camI
and back again today. but though tirec
and anxious to get at the mess tables
when they returned, they took time to re-
joice over their victory. Private George
". Crawford was court-martialed this
morning for threatening an officer. The
report of the board has been sent to Gen.
Harries for his action.
Details Of the Engagement.
The enemy" was sighted about five
miles southwest Of Camp Ordway
early this morning. but the scouts,
who returned to camp had been unable to
approach close enough to ascertain the
strength of the invaders. They reported
that the forces were concentrated just
over a mountain summit along the Hall
town road The guardsmen are repre-
! sentinR Maryland in an attack on West
Virginia.
Skirmishers were put out to report
whether the enemy got under way before
daylight, but information trickling into
camn by courier did not make a report
Of advances. The position of the hostiles
could be plainly seen from Fire Ridge,
the scene of the first battle of yesterday.
when the enemy was routed. Soon after
reveille sounded this morning the troops
were started to the front. No attempt
will be made to engage the enemy In bat
rio until the arrival OF reinforcements,
which are now some distance below Har-
pers Ferry.
Two regiments of infantry were on the
nav toward the point of attack soon aft
ar 7 o'clock this morning. They followed
Tho road course as far as Baumgarten,
where the men deployed along the noun
tain top Just out of sight of the enemy.
The musicians kept to theousnes. seek
ing vantage points, where they could sig
nal by flags the reports received by the
variations until the Signal Corps could
establish wire communication with Baum
9arten, several miles north Of the camp.
Signal Corps Cets Busy.
AS soon as Capt. William M. Fassett
Of the Signal Corps received word that
the enemy was in camp orders were is
sued for the Signal Corps detachment to
get under way and establish communica-
tion from camp to Baumgarten. The three
battalions left early this morning and
established communication with head
quarters, laying the thread-lfke and al
most invisible telegraph wires right along
the roadside, where the heavy West Vir-
Rinia dust quickly covers them and pre-
vents discovery.
1st battalion of the Signal Corps, Maj"
Russell Maclennan. the I'd Battalion, and
Master Signal Electrician Crandall. the
Sd Battalion. This force galloped out OF
camp soon after the infantry started.
o. the I'd Battalion to Baumgarten and
the Sd Battalion to monument "A. each
laying a section Of wire. while Capt.
Terry later came along to connect the
various SectlOnS.
The guardsmen's wagon train was left
at the old mill just north OF Harpers
Ferry, to remain until the strength OF the
enemy should be ascertained. Efforts
were to be made to hold the enemy back
until the arrival Of the reinforcements.
There were no flank movements to take
care Of the national guardsmcn fighting
only as interior" forces. the other
forces being farther to their right and
left to take care OF the flank movements.
Reconnoitering Force Slaughtered.
While. the main force was working
along the road a flank guarding. start
down the mountainside to the rear OF
Camp Ordway, through the heavy
underbYush. and sighted what apparently
was a small reconnoitering force in
the vicinity OF Shenandoah City. From
their vantage point the District troops
literally moved down the enemy, ana II
ia doubtful II one escaped to report to the
main guard.
So far az can be learned at headouar-
ters the enemys force, which was
sighted northwest Of Camp Ordway last
night, has not engaged in battle to-
day The whistle OF bullets and the
smell of powder does not agree with
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