New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-29
WIN WEST CHAzY
AT HEAVY COST
Rockies, Leading Attack,
Drop on the Field
of Glory.
BLUES DRIVE RED
INVADERS BACK
Citizens Game, but Scores Are
Worn Out by Ten-Mile March
and Battle Practice.

From q star Correspondent Of Tbs Tribune
Plattsburg, N. Y, Aug. 2S.-West
Chazy has fallen.
Please get excited about that. for
1000 regular and amateur soldiers of
the Blue army fought, bled, died and
got sore feet to-day in a battle that
lasted from o'clock this morning until
l o'clock this afternoon.
Tonight the Blue forces occupy the
town. Tomorrow morning at o'clock
they will push forward to Rouse Point
and, if the Red army behaves, take
that railroad centre.
The Blues, under Colonel Frank B.
Mccoy, U. s. A., struck tents in their
bivouac ut East Beekmantown at :
o'clock this morning and got under
way. Their destination was Rouse
Point, one mile from the Canadian Dor
der, where tits understood the Red
army Of 400 men, composed largely of
cavalry and light artillery, led b.
Colonel j. T. Dckman, U. S. A., was
preparing to invade the country.
The Both Infantry led the defenders
on the march. They were followed by
Battery D, Sd Field Artillery, a ma
chine gun detachment and the Pro.
visional (rookie) regiment.
Villagers Don Earmutfs.
The Blues had gone about three
miles when word was received that the
Red army was in the vicinity. The
I'd Battalion of the Professionals was
then ordered to take to a road parallel
to that on which the main body was
proceeding and one-quarter Of a mile
distant 1t was to guard the right
flank.
The defenders were just east of
West Chazy when scouts reported the
approach of a red machine gun detach-
ment. 1t had dismounted, and was
making ready to hold the town. Some
of the villagers noted the work OF
preparation and went back home to put
on earmuffs. Friendly natives notified
the Blue army of the Reds position,
so Company A, of the Professionals,
under Lieutenants John Purroy Mitchell
and Robert Bacon, jr, was ordered
forward TO dislodge the enemy.
The engagement occurred on the out
skirts of the town. The $50 men under
Mitchell and Bacon were within 100
yards of the battery when the guns OF
the latter opened fire. Eardrums al
most shattered, the gallant bunch
plunged onward. Several men. incl1d-
ing William Brown Meloney, fell early
in the charge. Henry c. Bate dropped
two of the artillery before he curled
up. Lieutenant Mitchell had his can
teen shot away, but he kept on. ana at
the end of twenty-five minutes had the
enemy weakened.
The ranks of Company A were then
so depleted that Company B of the
Provisions was ordered up as rein
forcements. 1t passed through the
centre of shattered Company A, whose
remaining members joined in a rush at
the artillery and the dismounted Red
cavalry, which had come up to the line.
Henry II. Curran, who goes back to
New York tomorrow. and valued his
military life lightly, dropped with
theoretical shell in his brain. HIS last
words were: 81 shall be acting Mayor
of New York City on Monday"
From the supporting Blue regiments
came heavy fire, covering the steady,
determined charge of the advancing
Professionals. There were many in
stances of individual heroism that can
find no place in this brief dispatch. The
Blue forces gradually closed the space
that had at the beginning OF the en-.
counter stretched back three miles and
with steady, we'll aimed firing dis
lodged the Reds at the end Of forty
fve-minute engagement.
The opposing army suffered quite as
heavily as the defenders, but effected
successful retreat, having held the
Blues from making a pronounced ad-
vance.
led Troopers Attack.
Colonel Mccoy, suspecting that the
Red army would make a further effort
to cut through. assembled his men on
hill overlooking West Chazy. bat
terry of the Sd Artillery moved forward
to a position concealed by trees with
thick foliage, and Companies and ID
of the Provisional regiment were sent
into the field on the west side of the
West Chazy road. The I'd Battalion of
the PROFESSIONALS proceeded to road on
the west side of the field. connecting
with a detachment of the 18th Infantry.
The 1st Battalion of the PROFESSIONALS
then moved forward, supported by a
battalion of the Sd Infantry They en-