



Produced by Annie R. McGuire








[Illustration: HARPER'S ROUND TABLE]

Copyright, 1896, by HARPER & BROTHERS. All Rights Reserved.

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PUBLISHED WEEKLY. NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1896. FIVE CENTS A COPY.

VOL. XVII.--NO. 856. TWO DOLLARS A YEAR.

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[Illustration]

THE BATTLE OF EASTER MONDAY.

BY W. G. VAN TASSEL SUTPHEN.


Fred March had an idea. It was even a brilliant idea, and the longer he
pondered over it, the more certain he was that it was a practical one.
"And that, after all, is the important point," as Jack Howard had sagely
observed, after being taken into Fred's confidence. Here it is as it
finally resolved itself into tangible form.

"The Twelfth Regiment of the Transylvania State National Guard are to
hold a sham fight on Easter Monday. There has been a great deal of talk
about the use of the bicycle in war, and here is a chance to test the
theories. Let us organize the boys into a bicycle corps, and offer our
services to your father, Colonel Howard, who commands the regiment."

Jack reflected, soberly, "How could we be of any use?"

"We could be organized as a body of mounted riflemen, and also do scout
and staff service. The fight is going to be somewhere on the Quantico
golf course, and the grass on the links is short and smooth enough for
riding. Easter comes so late this year that the frost is out of the
ground already, and it isn't likely to rain before Monday. And then
there are the roads in all directions."

"How many fellows can we muster?"

"Well, you know that all the boys from boarding-school are at home for
the Easter holidays, and I've counted up sixty-five single wheels and
three tandems; then we have the motor cycle, the 'Happy Thought,' and
the people at the Driving Park have promised to lend me the 'quad' that
they have there for pacing the circuit riders--an available force
altogether of seventy machines and seventy-seven men."

Jack became enthusiastic. "Let's go down to the armory and propose it to
my father," he said, briefly.

Colonel Howard was mildly amused when the proposition was first broached
to him, but as the boys proceeded to explain the practical details of
the plan he grew interested.

"There may be something in it," he said, finally, "and I'll think it
over."

Two days later Colonel Howard sent for Fred and Jack, and informed them
that their idea had been favorably considered, and that the services of
the bicycle corps would be accepted.

"I have arranged," said Colonel Howard, "that the boys on the single
wheels and two of the tandems shall be armed with short repeating
carbines, and shall act as mounted riflemen, under command of Fred
March. I have a friend in the gun-factory at Decatur, and he has
promised to lend me two rapid-fire guns, which I will have mounted on
the third tandem and on the 'Happy Thought.' Jack will take command of
the 'quad,' and will act as a member of my personal staff. You will
report with your men at the armory Monday morning at nine o'clock
sharp."

The idea had actually materialized, and Fred was naturally pleased to
think that his suggestion was to be taken up in earnest. But he was even
more anxious that the experiment should be a success and that the
military value of the bicycle should be demonstrated.

Now sham fights are generally carried on after a carefully prepared
plan, every movement being carefully thought out beforehand, even to the
strategy. But on this occasion it had been proposed that an actual
problem should be placed before the two commanders, and that they should
be allowed to work it out in their own way. Here, then, was a chance for
real strategy, and, other things being equal, brains must win. Of
course, as only blank cartridges are used, umpires must be appointed to
determine the practical results of the various movements, and to finally
award the victory to the side which in their judgment has fairly won it.

The field of operations had been decided upon, and Saturday afternoon
Fred and Jack jumped on the "Happy Thought" and went down to have a look
at it.

The map on the opposite page gives a good idea of the military features
of the battle-ground, and if you study it carefully, you will easily
understand the conditions of the problem.

[Illustration: PLAN OF THE BATTLE-FIELD.]

It is supposed that Colonel Howard with a force of two hundred and fifty
men, together with an auxiliary bicycle corps of mounted riflemen,
including two machine-guns, are intrenched upon the wooded ridge at the
left and locally known as the "Cardinal's Nob." This ridge is the key to
the country lying behind it, and must consequently be defended at all
hazards. The position is naturally strong, as its steep sides are
inaccessible except at the three points marked by the numerals 1, 2, and
3. The open space in front is part of the Quantico golf course, and a
putting-green occupies the little knoll at 8. The green is defended by
an earth bunker, and from its military appearance it is known to the
golfers as "Sebastopol." In the woods immediately behind "Sebastopol"
the forces of the enemy, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Camp, are
supposed to be concealed. They number four hundred and fifty, with a
battery of two field-pieces, and their object is to obtain possession of
the "Cardinal's Nob." It is to be understood that the ground south of
the "Cardinal's Nob" and separated from it by "Deadman's Hollow," is
practically unfitted for military occupation, and consequently of no
strategic importance to either side. The other features of the map
explain themselves.

It is furthermore arranged that the two parties shall leave the armory
at Fairacre at ten o'clock precisely, and proceed by separate routes to
their respective positions. The battle will begin theoretically at
eleven o'clock, and will continue until three in the afternoon unless
decided earlier.

With these points carefully fixed in mind the two boys made a careful
survey of the ground. The "Happy Thought" moved swiftly and easily over
the short, firm grass of the golf course, and it was evident that the
bicycles would have no difficulty in operating in the open. But how
would they ever have a chance to do so with the enemy under cover in the
woods? Exposure would mean destruction, and, moreover, they could expect
no support from the main body under Colonel Howard. At all risks the
"Cardinal's Nob" must be held, and, it was clear that Colonel Howard
would act strictly on the defensive. The bicycle corps, it is true,
could assist in the defence as an unmounted body, but that was not what
Fred wanted. Could not the wheelmen be used as an independent force
without materially weakening the defence? Of course the "Cardinal's Nob"
must be held, but might it not be strategy to both repel the assault and
destroy the attacking force?

"And I think it is possible," thought Fred to himself as the "Happy
Thought" rolled slowly back to Fairacre.

Easter Monday dawned clear and warm. The armory was a busy place at nine
o'clock, and every effective man was present to answer to his name.
Fred's force was complete just as he had counted it up, and the
machine-guns, mounted on the "Happy Thought" and Alec Jordan's tandem,
looked particularly wicked and fit for work. The ammunition was served
out, the general orders read, and at ten o'clock the two forces took up
the march. Fred on the front seat of the "Happy Thought," and with forty
wheelmen armed with repeating carbines, headed the line, and the rest of
the bicycle corps, under command of Acting-Lieutenant Alec Jordan,
formed the rear-guard.

The "Cardinal's Nob" was reached at half past ten, and Colonel Howard
summoned a council of war. There was still half an hour before
hostilities would commence, and it was necessary to consider carefully
Colonel Camp's probable line of attack, and to devise an effective
checkmate.

Colonel Howard briefly outlined the situation as follows:

1. The "Blacks," or Colonel Camp's force, will occupy "Sebastopol" with
their artillery, and a false demonstration will be made against the
point 1.

2. A strong flanking force will be sent around by way of the Swamp Road
(4) to make an attack in the rear of "White" at the bridge (3).

3. At the moment that the attack on "White's" rear begins, "Black's"
main force, under cover of the artillery, will abandon the demonstration
against 1, and endeavor to carry the "Cardinal's Nob" by a charge across
the open and a general assault at 2, the most practicable scaling-point.

"We may therefore