William Blake Exhibition Catalog 2022 - Flipbook - Page 10
on the way to the hospital. Captain Hamilton was a well-liked and
sound gathering and ranging devices, developed during the First World
courageous officer, especially known for his heroism in France during
War, enabled their operators to determine the position and altitude of the
World War One, receiving many medals and honors, chief among them
approaching aircraft by their engine noises. This information would then
being the Distinguished Service Cross. He saw service at Belleau Wood,
be telephoned to the anti-aircraft guns located adjacent to the airfield.
Soisson, St. Mihiel, Champagne, and the Meuse-Argonne, where he
commanded two battalions of the 5th Marines.
The infantry and artillery conducted maneuvers; the troops toured the
battlefield by truck each with a battlefield guide and all hands turned-
While only 5,500 Marines made the march from Quantico, they
to for the rehearsal of Pickett’s Charge. On the evening of the 26th the
were packing or carrying sufficient equipment and supplies to equip a
Quantico Post Band arrived from Richmond, Virginia, where they
20,000-man division. Skeletonized companies of 88 men were carrying
were detailed to provide music for the Confederate Veterans Reunion.
all the ammunition, range finders and technical gear required for a 140-
The Quantico Band combined with the other three bands (presumably
man company. Each company was carrying the 20,000 rounds of small
the bands of the 5th, 6th and 10 th Marines) to give evening concerts. A
arms ammunition necessary for the multiple exercises planned for the
recreation tent was established a short distance from the Virginia State
Marines 10-day stay in Gettysburg. For the first time a small, two-
monument for these concerts as well as an evening moving picture show.
wheeled cart was used, allowing two men to move the packs and gear of
The public was invited to attend both activities free of charge.
their entire squad.
The Marines began their actual maneuvers on June 28th. One
The next four days were busy ones. The aviation section established
battalion each from the 5th and 6th Marines participated in what was
a flying base, the planes being carefully examined by their mechanics;
termed a “fence problem” in the vicinity of the High Water Mark. The
everyone determined that the crash of June 26th would not be repeated.
problem consisted of one battalion entrenched in the defense, while the
The Air Wing was planning a night “bombing” attack on their own airfield
other was detailed to assault the position and take it in approved Marine
near the camp, dropping flares rather than bombs. The defense was to be
Corps fashion. Umpires were appointed to monitor and critique the
provided by four, blank-firing 3-inch anti-aircraft guns assisted by three
exercise, commenting on the methods and shortcomings of the attack,
sound gathering and ranging devices and a battery of searchlights. These
also in approved Marine Corps fashion.
8
