### Clue: States circumvented by hasty retreat of gay character (6)
### Answer: HUSSAR 
 ### Explanation: Definition: gay character
  US(United States) **contained in**(circumvented) **plus**(by) **reversal of**(retreat) RASH(hasty,unthinking)
Answer: One of the characters in The Gay Hussars, the English title (literal translation of the German title is "Autumn Manoeuvres") of Emmerich Kalman's operetta.  From the old-fashioned meaning of gay, and not to be confused with "The Gay Hussar" restaurant in London.