The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-14
TEE CAVALRY ENoAMPMENr.
Col. W. w. Gordon's Report to the
Adiutsnr General.


Adiutsnt General.
Col. W. W. Gordon, commandaut OF
Camp Anderson, has made the following
report to Adjt Gen. KelI Of the recent
cavalry encampment:
HEADQUARTERs FIFTH REGTMENrl
GEORGIA CAVALRY,
SAVANNAH. Ga, May IL, 1891.
Col. >. Mel. keH. A. and /. General, Atlaatd,
Ga:
CoLoSEL-In accordance with special order
No. lac from your Office l ordered the Fifth
Regiment Georgia Cavalry to assemble in Sa-
vannah for an encampment to commence at
noon Monday. April q. and end at noon Satur-
day, May :, 1881. forward herewith copies of
my ORDERS "a, :! and 2, preparatory to the en-
eampment, marked l., H., I'LL
MOVEMENT OF TrooPs
Company left Brunswick Sunday. April 26
arrived In savannah at noon, and took charge
OF camp until the official opening at noon Mon
day, a7fh.
The members of companies B. d, G. II and
left their homes Sunday and rode-none of them
less than Is and many Of them as much as 40
mlles-to their respective railroad depots. The
companies which came by the Savannah Flori-
da and Western railroad arrived in Savannah
Monday at Gas a. m, those by tie Central
railroad at $3.50 g. m.
The members Of companies c and f came to
Savannah by dirt road They arrived about 10
a. m. Mon6sy, none having ridden less than 80
and many OF them more tnan so miles,
The companies left Savannah Saturday by
the Savannah, Florida and Western at | D. M
members of all these companies had the same
distances 30 ride from their respective railroad
depots returning as when coming.
Companies G and left camp Saturday 10 a.
m. TO return home
Company A-the Savannah company-re-
ported in camp Monday at 1 a. m. They were
retained until after the departure OF the rest of
the regiment Saturday noon, then escorted the
fatHfn Nnfata nj lA1
CAMP.
Iiuc'ose you plat giving dimensions and ar
rangements Of the camp, marked ". In accord
alcc with special order No. l42 from your office
| assumed command of the camp at noon
Monday eth April. and issued order 20 1of
which / forward copy herewith, marked W
naming IL Camp Anderson, and prescribing the
daily routine of duties.
BArTALIoNs.
To better utilize the services Of the field Off
GERS divided the regiment for the period of
the encampment into three battalions and as
signed a field officer to each. Ienclose copy of
order No. 81, making this division and assign
ment, marked vi. The battalion commanders
rendered efficient services
UNITED STATES OFFICERS.
By special order No. 81. from the office of the
Adjutant General OF the United states Army,
Lieut. j. B. Erwin, Fourth Cavalry reported TO
me as inspector and instructor. and Lieut.. G. Z.
Terrett, Eighth Infantry. as instructor. They
were present during the entire encampment.
cannot praise too highly the zeal and untir-
ing efforts of these officers. Their teachings
were clear, practical and thorough, and were
appreciated alike Oy officers and men. The iu-
dividuals composing the regiment learned more
from them in six days than they had previously
acquired in years Of efforts in self instruction.
DRILLS.
The ceremony Of guard mounting took place
each day, and guard duties were faithfully per-
formed day and night. But very little drilling
was possible on account of the limited period
of the encampment and because portion of
that time was otherwise occupied. The Mer-
chants Week Association of Savannah had con-
tributed so literally toward the expenses of the
encampment that courtesy as well as graft
tude, demanded that the regiment should, so
far as possible, aid in carrying out their pro
gramme. at their request the regi-
nent paraded with the confederate
Memorial day, Monday, q. Tuesday
and Wednesday afternoon the dress parade
(mounted) of the regiment was in the Park
extension. Thursday afternoon was entirely
consumed in a competitive tilt, in which fifty
five troopers participated, and prizes to the
amount OF $515 were distributed among those
who achieved the best results Friday morning
the governor and advisory board inspected the
camp aud Friday afternoon reviewed. the regi-
ment and other military commands of Savan-
nah. Thus the only time in which drills were
possible was in the mornings of Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday Even with this scant
in mounted movements. The regiment needs
time and practice to perform dsmounted exer-
discs satisfactorily. Whenever Saber StrdDs aud
Cdr6ineS are furnished ii tCiH be possible to
faStera sdbers to saddles, drin the regiment on
foot and make dismounted cavalry e6icien t
infantry without impairing in any respect
their efficiency as cavalry when mounted.
POLICE
The camp was thoroughly policed daily and
was at all times absolutely neat and clean. For
the first tine in my experience with soldiers
every gHe used the sinfsl, aad thse was not .
single instance Of o nuisance having boon c0nl-
mitted in the camp or its vicinity.
SICK,
| incloSe the medical report Of DR.. c. n
Brandt. acting assistant surgeon, marked VII.
showing only twenty nine cases of sickness In
six days in camp having an average of 256 men
present each day. The large majority of cases
were darrhea or Indigestion, resulting from
imprudence in eating. At Camp Richmond, in
1900, restricted the issues of food to the cav
airy to army rationS. The percentage Of sick
ness there was less than in Camp Anderson,
where companies were allowed to purchase,
through the regimental commissary, food not
named In Army Regulations and to receive
presents of dainty dishes from friends
CONDUCT.
The disposition and conduct of those com
prising the regiment was most commendable.
Respect to rank was cheerfully accorded.
Orders were promptly obeyed Every one was
anxious to learn and to practice the novel and
often onerous duties required Discipline was
easily maintained, because the moral sentiment
of the troops sustained those whose duty il was
to enforce it.
Where all did their duty so admirably 1t is al
most invidiouS to mention individuals yet SO
few have an opportunity of knowing the extent
and efficiency of their labors, that l feel that
special notice is due to Adjt Lawton, Quarter
master Wright, Commissary Smith and their
assistants; also to war veteran John A. Sui
Ivan of the Georgia Hussars. The latter gave
without chaFVa pr0ft- three weeks of his
time to the construction of the camp. To his
intelligence, experience and energy. and to that
of his assistant, Mr.. Bowen, the economy, tae
comfort and the convenience.of the camp were
due.
REPORTS
forwarded you, Sth inst, the official morn
ing reports of the encampment, aud the same
day forwarded to Col. A. j. West, quartermas-
ter general, an account current for transporta-
ton, forage and rations amounting TO S2,6l8 "a,
which amount is due me by the state.
In addition to above amount the Merchants
S2.O36 40 in furnishing the camp and troops
with necessities not supplied by the state, and
$515 in prizes for the tilt.
ARMS AND EQUIPMENTS.
The blanks for the annual May inspection of
companies reached me just prior TO the en-
campnlent. The inspections were made while
in camp and the returns will be forwarded to
YOU when completed The lack OF arms and
equipments is most deplorable. This splendid
body of citizen soldiery can never reach the
standard of efficiency which the state should
exact from them until the state issues 10 them