The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21
WITH GEN. GORDON IN CAMP.
EXPECTS To LEAVE FOR PORTO
RICO IN A FEW DAYS.

mission Believes the Arrangements
to BE Made There VIII He COnr-
parativeIy Easy-HOpes to BE Back
I'm Time to Go with His Men to
Cuba-Capt. Bcirne Gordon at the
RegimentnI and brigade Reviews.
Gen. w. W. Gordon, commanding the
Second Brigade of the First Division of
the Seventh United States Army Corps,
and one of the three Porto Rican com
missioners appointed by President McKin-
ley may be at home for a few hours this
week on his way north to join the other
commissioners, Commodore schley and
Maj. Gen. Brooke.
1t is the impression that the commission
will sail on the Brooklyn probably from
New York, for san Juan within week
or ten days to take up its work of pre-
pairing for the evacuation Of the island by
the Spaniards and the establishment Of
American control over Porto Rico, as an
integral part of this country.
Gen. Gordon does not expect that these
duties will be of long duration. II is his
Impression that with the people Of the
island, az a mass. friendly TO It's annexa-
ton by this country, with conditions as a
whole favorable for a speedy change In its
government, it will be a comparatively
easy matter to arrange the details that
will transfer the island from The eover-
eighty of Alfonso XIII to that of the
ubiquitous old gentleman known In mod
ern mythology as "Uncle Sam"
Such, a least is the impression that
Capt. Beirne Gordon received during a
three days visit to Jacksonville. AT the
invitation of Gen. Gordon to spend a few
days with him at camp before he left for
Porto Rico, Capt. Gordon went down on
Wednesday, returning yesterday morning
He found Gen. Gordon in excellent health
and in better physical condition than he
has been In a long time. The constant
out of door life on horseback seems 10
have rejuvenated the Savannah soldier
lie is a hard worker, being among the
1rst out in the morning and one of the
last to retire at night. As might be eN-
pected from a man OF Gen Gordon's long
military training, he is intensely interest
ed IN the work entrusted to MIN and has
brought his brigade up to a high stand
ard of general efficiency. although when
he assumed charge it was naturally In
q state approaching military chaos.
One of the regiments is cOmman ded by
Col. Cox, and when IL was first mustered
into service in its disorganized state it
was facetiously termed Cox s army"
But the time for such comments soon pass
ed and this regiment, along with the other
two of the brigade, is now recognized as
among the best in the volunteer service
and as likely to reflect honor on itself
no matter what duties are entrusted to
It, By entering into the work with zeal him
self Gen. Gordon has infused a similar
spirit into all of the officers and men, and
the proficiency attained In all the work of
the soldiers has won for them merited
commendatiou
Gen. Gordon's headquarters are directly
on the banks of the ST. Johns river, with
the regimental streets running back from
the river TO a pine grove. On the left of
the headquarters is the Second Louisiana,
commanded by Col. Dufour of New Or
leans, and beyond this the Second Ala
bama, Col. Cox In command. To the right
of the headquarters lies the Second Texas,
uned Col. Openhelmer, who was major
general of all the Texas forces and is a
highly competent military man. The reg
iments are all well Differed The camp
is cool, refreshing breeze coming from
the river throughout the day Coming to
this place from Miami was as the men
say, like moving to Saratoga. Gen. Cor
don's staff consists of Capt. Cavanaugh,
quartermaster, a regular army officer DR..
Ford surgeon; Capt Foster, adjutant,
and Lieut.. WV. Gordon. Jr., aide. Lieut..
Gordon is a regularly commissioned Off
Ger and is an enthusiastic soldier Two
other former Savannahians are i'm the
regiment, Capt Robert G. Guerard of
Company NJ Second Louisiana. and w.
Gladings Hull, formerly sergeant of the
Georgia Hussars, who is in Capt. Guer-
ards command. Before Gen. Gordon's
tent floats the brigade flag. almost the
size of regimental flag, of silk and shap-
ed like a pennant. 1t is In three colors,
blue at the staff, white in the center, and
red at the apex of the triangle, with a red
star with seven points on the white field,
indicative of the fact that the brigade be-
longs to the Seventh corps
On Thursday afternoon, in preparation
for the brigade review of Friday after
noon, Gen. Gordon and staff. and Capt.
Gordon, with Mrs w. w. Gordon. review
ed the Second Alabama On Friday morn
ing Capt. Gordon, by request accompan-
ted Gen. Gordon and stuff 10 review the
Second Texas, Col. Openheimer introduc-
Ing Capt. Gordon as a Savannah mill
tary man who was well posted on tactics"
and expressing the hope that the regiment
would do itself credit. From what Capt
Gordon says of the review its comman-
der had his best hopes realized. That af-
ternoon the entire brigade was reviewed
by Gen. hiefer, commanding the lewiston
10 which it is attached and by Gen.
Wheaton, commander of the First brigade
both old army officers. They and their
STATS made. q brilliant picture. Capt
Gordon escorted Mrs Gordon and party
of other ladies out to the camp in an army
wagon, drawn by six mules. On the way
what might have proved a very serious
accident, but which was turned into an
incident for laughter instead occurred
The wagon was crowded, and Mrs Cor
don, with two other ladies. occupied the
rear seat. which was on powerful spring
Mrs. Gordon was half standing when the
wagon went over large stump. The jolt
was terrific and acted on Mrs Gordon as
though she had been thrown from a
catapult pitching her into the air and
out on the road. Fortunately the wagon
was passing a saw mill at the time and
the road was soft with dust from the
logs. Mrs. Gordon escaped with a shower
bath Of saw dust and shaking up and
laughed with her friends over her mar
row escape from a broken limb
At the camp the wagon was drawn up
In the rear of the reviewing party. The