The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-21
BRANDON PRAISES
ALABAMA TROOPS
Reviews Their Conduct While
at Manassas
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR
Men Endured the Hardships of Army
Life Without Murmur and Much
Was Learned of Active
Warfare.
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR

Montgomery. September 2o.-(Speeial.)-
The adJutant general, Gen. Wiillam w.
Brandon. who commanded the provisional
regiment at Manassas, has made report
of the actions of the regiment while at
Manassas. The general and his men were
cordially thanked by the governor, VINO
Is very much pleased with the showing
made. The full text Of the report fol-
lows: go
Montgomery. Ala, September II, lso4
Hon. Russell NJ. Cunningham, Acting
Governor and Commander In Chief,
Montgomery, Ala.
Sir-Complying with your verbal IN
structions. and with G.. o. NO. IL A. u. u.
current series, l have the honor TO re-
port that a provisional regiment COM
posed of nine hundred and eight o1ncers
and men attended the army maneuvers
at Manassas, Va, September to l. IN
elusive. Reporting upon the conduct OF
officers and men 1 desire to say that no
where could you have found more or
DERBY or better behaved organization
Leaving Birmingham and Montgomery
on the morning of September 3, with only
travel rations to live on the men SO
conducted themselves en- route as 10 re-
ceive favorable comment from persons
along the line of travel. We reached our
destination at o'clock on the morning
of the 9Th, and did not de-train until day
light.
Our camp was situated on rolling pla-
kteau and was for the most part comror-
table. We camped In wall tents, except
when bivouacing when the shelter tents
were used, all loading and unloading,
pitching of camp, digging Of latreens,
cooking of food, while in the camp was
| done by the men of the respective COM
| panies, and I cannot too strongly COM
mend the zeal with which the men OF
| the regiment set about this unpleasant
task, without the slightest grumbling or
the customary kick incident to such hard
ship. BY 10 o'clock of the 9Th we had our
| camp pitched and cleaned and fires start
ed for the cooking of dinner. The maneu-
vers commenced at midnight of the 9th,
| and from the opening to the finish the
Alabama regiment was on the go. The
men stood the long marches, and hard
ships Incident to such a campaign be-
| yond our most sanguine expectations
and received much information as to real
warfare and the life Of a soldier In ac-
tual campaign.
Action in the Field.
One OF the best lessons learned wal
that the men know now how to TAX,
care of themselves in the field, and Till
in my opinion was one of the most val
liable lessons taught. Being thrown FIRE
quently on their own resources the mel
demonstrated their ability to endur
hardships and should an emergency arts
the value of experience will be felt.
Some of the marches in day was iron
fifteen to twenty miles, and yet we cal
report that only one member of our regi
ment was left in the hospital towit
Private Miller. Company G, and from re
ports recently received he Is rapidly i'm
proving. 1t may be gratifying to you
excellency that the brigade commander
Col. Butler D. Price, United States army
called In person and commended the Ala
bama regiment not only on Its splendi
conduct, but the loyalty and unfalterin
manner In which the men had stood tn
| campaign.
He also said that the conduct of tn
entire regiment in camp and on duty
| officers and men had been satisfactory
We can report that we found 1t unneces
sary to establish a guard-house and wilt
one single exception no one was put un
der arrest from the time of our departur
until our return As commanding office
of the provisional regiment / had tn
loyal support of all the officers and me
: composing the organization and nothin
occurred that marred either the pleasur
or profit of the trip. The entire regimen
was paid off before leaving Virginia A.
papers and orders. etc, connected wit
the organization. equipment; and conduc
of the regiment are on file In the offic
of the adjutant general.
With assurances of my appreciation 10
the honor conferred, and confidence re
posed in selecting me as the commandin
officer of this provisional regiment hav
the honor to be, Very respectfully,
WILLIAM w. BRANDON,
Adjutant General Commanding Provis
ional Regiment.