The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-28
COMMANDING OFFICER OF
TROOP A GIVES CAVALRYS
STORY OF MANASSAS
Capt w. W. Gordon, dr., is Back for First Time
Since the ManeuVerS

I through a wood and ADVANCING as
skirmishers the greater part of the
| line came to rail fence which, with
the thick underground, concealed
| them but the left of the skirmish line
came out into an open field with little
cover. They were fired upon at once
| from a ditch about two hundred yards
away, and the whole of the Skin
mish line returned the fire and a hot
| engagement ensued.
Presently the carbines of the other
side went up and the commanding Of
| ficers went out to parley. Both sides
| agreed it was idle to await an umpire.
| We suggested each side retire. The
lieutenant in command of the Blues who
proved to be the Fifteen United States
Cavalry, again said he was under orders
of St. Cameron, who was a man who
wouldn't give way for any one. We
said we had quite as good staying
qualities and thereupon the officers re-
turned to their lines.
We moved our men away oStensibly
for good, but we concealed them upon
a line about fifty yards back of the
rail fence, while we stationed two or
three scouts at the fence to watch
what the Blues were doing.
We then sent word to the command
ing officer of the Eighth United States
Infantry on our left that we had some
Blues on our front and to send. us "a
company to flank them out. He sent
us a squad, which soon emerged from
corn field to the left Of where our
skirmish line had been, and as soon as
they were seen the Blues commenced
firing. The Eighth returned it, and
we Joined them and advanced in eX-
, tended order, firing upon them until
they once more inverted their carbines
This time an umpire, who arrived OPP
portunely upon the scene, announced
that we had captured a platoon and
the led horses of one of the troops Of
the Fifteen Cavalry.
Shortly afterwards, the troop cap
tured a mounted man from the Fiji
teenth, who had gotten separated from
his command. AT 3 O'Clock the men re-
turned to camp without further fights.
That night it was given out that the
Georgia cavalry would be unable to
go out again. Troop A, however, got
an order at midnight to move at 2 a.
m. The first sergeant was notified and
the cooks At 1870 a. m. hot meal
was served and promptly at a. IN.
Troop A was in front of Col. Morton's,
the first troop to report.
In a few minutes the six troops of
the Seventh Cavalry moved out, fol-
lowed by the Maryland cavalry, Troop
A, and Georgia Troop A. Then fol-
lowed a ride over roads which might
be likened to Whitaker street with the
cobblestones not laid, and from the
extreme western line of the. maneuvers
to the extreme eastern line.
Daylight found us a short distance
from Bull Run. Then followed fast
gallops over open fields, jumping
bitches and fences, until the country,
horses and city hacks must have
thought they had joined a circus.
We were next dismounted to fight on
foot and twice advanced in extended
order and from the east side of Bull
Run attacked the Blues on the west.
After a fierce fire in front we heard
firing from our rear and learned that
a jealous major of the Twelfth New
York had battalion Of the Twelfth
firing, so to speak, into our backs.
Thereupon 20 per cent. of our line
was ruled out for the time being, and
we retired and then advance again and
fired upon the same Blues. The order
to cease firing came and we mounted
our horses, rode rapidly around to the
right, forded the stream and attempted
to flank the Blues, but they had re-
treated. Presently the recall was
sounded-and the third battle of Ma
nassas had ended.
Troop A wound up right at the
Henry House." which was the CEN
ter of conflict at both battles of Ma
nassas. Altogether, the troop must
have marched fully thirty-five miles
from a. M. until 1t reached camp,
about twelve hours later.
On Saturday the troop took part in
the review, and then escorted Gov.
Terrell from the grounds to his private
car.
The officers of the Seventh Cavalry
were unstinted in their praise of Troop
AS work. They confided to US that
they expected to ride us clean out of
our saddles, but they were surprised
and delighted at the way the men
held up.
Not only this, but the condition of
the horses was something remarkable.
The men were careful to water. feed,
groom and hand-rub the horses be-
fore they looked after their own COM
fort, with the result that only one or
| two had sore backs, and every horse
came back after the trip in prime con-
| dition.
With the praise of the regular off,
GERS and the feeling that it had not
failed to respond to a single order,
| Troop A came back from Manassas
with a record that was scarcely equal
led by any other Georgia command.