Lt Col. Jordan
A. Asst Adjt Genl
Manassas
Colonel

I am greatly morti-
fied to have to report that the troop of Cavalry from
Page county commanded by Capt Jordan–and which
I reported by telegram of yesterday would march for
Manassas to day by 12 M for when called upon
refused to a man of the rank & file to be mustered
into service except upon condition that they shall
first be provided with additional arms–

The Capt tells me they have sixty sabres–

As soon as I received intimation, for the first time
this morning of this state of feeling amongst the
men I immediately caused them to be assembled
or as many as could be gotten together viz 40 out
of the 65 rank & file–appealed to them in the
most correct manner instantly to come forward
& be mustered into service for the defence of
their liberties- their country & their homes–

I represented to them that the sabre was the only proper
arm for cavalry–that with that & brave hearts they
could achieve all that was expected of cavalry–
that the State now had no other arms with which to
provide them–That there was cavalry already in
the field in presence of the enemy no better armed

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than they–that a number of infantry companies
had gone forward, and without a murmer, infinitely
worse armed as infantry than they were as cavalry.
But all proved to be unavailing and the mustering
of the reports the results as stated above–Every
man of the 40 passed the inspection of the Surgeon–

I have dismissed the troops and permitted them to
return to their homes–

In justice to Capt Jordan I state that he was
greatly mortified at this result as I doubt not
was every Commissioned officer of the Troop–

I am
Vy resty
Philip S Geo Cocke
Col Va Vol Cmdg

The original of the above letter was sent of in
haste by the morning train for Manassas there being no
time to copy it–& I have rewritten by memory as
accurately as I could the substance of it, as above–

PSGC

12 M stands for 12 Meridian or noon

Lt. Col. Jorday was asst. adj. genl. to General P.G.T. Beauregard

MSS 640