THE IRISH MANCEUVRES, 1899. 463 
DARE roads, away from his communications with CORK or with the 
Army advancing from Galway Bay. 
The following is a brief narrative of what took place : — 
8th August.—The Blue Cavalry Brigade marched to Johnstown, 
and the Red Cavalry Brigade to Stradbally. 
These movements were ordered by the Director to take place under 
peace conditions. No advance beyond these positions was allowed 
till 10 a.m. on the 9th August, when the conditions were to be those 
of active service. 
9th August. Blue Force .—Cavalry Brigade reached Durrow at 
2 p.m. On the left of its advance no attempt was made to reconnoitre 
beyond the Erkina river, which was reported clear of the enemy soon 
after mid-day. On the right flank the line of the Nore was secured 
from Durrow down to Ballyragget—posts being established there and 
at Attanagh. 
Main body with G.O.C. marched to Johnstown* 
Red Force .—Cavalry Brigade reached Ballyroan at 1.15 p.m. On 
the right officers patrols were pushed forward to Poorman’s and 
Waterloo Bridges over the Nore and to Durrow: and on the left to 
Ballinakill and towards Ballyragget. In the course of the afternoon 
Poorman’s and Waterloo Bridges were reported unoccupied, and it 
was ascertained that the main body of the Blue Cavalry was at Durrow 
—Ballyragget being held by a small post. Red Cavalry posts were 
established at Abbeyleix and Ballinakill for the night. 
Main body with G.O.C. marched to Stradbally. 
The remarks of the Director on this day’s operations were as under : 
“ The Blue Force Commander was naturally solicitous for the safety 
of his left flank, and in his anxiety to keep all clear in that direction 
he gave instructions to his cavalry commander, which the latter 
accepted in somewhat too literal a sense, and tied himself down to the 
line of the Erkina river. The work of his cavalry on this river line 
was well performed, but at the close of the day’s operations he knew 
nothing of the position of the Red Cavalry, and, beyond the informa¬ 
tion of the attempt of a Red patrol upon his outposts at Watercastle 
Bridge, he saw or heard nothing of his opponent. 
“ The Red Cavalry Commander’s instructions left him free to act as 
he deemed best, and he pushed forward his patrols with enterprise. 
Those on his left did particularly well, those on his right, with the 
exception of the one to Durrow, which passed through the enemy’s 
outposts at Watercastle Bridge, were less vigorous; and contented 
themselves with reporting Poorman’s and Waterloo Bridges unoccu¬ 
pied, making no attempt to gain further information of the enemy. 
On the whole, however, the Red Commander was well served by his 
patrols and learned the position of the enemy’s cavalry.” 
1 oth August Blue Force .—The Cavalry Brigadier established his 
headquarters at the Cross roads, half a mile west of Knapton House, 
and secured all the passages of the Nore from Poorman’s Bridge to 
Durrow 
Main body with G.O.C. reached Durrow. 
