"If the troops had not acted as they did, it would have been a lot worse, a real massacre," he said.

Sometimes, as in Georgia, it is convenient for Russia to sow confusion about whether its troops are acting independently.

Washington urged the troops under his command "to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier."

Numerous witnesses, including two American journalists, say the troops acted with cool deliberation.

American troops acted primarily "for force protection," he said, that is, to safeguard American soldiers.

Firstly, his troops did not act the way he wanted.

General Banks, in which the troops and gunboats acted in conjunction.

Two troops of cavalry, acting as one man, spread sideways and halted, precisely in line.

"If our troops acted irresponsibly, they would have killed many people," he added.

The troops were Zlobenian, and acted as though they owned the place.