The Sun.
London, England, 1826-12-28 00:00:00

HORRORS OF A RETREAT.

For some time, that is to say, while our route lay along
the high road, and beside the bank of the river, the march
was agreeable enough ; but as soon as we began to enter
upon the path through the marsh, all comfort was at an
end. Being constructed of materials so slight, and resting
upon a foundation so infirm, the treading of the first corps
unavoidably beat it to pieces; those which followed were
therefore compelled to flounder on in the beat way they
could ; and by the time the rear of the column gained the
morass, all traces of way had entirely disappeared. But
not only were the reeds torn asunder, and stink by the
pressure of those who had gone before, but the bog itself,
which at first might have furnished a few spots of firin
footing, was trodden into the consistency of mud. The
consequence was, that every step sunk us to the knees,
and frequently higher. Near the ditches, indeed, many
spots occurred which we had the utmost difficulty in cross-
ing at all; and as the night was dark, there being no
Moon, nor any light except what the stars supplied, it was
difficult to direct our steps, or even to follow those who
culled to us that they were safe on the opposite side. At
one of these places I myself beheld an unfortunate wretch
gradually sink till he totally disappeared.' I saw him
flounder in, heard his cry for help, and ran forward with
the intention of saving him ; but before I had taken a
second step, I myself sunk at once as high as the breast.
How I contrived to keep myself from smothering, is more
than I can tell, for I felt no solid bottom under me, and
Continued slowly to go deeper and deeper, till the mud •
reached my arms. Instead of endeavouring to help the
poor soldier, of whoM nothing could now be seen except
the head and hand., I was forced to beg assistance for
myself; when a leather canteen strap being thrown to
me, 1 laid hold of it, and was dragged out, just
as my fellow-sufferer became invisible. For my own part
I did not .fare so badly as many others Hav
ing been always fond of shooting, I took a fire-
lock, and went in pursuit of wild ducks, which abounded
throughout the bog. Wandering along in this quest I met
with a hike, by the margin of which I concealed myself,
and waited for my prey ; nor was it long before I had an
opportunity of firing. Several large flocks flew over me,
and I was fortunate enough to kill three birds. But,
alas! those birds, upon which I had already feasted in
imagination, dropped into the water : my dog, more tired
than her master, would not fetch them out, and they lay
about twenty yards off, tantalizing me with the sight of a
treasure which I could not reach. Moving off to another 1
pointi I again took my station where I hoped for better
fortune ;,but the Same evil chance again occurred, and the
ducks fell into the lake. This was too much for a hungry
man to endure ; the day was piercingly cold, and the edge
of the pool was covered with ice; but my appetite was
urgent, and I resolved at all hazards to indulge it. Pull-
ing off my clothes, therefore, I broke the ice, and plunged
in; and though shivering like an aspen leaf, I returned
safely to the camp with a couple of birds. Next day I
adopted a similar course with like success ; but at the ex-
pence of what was to me a serious misery. My stockings
of warm wool was the only part of my dress which I did
not strip off, and today it unfortunately happened that
loneand `where
was
Havingotto
msecwu rased
mmuyddy ;hut my leg stuck
ducks, I attempted to
fast, and in pulling it out off came the stocking; to re-
cover
it was beyond my power, for the mud closed over it
directly, and the consequence' was, that till I regained
.the
transport, only one of my feet could be warm at a
To those who can boast of many pairs of flue cutton:und
woollen hose, this,misfortune of mine may appear Het,
but to me, who haul only two stockings on shore, the loss.
of one was very grievous; and I therefore request that
may not be sneered at when I recom it as one of the
disastrous consequences of this ill-fated expOtimhCain"
paigns in Amerwa—New Orkans.