The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-06-20

productive Of disorder, at time when
good order was of vital importance.
We had now proceeded about nine
miles, during the last part of which,
the suns rays had been continually up
on Us, and we had inhaled almost as
great quantity of dust as of air. Num-
bers of men had already fallen to the
rear, and many more could with diff
Guilty keep up: consequently, if we
pushed on much farther without resting,
the chances were that at least one half
of the army would be left behind. To
prevent this, and to give time for the
stragglers to oyertake the column, a
halt was determined upon and being
led forward to a spot of ground, well
wooded and watered by a stream which
crossed the road, the troops were or
dered to refresh themselves. Perhaps
no halt ever arrived more seasonable
than this, or bid fair to be productive of
more beneficial effects and yet so OPP
pressive was the heat, that we had
not resumed our march more than an
hour, when the banks by the way side
were again covered with stragglers !;
some of the finest and stoutest men
in the army being literally unable to
go.
The hour of noon was approaching,
when a heavy cloud of dust, apparently
not more than two or three miles distant,
attracted our attention.-From whence it
originated there was little difficulty in
guessing, nor did many minutes expire
before surrnise was changed to certain
ty +; for on turning sudden angle of the
road, and passing small plantation
which INSTRUCTED the vision towards the
left, the British and American armies
became visible to one another. The
position occupied by the latter was one
OF great strength, and commanding atti-
tude. They were drawn up in three
lines upon the brow of hill, having
their front and left flank covered by a
branch of the Potomac, and their right
resting upon a thick wood and a deep
raYine- The river, which may be about
the breadth of the Isis at Oxford, flowed
between the heights occupied by the
American forces, and the little town of
BIadensburg. Across it was thrown
narrow bridge, extending from the chief
street in that town TO the continuation of
the road which passed through the very
centre Of their position; and its right
bank, (the bank above which they were
drawn up) was covered with narrow
stripe of willows and lareh trees, whilst
the left was altogether bare, low and
exposed. Such was the general aspect
OF their position as at the first glance it
presented ITSELF
''ln the mean time, our column con-
tinued to advance in the same order
which it bad hitherto preserved. The
road conducted us for about two miles in
direction parallel with the river, and
of consequence with the enemy's line;
when it suddenly turned and led directly
towards the town of Bladensburg. Be-.
ing of course ignorant whether this town
might not be filled with American troops,
the main body paused here till the ad-.
vanced guard should reconnoitre. The
result proved that no opposition was i'm
tended in that quarter, and that the
whole of the enemy's army had BEEN
withdrawn to the opposite side of the
stream; whereupon the army was again
put in notion. and in a short time arriv-
ed in the streets of Bladensburg,. and
within range of the enemy's artillery.
Immediately on. our reaching this point,
several of their guns opened upon US, and
kept up quick and well directed can
nenade, from which, as we were again
commanded to halt, the men were di-
rected to shelter themselves as much as
possible behind the houses. The object
of this halt, it was conjectured, was to-
give the General an opportunity of ex--
the American line, and Of trying
the depth of the river, because at pres
eat there appeared to be but one practi-
cal mode of attack, by crossing. the
bridge and taking the enemy directly In
front. TODD SO, however, exposed as
the bridge was, must be attended with
bloody consequences !; nor could the de-
lay of a few minutes produce any mis-
chief which the discovery Of afford would
not amply compensate.
6 But in this conjecture we, were alto
gether mistaken; for without allowing
time to the column to close its ranks or
to be formed by some of the many stray