Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-23

ent roads that intersected the forest. we very
naturally gave them up as lost, and continued
our Journey, with the conviction in our m,nda
that more work would be Gu, out for US ere
many hours should pass by.
Soon after this, the ouglcs Of the army SCUM.
ded a hait, and We as wen as the main BODY
prepared 10 obey 1t, but Just as we had fixed
upon d convenient spot for the purpose; a sol
dIsr came running up with intelligence that
me thTee horsemen we're sui in the thicket a.
oout musket shot from our right. Taking viii
me . uozen men l instantly plunged into Tue
wood, and here, sure enough, thev sat uuon
the edge OF one of the lakes, their horses be
ing fastened 10 stree close by. NV party pre-
served a profound silence, and We closed ora
duaiIy round them: but the crashing of the
ooushs there was no sitting, and when we res-
cned the spot they were gone They had leap.
cd mo a canoe Oh tue first alarm, and were now
psuuHhB, as fast as hes could TO the opposite
shore. There was no time TO be lost, I called
oa' 20 hsm to surrender, aud by way Of enfor
eng the summons, Commanded the whole OF
my peope to level tier pieces. The specta.
Gle was too ai4rinIng for raw recruits, SO they
held up a white handkerchief in token of sub.
mission, and pulled back again Immediately
on landing they were, as may he supposed,
disarfned, and then with their three beautiful
chargers. conducted to head quarters
On coming IN with the prisoners. we found
The army halted near a farm house. around
winch were several cleared fields, " II adap.
TED 70 case of need, Tor a rapid m,htary lorna,
ton. The general himself, attenued BY ADM.
RAJ CockDurn, Was sitting in the midst of his
staff by the way side, and few orderiies were
leading Their horses backwards aud iorw ards.
VI The oidIers a few had stsayed from their
ranks, but blue jackets might be seen in every
elrteton, pursuing pigs. fowls and other live
STOCK, attuH speed, aud with much apparent
satisfaction Nor wss It possible to refrain from
laughing at The singular behaviour oftbese men.
Ali ine threats order, and entrsates Of Their off.
GERS were set al defiance, they knew nothing
about discipline on shore, and were not now
gong to learn II. AT last the very endeayor 10
bring them back Was abandoned, and they con.
tinted to amuse themselves, as well as US, till
the column again began 10 move Nor did any
one appear to enjoy the joke more than Gen
Ross HE was laughing heartily, as We're the
Admiral andthe rest OF the group, when We
appeared; and he with d ihculty suppressed the
mirth, even though the presence Of the prison.
ers dew his attention TO 0 her grayer matters
Having put a few questions TO the young
men, IS 10 tue duty on which they mad them
selves been employed, Gen. Ross proceeded 10
cateehise them respecting Inc NUMBER and pc
sitlon of the force appointed tor the defence of
Baltimore. Their answers were neither very
distinct nor very satisfactory. They spoke of
levy en- mssse-hin,ed chat every male eapa.
bic OF bearing arms was enrolled and cslcul4-
ted the strength of the whole, including three
thousand regulars, at twenty thousand men.
The cavalry, they said, consisted principally of
volunteer troops. to one Of which Mey had
themselves belonged. and most OF il, al well az
6 large portion Of the Infantry, had met us in
tn { field of Blsdensburg. In artillery: again.
they fiji med, that the strength OF the Ameri.
cahs was prodlgiDus, upwards OF one hundred
pieces ofeannon were Ia battery, and these
being manned BY seansn fromthe hees. would.
they observed to us do their duty. The Gene.
raj heard this with a countenance which never
once varied M expression, and then ordering
them to the rear; in spite Of many urgent en-.
treaties that he would dismlss thea, on their
parole, he commanded The bagle to sound. and
the troops again stood to their arms.
Whilst the column was making ready 10 pro.
secute its more orderly advances we stoutly
plunged once more into the thickels and press
ed on. For about half sn hour we proceeded
without the occurrence Of any circu Instance
calculated to excite III Us a more than usual de-
gree of aiacrity. There were the same obsta.
cles of brake and briar to overcome, and from
time TO time the same impediments of ponds
and creeks to be surmounted; but still no ene-
my or any trace ofan enemy. could be descri-
bed. At length however the face OF affairs
underwent a chsnge. A few figures suddenly
showed themselves, stesllng from tree to tree,
and bush to bush, they became more and more
numerous as we went on, and finally We be.
held about four hundred rifiemen scattered
through the wood, aud prepared to dispute
with us our further progress. Nor were many
moments wasted in idly gazing at each other
having warned the colu mn, by the sound OF our
bugles, that an enemy was in sight, We rushed
forward and the forest echoed again TO the re-
port OF our and the Americans muskets.
Our skifmlsh to day was for a while tolera.
bly, hot, and extremely animated. The Ameri.
cans US beyond calculation, whilst,
as individuals, they were at leas, our equals in
the skill with which they used their weapon;
yet, from the very commencement, il was on
our part a Continual advance. on theirs a contln
ual retreat.-We drove them from thlckel TO
thicket and tree TO tree, not, indeed, with an
heavy loss, for they were no less expert in
finding shelter than in taking aim. bat occasion.
ally bringing down an individual rs he was run
ming from one cover to another Our loss again
was very trifng. Two men killed and about a
dozen wounded, made up the sum Of our ca,
suaities-snd 1t may with truth be asserted, that
) every thing was going on as the general Inn.
sell could have wished. But unhapplly he was
satisfied OF this. The firing struck HIN as being
more heavy and more continued than II ought
TO oe-he was apprehensive that we had fsllen
IN some serious ambuscade, and unwilling to
tribe with the safety even of = few companions,
he rode forward for the purpose OF satisfying
himseli thar they were safe. How bitterly had