Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-16
TDe late 2Uar.
CAPTuRs OF & RSTRrAr FsoN w~AsHISsToS
From "a Su5alfern IN .4merisa."

this time to trouble me, the limb was stuff. and
the exertlon of walking produced some rnfia
mstion. A little to the rear of the fed of bat
tie stood a cottage, into which my trend con
Quoted me We found in it a few accommoda
tons, but IL afforded at least clean water and
towel, which, with a fresh handk erohiei, VI
| applied - the burt, as the best, and indeed
the only dressing, which could at that momen0
be obtained, tor the surgeons were all too gu
~ to attend 10 q case 50 little urgent. This
done, We gladly threw ourselves upon a sort oI
box bed, at one end Oh the room. and we're a
sleep IN i've minutes.
Our repose was not, however, Of long con
unuance. The cottage soon became a place OF
rendezvous to all the officers OF the brigade
and the scene thereby occasloned was at once
too lively, and too striking. not to call into
play the scenes both of actors aud spectators
Congratulations and hearty greetings, ming
led with all occasional expression of sincere re-
greet, broke 10 upon our SAUNDERS; and the ma
ny anecdotes which each was enabled TO relate
the mode IN which affairs were conducted Al
different parts OF the tieid--oi the Conspicuous
yslour OF this or that soldier; OF the daring OF
timldity OF 1.-THE enemy at this or that point OF
the ~heid-weTe all a great deal too interesting
10 be listened TO with a drowsy ear. We quit.
ted ouPcouch, and joined heartily in the COZ.
~versation and mirth OF those about us. OF sober
though 1t must be confessed. that little inter
yened: the excitement Of battle was yet too re
cent and it is not under sAlch circumstance
that mans better and holier feelings are IL.
force. Sorrow we did ~profess-aye, and felt ii
too-tbat more than one oomrade whom we
loved, was absent; but our minds were too
much occupied with other thoughts, to afford
room for any profound or even acute repinings.
We had thus been employed Tor perhaps an
hour or something better, when an orderly
SERGEANT arrived with intelligence, that the sc.
cond and third brlgades were in motion, aud
that we also should De required to push on as
soon IS the men were collected. A lew min
utes only elapsed. before the bugle gave notice,
that the corps were mustered We obeyed
the summons instantly, and in five minutes
more, the Light Brigade took to the road to
Washing on.
II was dusk when we quilted the position,
snd perfectly dark before We reached the b,gh
road; but neither confusion nor delay took
place. The path was broad and well NAKED
and The troops were all u that state OF dsciI.
line. which would have carried them through
more serious difficulties, had such cJme M
their way, whist tue consciousness OF having
done their duty aud the expectation OF resping
the fruits of their toll, supported them under
! Vic AIi'iOa Will a ICA1tENNs h0t thy ="
! part, though the effort to keep up became, b
degrees. s~eFiousi, painful, | shall never cease
to congratulate myself on having persisted in
making il. NO one. unless he has CHANGED TO
travel under similar circumstances, can tarm
! the most distant notion OF the state Of our feel
ings during the progress OF that journey. The
destruction OF Washington, or rather OF stores
or public buildings in Warrington had already
begun, and the heavy EXPLOSIONS, which from
time 20 time occurred, the sheets OF tire which
quvered in the air; the very waving OF tue
flames, heard in the Stiffness of lhe night TO an
| extraordinary distance-iormed such a scene as
| have no words adequate to describe. The
fed ofbattle was distant not more than four
miles IRON the city; from the first, therefore
these sights and sounds reached US. but rs we
drew nearer and nearer to the spot from
whence they proceeded, we all felt that con
versstlon, under such circumstances, would
have been sacrilegious. We moved in that STATE
of admiration, or rather awe, which locks up
the voice, and Expresses the very reason.
Having arrived at a sort OF a common about
a quarter of a mile distant from the town. the
halt was sounded, and a bivoua: directed to be
formed. With this view the men piled their
arms and lighted large fires, for which fuel
was found among the fences and pailings near.
and set about preparing their evening meal
That done, all set down; not with our usual
noisy mernment. but to gaze in silence upon
the conaagra,son which still proceeded. The
hum OF conversation which generally murnurs
through the camp Was not heard 10 night; thos,
who spoke at all, spoke only in whispers, as
if We had been guilty of some act which made
Us ashamed to hear the sound OF our own vol
css, or were tiaced IN a situation Of extreme
peril. II was thus with us for full two hours;
Al last, however, a consciousness of great bod
ly fatigue overcame every other seusation. and
We turned our feet towards our fires. and wrap
ped up as usual, soon fell asleep.
But the night was not even now destined to
be passed in quiet. IL might be about twelve
or one O'Clock. when a tremendous peal Of
thunder, SO loud a. to drown, for an instant.
every aoise awoke US. The rain was falling 10
torrents. and flash after fash of vivid light
ming displayed not only the biyouac, but the
streets, the houses, nay the very windows NJ
the town, with q degree of minuteness tar grea
ter than the beams II a MONDAY sun would
have produced The effect was magnificent
beyo nd The power Of language to describe,
Not even the drenching. against which cloaki
and blankets failed TO afford protection, could
lead me to neglect the occurrence, for ! really
do not reeollect at any period OF my life, Il
have been witnessed to a spectacle SO imposing
The thunderstorm in Virginia, though VIC
lent 10 a degree unknown in European eoun
tries, are seldom of very long continuance. IL
less than an hour, the present had died away
and there was sgain nothing to break IN upo'
the quiet OF The night, except an oecaslona
roar As a magazine blew up. or a crash, as
waIl orroof fell TO the ground. But tnes'
were already familiar 10 us; they Interfesed u
no respect with Ger siumbers, which. benz