The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-28
WHOLE NO. goo.

,
Many other wondrous tales were relate
Of the wild Polish lancer-how he sometime
ickled the ribs, and al others the midriff, wit
the point Of his unerring lance"
1t was midnighl---many were calmly re
posing near the biyouac-fre | also stre,che,
myself in the most comfortable spot coulc
lind, and drew over me females mantle
which a CoSsahen had bariered with me from
his load of plumber for glass of NADIA
An uprcared door wrenched probably from
some chateau, sheltered me little from the
bitter wind. My ready saddled horse fasten-
ed to the piquet, was slumbering upon three
legs. IL was a beauieons, clear starlight
night, and the crescent moon sailed maesti-
cally through the blue ETHEREAL vault of hea-
ven
All was calm and still, save the munching
OF hungry guard just relieved from distant
post; they were diligently plunging their
swords into the great cauldron, and examining
themselves with tho still plenteous fragments
OF fowls and geese, and washing them down
with cups OF potent sehnapps. At short
distance might be seen party of anxious
gamblers seated upon the bare ground,a KNAPP
sack serving 10 throw dice upon Another
group were huddled together over some TASKS
oil vine, which, doubtless they had fallen in
with IN some OF their marauding parties
Close 10 The hire sat one, sabre in hand. scrap
ing together the scattered remains of the
dlmning FIRE; another full of strong drink 10
the point of mischief, was amusing himself
with throwing gunpowder out Of his flask
into the fire. Here tossed and tumbled some,
and others lay scattered, snoring away most
inharmoniously. The outpost continued his
silent melancholy march backwards and for
wards, occasionally humming war-song, TO
keep himself in spirits, or listening to the
changing Of his own sabre. In the rear of
the bivouac, huddled together, lay the camp
followers, ready TO sell their potent fre-water,
or 10 purchase from the marauders their
plumber at one-third its value would fain
have slept; but to sleep was impossible the
snorting, snoring, and trumpet bass of my en-
We'd comrades, kept my weary eyes from
closing. OF would our Jagers fancy them
selves in pursuit, or pursued by the white
lancer, whose image met them in their
dreams, and his name was upon their sleep
ing lips.
AT this moment bullet came whistling by
the outpost, and struck the earth not far from
one of the sleepers, who merely raised his
head, rubbed his heavy eyes, and dropped
into deeper sleep. The horses snorted and |
pricked their ears Let them fire awayn
one near to me, that is mo nnuAliar 7
nd pa inIurrer bullet. Ohio" cried the out
post. starting aside, there is a storm at hand,
{ one NAV Judge from these heavy drops.
rh On the careful sentinel listened attentlvely,
md he heard rushing sound approaching,
md afterwards the hasty hoois of horses, and
he clang OF sabres
Halt who goes there y cried thealarmed
sentinel.
The General and his suite, was the an
swer.
Halt, General forward one of the suite
said the wellinstructed sentinel, who now
demanded the parole before he would let
even the General pass.
La the meantime the distant firing had be-
come much more lively, and approached
nearer and nearer the roar of the cannon
was heard, and the vast iron balls rattled
through the air, plunged into the earth, or
scattered the bare branches of the trees, as II
in scorn oftheir feeble opposition. The enc
nv was making general attack upon our
outposts, and our trumpets sounded the shrili
alarm.
Up sprang our sleeping men like a swarm
of angry wasps disturbed in their nests, and
few to saddle. One could not find his horse
another limped upon one leg, the other De,
ing cramped and not yet awake; ,hira
snatched roasted potato out OF ne asnes
a fourth hurried to fill his fdsehehen with
schnaaps from the busy camp-tolower. One
sIoenv doc. who contrary TO orders, had UNI
saddled his steed, had now in his hurry glrth-
ed in the projecting bough OF a tree under his
saddle. and set his horse kicking mad an
other, only half awake, sat nodding upon his
horse. but could not move forward because
his steed still remained fast bound to the
piouet stake. Here, one stumbled over the
camp line; there, another foundered into a
hole which had been dug into the ground Tor
cookery purposes. Many wandered hllher
and thither, and did not seem quite certain
whether they were about TO meet friend or
foe. A strange and curious night piece is an
alarmed bivouac, particularly when illumina-
ted by the enemy's fires.
AS our men mounted, they were instantly
formed into line; and already our advanced
party was performing in piece where the
sabre played the principal part. Take care
take care, my lads lest in the dark you
sabre your friends. Listen for the French
tongue, and then slash away said our pru-
dent commander. !.
Doubtless, from our resistance, the French
Judged that we were in much stronger force
but as the day began to dawn, they were asto.
nished that ours was mere cavalry post ana
instantly ordered fresh men to attack U.S.
The tardy sun at last arose, and the cry OF
our commander was" Forwards ! forwards,
volunteers p and gallant crowd sprang out
of our ranks, and joined the front.
There he is there he is exclaimed a
dozen voices and at that moment was seen
in the dim distance. rapidly advancing upon a
r. IL. .ha n QliUht-