Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-22
To Mc E.IilorS NJ tie Eann.tcr

Were you ever participant, Me>srs Editors In
Military Excursion? Do YOU not know, low
the banding together, i'll uniform, iniuscs ncw
spiri, into men, and that, whatever may ne their
ordinary solidity Of manner, every mothers son
of them. on such IN occasion, seems ready-Giade
| for rcycLrout clamorous in Joll;ry, tumulluous
in hear,incss and most unlawlully noisy, rs it
we're in spite of himself! Such party--iul-
>oultd and jovial-ihe Artillery Company Of this
city. formed on Tuesday night last, Oh their way
To Petersburg
Il Will not have been forgotten, because the &C.
casion was one both of inielcs, and qualification,
that the Petersburg Artillery, Capt. Garland. vi
sized this city in The early par of The las: month.
They cane al a time, and in Il marncr, uncx
pccied 10 their bfoher>-in-2rn> here taking them
hv military >urpliSc-a merit. q! course, which
was duly acknowledged hv Us though 1T >orie
expense of notification Capt Ellis 5aG his
powder BOYS" after Illuminating o:cr their sub
,lucI feelings, the consequence OF having 'osi tie
day" determined, like good soldiers, that their
best revenge would be To win il back Accord
inrlv. having FIST thrown oft some ntImation
that the attempt would he made they prepared
their plan, and presently proceeded 10 lis cxecu-
ton
We left here, in the cars about half past II
O'Clock al night carrying our guns in the same
train. AT point about FIVE and a half miles
from Petersburg, We were Joined by our horses
the guns we're there put oil, and then sent over
land in charge Of guard, with orders 10 halt at
CampbclI's bridge. which crosses the Appona-
ioy n li,llc above tine town. The Company pro-
ccc!ed lower down the Railtoad-lc il crossed
The country about lwo and half miles, through
hriar. thicket and dch-jo;ned their guns-dasi-
e,l through the most private >iree,S-whecle into
battery on Poplar Lawn, The parade ground of
their 'cnemy,' and fired salute Just a. day was
daWning.
The surprise WIS complete. Our friends, the
Artillery there rs We had anticipated taking
warning from our designed inima'ions, had par
ties engaged nj all the usual avenues la the town,
10 give them the earliest Intelligence OF our ap-
proach: hut. rs We bad also anticipated they left
The point through which We entered, unprotected.
Onc OF the men informed us that al The very mo-
mcni he heard our first Gun, he was thinking how
impossible il would h. for uS To surprise them. II
happened also by 4 coincidence which pleased lis,
that the fire n, which We lighted our port-iireS WIS
obtained from the kitchen of the first Lieutenant
OF the Company.
have said The surprise was complete The
result was very near being Otherwise. Is We
passed the streets, the noise oil our rapid advance
awakened some of the Artillery. aid before we
had reached our }Otm dGrppi, hall cozen Of them
were seen dashing across our way. few mi
nucs only had elapsed after our salute when II
was returned from another poin, in the town.
Alter our dispositions for The dav had been
made, we were politely invite! hy Mr. Finn OF
the Lawn House 10 re-invisoratc ours Ives under
his root--which we did in a manner that soldiers
who have been up al night and are turned of
from parade about sunrise will understand. On
our wav down town having len The battery in
charge Of scn,rics. we were encountered by de-
tachment Of Captain GarlanaS Company. with
a note from him. requesting rs 10 refresh our
selves at the Lawn House and informing rs that
he would meet us with his Company on The Lawn,
al 10 o'clock, until which time, The detachment
sent BY him would take charge of our guns
This was declined h. or Captain and We con.
iiuucd our wa" 10 the Ro!ln5brokc fiocl, where
We had Il fine breakfast
Previous to the hour appointed for parade. we
returned 10 the Lawn, where we found beaut-
full row OF tents pitched in rear Of our battery for
our accommodation.
Between Ten and eleven. We heard tie sound
Of the approaching muse. A Soon as the head
of the column touched The Lawn, our visiting sa-
lutte was fired. And then there emerged before
us a long line Of sollicry, 80 bright, 50 beautiful,
| felt the double beaiing Of my heart, ami knew
that my bosom SWelied ~ slout WIN eSultatlon.
Indeed. never look upon the strong display OF
a wcll-drilied volunteer corps without exul,ant
emotions | mark the music OF their stirring
march, and glance along their FURNISHED arms,
and watch the waving OF their graceful plumes,
and eel thai my pulse beats quicker, and my step
grows prouder-for ! feel as our Captain ex-
pressed II in his dinner speech, that there is safe
Is in such an array-saety TO principles dear as
honor-salc,y 10 name bright as the unspo;ed sun
safety 10 home, Virginia bright and beautiful
as her name is pure, her principles true. In a
moment, our men were formed in front of their
pieces, TO receive in salute the marching column,
which, advancing first the length of the Lawn
nearly to the position we occupied, passed at tar-
rid arms. turned then To the left, then 10 the
right, wheeled into line, and advanced with its
full front towards us. Al convenient distance,
the line was halted, arms were presented, the
commissioned officers called 10 the front and
centre, and the two field officers dismountng, ad-
vanced TO greet our Captain. Our own officers