The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-02-23

when the sound Of scattered shot in their
front gave the first signal of their having
approached the enemy's force. The firinS
soon thickened, the regiment halted, and
otelniorth was sent galloping back to head
quarters with the news.
There the scene which he anticipa,ed
fully realized. All was contraricty. The
Duke Of brunswick had been reused from
his siumbers, and crowd of general Off
GERS were soon assembled. Steinorth was
ordered in to deliver his intelligence; his
tale was brief one, but it produced no
slight confusion among the grave saoes
on whom the fate of Prussia was to dc.
pend for the nt,xt twelve hours; the most
anxious period Of her existence. They
with one voice pronounced that the officer
must have been deceived; that the French
could not have more than passed the 'front.'
Ter, and that there was full time to move
on their TANKS, out-manpuvre them, and
finish the war by sending the French En-
Peror prisoner to Berlin. An invoIun-
tary smile stole over Steinforth's counten
ance at this wise decision; it was seen, and
he was asked the reason of so prcsumptu-
Gus an exhibition.
"four Royal Higllness," said the Young
AdJutant, "must look for Your information
from higher sources. have told you all
that know. But il you ask my opinion.
l shall give il fairly; that unless the army
Is m march before day break, the enemy
will throw themselves in our rear, burn
our magazines, and leave us to fight as we
may: without bread, brandy, or guupow-
lnsolencc!' exclaimed naughty per
sonagc, n Major-Gencral, excessively in.
dIgnant at this easy way Of expressing n
fact. "four Royal IIighness,h said the
angry General, "would do well to consider.
before you act on this advice. This mans
statement is utterly impossible. am by
no means sure that he is not French
SPY. l hanged two Of the profession in
front OF my quarters but yesterday"
Steinforth's cheek blazcd: he oave Ma.
Jor'General Won Roller the shortest denial
that could be expressed by the shortest
word, and ins,inctivcly clappcd his hand
on the hilt OF his sabre. The result was.
OF course, his instant arrest. The com.
mander-in-chief mildly expressing his re-.
grct that an officer Of bis appearance
should be guilty Of sucl, a breach Of dis.
ciP''ne, nodded TO an aid-deca,np, who,
stepping outside the tent, retunsed will, q
s9%els sls sl llRAaf Sas Sassi. i.sst ,a ,saannsriIy to-
the rear; with orders 10 be forwarded TO
Spandau-the usual retreat of heroes too
hot to know the respect due to major
generals, however tyrnnnical.
But fate had otherwise ordained, and
Steinforth was not to figure among the
il!ustrious Of Spandau. From the first
hill which he reached with his two lIu!ans.
he b.crved broad light, covering the
horizon towards the east. Could it le
day-break! Impossible. The sun was not
to rise for three hours: il in such weather
he should rise at all. 1t must be con-
flagration. And 10y whoml il lv the
enemy, then the French had already turn
ed the flank Of the army, and were be-
tween them and Berlin. lie implored
the Huans to let him ride back with this
confirmation Of his intelligence; but those
honest fellows would not have vcnturcd
the straPpado for three armies; they shook
their heads, and pulled at his bride, pis-
tol in hand. There was nothing now to
be done for it, but to GO on. They reach
ed another rising ground, and from it was
the whole spectaclc-thc town Of Naum.
dorf, with all the magazines Of the Prus-
sian army, in flames; the French cavalry
gambolling from fire to fire, perfectly at
their case, tossing sacks Of corn and piles
Of straw into the blaze, buIging ia the
heads Of brandy barrels and bear casks
with their carLines, and amusing them
selves with throwing lighted matches a.
mong the piles Of fagots that were intend
ed to warm the bivouacs Of the Prissian
grenadiers. Steinforth would have cliarg-
ed among them with all his heart; but rs
bis force consisted but Of two IIulans,
while the enemy displayed twenty regi-
ments Of lancers and hussars, prudence
told him that there was no chance Of his
making any very elective diversion in
honor Of his country.
The business Of his escort was now rs
much to save themselves as TO keep their
prisoners in safe custody. They accord
ingly struck out Of the high road, wound
their way through the thickets which en-
tend in the rear Of Jena, and watched for
the sound Of the French buglcs; rs the
fox may be supposed to watch for the cry
Of the hounds. But this devious route
brought them into direct contact with the
very thing which they to avoid. The
runbling Of carriage wheels, coming at
full speed along the rough causeway OF
the forest, frat caught their ears; then the
firing of pistols, and the trampling Of
cavalry in pursuit. The Uulans were per
picked; ard as in the moment Of pcrplexi-
ty, every man is most flexible, Steinforth
took the command, posted ks two heroes
on opposite sides Of the path, and waited
for fortune. just ss the carriage reached
their ambuscade, Il was oyertaken by the
pursuers, ard brought TO dead halt
Brasdenbu'g pcs,iIlions may be brave
bus q dozen of hnzxars ara not TO be en-.
countered without consideration. Tn,
postillion dropped tho rcins, next dropped
on his knees, and the capture was com
plete. The French instantly threw opcr