Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1854-03-25

paraded and drilled but TO all the ofh-
GERS the sudden change from inactivity TO
life was mystery. though some were
shrewd enough 10 surmise that the Gen
eral, from some cause well founded on
his own resson, had determined 10 attack
the British in their quarters in Philadel.
phia, and by compelling them 10 evacu-
ate, establish himself in the city for the
winter-a position much more desirable
than the cold and cherries situation al
ready contemplated Valley Forge
However, all their surmIses failed TO ac-
count for The present condition of affairs !;
and Washington considered the secret Of
so much importance, that he deemed it
imprudent 10 reveal il until the last mo-
| mcnt.
Well the evening Of the 4th came, and
out from the guarded and sentineled city
marched the British troops. The air was
not cold for the season, aud the sky was
somewhat overcast and misty, affording q
fine opportunity for the maueuvring OF
Gen. Howe's scheme. On they marched,
as silently as possible, until they had ap-
preached wi hin half mile of the Amer
lean pickets, when a halt was command
ed, and scouts were sent to reconnoitre.
Ii was now moment of intolerable
anxiety TO the British officers. They
had reached the neighborhoo1 of Chestnut
Hill, and off a mile distant in the valley
below lay in complete silence the Ameri>
can army.
The Adjutant was out few rods in
advance, accompanied only by an aide,
and with his night glass sought the lines
of the rebel encampment but the dark>
ness and the mist had grown more impen.
etrabIe, and nothing could be discerned to
indicate that the enemy were at all sus.
piclous Of danger-not even campfire
could be seen, nor the challenge of the
sentry heard-the silence was ominous,
and SO thought the Adjutant, who re-
marked to his aide:
'in the face of all the precautions which
we have taken to secure secresy in this
movement, can scarcely think it proba-
Bile that Washington is aware of our in
tentions, and has laid his plans to sur>
prise US ; but this unwontrd silence is so
ppressive-the darkness in the direction
of the camp is so impenesrable-that |
have my suspicions.'
You will note, sir replied the aide,
that the damp and foggy state of the al
mosphere is not favorable to the transmits
sicn Of sounds and sights
True, indeed. But one might expect
to catch some whisper in the neighbor-
hood of an encamped army, even in such
nIght-a murmur, even, however but
the silence here is too intense, and must
have a meaning in it,
True; but perhaps his anxiety for the
success of our expedition leads you to
give more importance 10 these appearance
es than they Deserve
We'll, perhaps i! is so: Let us ride in
and then send to me Sergeant Marshall.
The TWO officers joined again the mair
body, the aide left the general, and in Z
few moments the latter was Joined by {
short muscular man, whose frame indcat
cd the utmost hardihood, and whose face
betokened almost ferocious courage.
'Marshall,' said the .Adjutant, address
ing him briefly, Il have hazardous ser
vice for you 10 perform. You must e
down into tho enemy's encampment, ant
ascertain his condition. You understand
what | expect. Forward, then, and bring
me word in the least possible time.'
Away sped the faithful Sergeant, and
the Adjutant awaited with impatience, in
telligence from his scouts. Not Ions
was he kept in suspense, however, for o
two parties who had been sent out, one
came in and reported tha the American
army were already under arms-their ar
tilery in line, and their horse posted, a.
!, though waiting for an assault. Scarcely
; credting the report, he Adjutant wa
about giving the order TO advance, whei
from the hitherto silent camp he heard th
bugles sounding Ihe assembly, the omi
nous roll of the drum, and the trampin!
of feet as regiment after regiment took po
E siton.
t In moment after, this was succeeded
5 by the rattling of musketry, and the fasl
and roar of dozen cannons. A few o
the balls struck in the immediate vicinity
r of the general and his party, THROWN!
t the dirt into the faces of some Of his men
6, but, fortunate for them, doing no injury
j. The skirmishing below led the Englisl
g commander to believe that his othe
d scouting party had been intercepted an
for moment or two he felt an extrem
desire to dash forward in the darkness,
-, with his entire force, and chastise the in
a solen, rebels. Canyinced, however, tina
r. the Americans were prepared to Civ
h him warm and gallant reception, an
q that any attempt to dislodge them, orI a
= tack them in position, prepared as the
: evidently were for him, would be foo
!, hardy and dangerous in the extreme, an
a the troops of the naughty British geners
,. irrita,ed by disappointment, returned t
q their quarters in Philadelphia as quie Il
:. and harmIessly as they had issued from
r only few hours before, appearing as III
dt,,,t..k 4