The Monitor., 1891-04-10

strictest charge against pluudering; and
Major Simcor. in taking The horses, bad
assured The inhabitants taat they should
be retui ned, or paid for, if they did not
appear in arms, in very few days; and
none but officers entering the houses. they
received no other injury. The Queens
Rangers infantry were about two hundred
aud seventy, rank and file, and thirty
cavalry; Colonel Ma v hood gave directions
for the forage to take place on the 18th.
The town of Salem lies upon creek of
that name " hich falls into the Delaware
nearly opposite Reedy island the Aloes.
or Alewas [Allosays] creek, runs almost
parallel to the Salem creek, and falls into
the Delaware to the south~ ard of it; over
this creek there were three bridges; Han
cocks was the lover one, Quinton's that
in the centre. and Thompson's the upper
one. Between these creeks the foraging
was to commence; the neck, or peninsula,
formed by them was at its greatest dis
taDce. seven. and at it's least four miles
wide. The rebel militia was posted at
Hancock's and Qunton's, the nearest
bridges, W. hich they had taken up and de.
Tended by breast works. Colonel Nav
hood made detachments to mask these
bridges. and foragtd in their rear: the
officer who commanded the detachment.
consisting of seventy of the 18th infantry.
at Quinton's bridge, sent information that
the enemy we're assembled IN great num-
beTs at the bridge, aud indicated as il they
meant to pass over whenever he should
omit it III which case his party would he
i'll great danger. Colonel Nav hood
marched with the Queens Rangers to his
assistance: he made circuit so as to fall
in npon the load that led from Thompson's Is
to Quinton's bridge, to deceive any patrole
which he might meet on his march. and to
make them believe that he directed it to
Thompson's. not Quinton's bridge Ap-
proaching the bridge, the Rangers halted
in the wood. aud Col. Mawhood and Major
Simcne went to the party Of the 17th. bur
In such manner as to give no suspicion
that they were part of reinforcement :;
the ground was high. till within two hun
dred yards of the bridge. where it became
marshy; Immediately beyond the bridge
the banks were steep, and on them the
enemy had thrown up breast orks; there
was a public honse very near the road. at
the edge of it's declivitv into the marsh
on the Salem side. Colonel Mawhond
asked Major Simcoe ~ neither he thought.
If he left party in the honsn, the enemy
would pass by it or not?" who replied.
iHdt iIc til'fuEut tHet NOliu pt tOD cow
ardly to do it; bnt at any rate the attempt
could do no harm, and, if he pleased. he
would try" Colonel Mawhood directed
Major Simcoe to do so. who accordirgly,
profiting by the broken ground of the or
cbard which was behind it. and the cloth
ing of his men, brought Captain Stephen
son and his company into the house undis-
covered; the front windows were opened.
and the back ones we're shut. so that no
through light could be seen; the women
of the house were put in the cellar, and
ordered to be silent; the door was left open,
and Lieutenant M'Kay stood behind it.
with a bayonet, ready to seize the first
person W ose curiosity might prompt him
to enter; the Qneen's Rangers were
brought into the wood near to that part
where it ended in clear ground. and two
companies, under Captain Saunders, were
advanced to the fences at the end of it.
where they lay fat. Colonel Mawhood
then gave orders for the detachment of
tie 18th, Who were posted near the house.
to call in their seniinels and retr. at up the
road in full view of the enemy
To BE CONTINUED