The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-10-16

leaving Nottingham decidedly behind,
they were rare indeed One mighty
+ forest was before us around us. which.
if it served no other purpose, at all
events screened us from the rays of
sultrv sun. which would have other
wise proved in the highest degree il.-
convenient.
We quilted our ground at seven
clock. and went on for about a cou-
pie of hours. without any circumstance
occurring calculated to attrac} at
! tention. or deserving of notice. few
pigs and turkeys. indeed, which hap
pened to he at large near Il farmhouse
hv the wav-side. suffered it is true, the
fate incident to mortality: and much
laughter was heard from front to rear
of the column. as dogs and men either
failed or succeeded in the chase. But
of the enemy no traces were discover
ed though our guide assured us that
several numerous bodies had passed
| the night in this neighhorhood. About
noon, however. We were put little
upon our mettle. and an adventure
took place which record, chiefly for
the purpose of showing the temper and
disposition of the men with whom we
were now embroiled.
The advanced parties having arrived
at the more open country which sur
rounds Marlborough. found themselves
suddenly in the presence of two squad
rons of well-mounted, and handsomely
appointed calvary. They were com
posed, as we afterwards learned, OF
| gentlemen volunteers in the service of
| their country. To do them Justice.
| the troopers no sooner saw our men,
than they made Il spirited effort to cut
| down one or two files. which appeared
to be separated from their companions
| and at distance from the wood.
| But single discharge from another
| party which they had not observed.
instantly checked them; and they gal
loped off.
| Almost ut the same moment when
this little affair was going on, some
eight or ten riticmen being discovered
in the wood on the right of the road.
were pursued by Colonel Thornton,
and one of them oycrtaken. When |
say that the fellow was overtakcn, |
mean that he halted of his own accord,
and made signs that he gave himself
up. The Colonel. satisfied with this.
was directing a file of his men to 90
forward and secure the prisoner, when
the American. with the utmost deliber-
alton, levclled his piece and fired.
Happily he missed his mark but that
circumstance would have availed him
little had he fallen into the hands of
our people. Fleet of foot, however,
and well acquainted with the country,
he soon managed to battle his pursuers,
who, after having wasted few rounds
at him, were compelled to abandon the
chase and return to their ranks
1t has been already stated, that our
corps experienced great Inconvenience.
and was sorely crippled in one of its
most important aims, through the want
of horses. We had no artillery: three
of the smallest pieces ever used, hardly
deserved to he termed such: we were
without cavalry. and even our staff
was miserably provided. The General
felt this, and he did his best to remedy
the evil, by causing every horse which
was found in the fields or stables near,
to be seized and brought in. BY this
means we were enabled to muster. at
the close of the third day, troop of
about forty horsemen; and such horse
men! The men, indeed, were like 9TH
er British soldiers; they were artillery
drivers, and they were commanded bv
an officer Of artillery: but the horses
We're, for the most part Indifferent
enough, whilst the appointments ofthr
troopers proved. in many instances, Il
source of merriment, not only to us
but to themselves. 1t was not always
that saddles could be found for the
horses; and when such were totally
wanting. recourse WAS had to blankets.
Dubbed repeatedly, and strapped on
| the animals backs On other occa-
sions, the absence Of bride was com
pensat"d 10y Il halter: very many OF
the men made stirrups for themselves
out Of pieces of rope, and few rode
| bare-bacIed. Nor were their weapons
more uniform or more graceful than
their horse eqnipage. \ few on V car
ried their own sabres: the rest were sup
| piled with the cutlassas which belonged
to the scamen who dragged the guns.
Yet this irregular and wretchediy
equipped cavalry proved repeatedly of
the most essential service to the eNpc-
dton.
1t was one O'Clock, when the neat
houses, and pretty gardens Of MARI
borough, presented themselves to our
view. ! know not whether the scene
would strike me now. aS it struck me
then, We're | again to visit it; Lut at
that moment | imagined that | had
never looked upon landscape more
pleasing or more beautiful. The little
green hills which OH either hand in
closed the village, tuited here and there