The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-08-21

bayonets, and WAS commanded by Colo
mel Thornton The second brigade
again. at the head Of which was Colo
mel Brook. comprised the 4th and 44th
regiments: whilst the third, led by Col.
Paterson. was made up fthe , 2lst regi-
ment. and a battalion of marines. The
park of artillery, again, amounted
to no more than three pieces, one six,
and two three-pounders; and it was
rendered doubly inefficient from the
total absence of horses. The guns,
with their turnhils and ammunition
wagons, were dragged-by seamen; the
gunners and drivers followed on foot,
and the progress which they made was
as tardy as the deep and sandy nature
of the roads authorized us to expect.
The different corps had already taken
their stations. and We're in anxious eX-
p.ctation of the word of march, when
about o'clock in the afternoon. Cen
eral Ross, accompanied by his aides
de-camp and staff. rode up. No pre-
concerted plan had been arranged, nor
had the slightest wish been expressed
on the part of the officers: but his ap-
pearance amongst them was hailed by
loud and reiterated shouts from the
men. The thing was wholly involun-
tarv. and it failed not to cause the
qualification which it was calculated to
produce. The general pulled off his
hat, smiled and bowed to his soldiers,
and then addressing himself to the Off
Ger in command, desired that he should
lead on. Another hearty cheer follow
ed the delivery of this order, and the
march began.
The order in which this inroad was
effected has been so accurately describ-
ed elsewhere, that | deem it quite un-
necessary to enter here at any length
iil.o tuc utl'til. nc d't\ tiiStu Sudiu,
under the command of Major Brown
of the S5th regiment, led the way. 1t
consisted of three companies of light
infantry; two of which moved in col
umn along the road. whilst the third
extended itself in files both in front
and Oh the tlanks. Alter this body, at
a certain interval, came the light brig
ade, which also furnished company
or two, to Scour the woods. Upon the
heels of the light, followed the second
brigade; next came the artillery; and
last of all the third brigade, which fur
nished the rear-guard. Such were the
arrang gements made by our general, at
once to hinder surprise, and to guard
against amhuscades, for Il happy appli
cation of which the nature of the cOlln-
| try afforded every facility. The reader
must now bear in mind that we were
now about to penetrate through i'm
mense forests, scantily chequered here
and there with spots OF cultivated
ground. Though to us these forests
seemed pathless, it was hardly to be
expected, that there were not many
| lanes and roads cut here and there by
the inhabitants, along which, ifany en-
far f.,l lnl hnir
bodies of regular troops might be NOV
ed; whilst the well-known confidence
of the Americans in their rifles, and
their overweening estimation of their
own skill as marksmen, led to the sup
position that we should not proceed far
without falling in with one or more
parties of volunteers, anNions to give
us a sample of their moGe of Lush
| fighting. To-day, however, nothing OF
the kind occurred. Neither the lead
ing files nor the flank patroles saw an
enemy, and the column pressed for
ward not only unmolested but with
out having its spirits once elevated by
the sound Of firing.
And, in truth, it was we'll for us that
we were not, on the present occasion,
either brought into action, or harassed
by any needless formations. For, new
er. perhaps, did an army exhibit such
symptoms of deficiency, not i'll courage,
but in bodily strength; us we all eN-
hbited this day. Nor is that Il cil
cumstance hard to be accounted for.
In the first place, the soldiers, unac
customed during three months to the
weight of their arms and baggage,
found the burden, at present imposed
upon them, too great for their ener-
waited condition to endure. Even the
oldest and best of our veterans COM
planned, whilst the Younger men, and
those who had lately joined from Eng
land, soon sank under it. In the next
pace, we, unfortunately began our
Journey at the very hour, when, in Il
climate like that of Virginia, Mary
land) the ordinary traveller thinks of
resting. The heat was more intoler-
able than | have any language to de-
scribe There was not Il breath of air
in motion; the sun was bright, and the
sky perfectly cloudless; whilst the de p
fine sand, of which the road was com
posed, not only gave way beneath our
tread, but rose in masses about us, fill
ing our eyes, and even obstructimg our
respiration. 1t so happened that to-
day | was not employed with either the
advance guard or the tlankers. My
station was with the column; and it
was really painful to see those whom |
knew to be among the bravest and best