The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-09-04

IfuIn De SlOkell, our lcelinSS "tic as
much akin to those of the first named
class of persons as to those of the last
For myself, | freely confess, that |
brushed through the underwood, and
traversed the enclosures, more in the
spirit of one beating for game than
looking out for opponents; and if any
Judgment may be formed from the
merry chat and rude repartees o, those
about, a similar spirit animated the
men.
But thou gh our occupation was pro-
ductivc OF much merriment and very
considerable excitement, it must be
confessed, that the fatigue which ac-
companied it began, before many honrs
had expired, to counterhalance in no
slight degree both the one and the 9th
er of these advantages. The woods.
be it remembered, were thick and tang
led, and the grass that grew under the
taller trees seldom reached lower than
our hips, and often passed our middles.
Besides, no enemy appeared to interrupt
our progress; and there was a tame
ness in searching continually to no pur-
pose, and in expecting forever, without
having the expectation gratitied. Tn
der these circumstances, we were be-
yond means displeased, when, towards
noon, our bug les sounded the halt. At
this particular moment, / and my sec
ton were extended on the right of the
road; and occupied part Of wood,
which presented every appearance Of
having continued unmolested since the
davs of Noah. But as the blast did
not call us in, we were ut no loss to
discover that the halt was merely tenn
porary, and that the ground of en-
campment for the night could not yet
be in view We lay down, however.
where we were, well pleased that all
opportunity of resting our weary limbs
was afforded, and, unbuckling our hav
ersacks, addressed ourselves with ex-
treme good will to the remnants of
such provisions rs could still he found
there.
1t chanced, tha- in securing these
forests, We had put up, among other
animals, leveret, which poodle dog,
the property of my friend Charlton,
chased and caught. The reader will
easily believe that poor puss was not
little baffied and confused by the shouts
and cries with which our men anima-
ted the pursuer, and that nothing like
fair play was granted to her in her eff.
forts to escape. Taking advantage of
this pause, few of the soldiers set to
work, skinned and cut up the hare,
lighted fire. and were preparing to
dress it, when circumstance occurred,
which in an instant called off our at
tention to other and more important
matters. "What is that" said 4 cor
poral, who stood beside me. whilst |
was watching the progress of dissect-
ing the leveret. "Doy not see some
thing, sir, moving through those bushes
to the right?'' | looked instantly in
the direction towards which the soldier
pointed, and beheld plainly enough
flash, like that which the sudden fall
ing of a sunbeam OH bright arms pro
duces. There was no room to doubt
from what source that flash proceeded.
My bugle sounded the alarm, the men
stood to their arms, and we dashed
forward to the copse. 1t was rs l an
ticipated. A body of the enemy, per-
haps an hundred and fifty in number.
were there. Preceiving by our move
ment that they were discovered, they
INSTANTLY opShSN IteiI hic, anu Il very
pretty and interesting skirmish began.
1t was not, however, of long continu-
ance We rushed on, the men firing
as an opportunity offered, and covering
themselves all the while, as they easily
might, 10y the trees; whilst the Ameri-
cans, not waiting for our approach, re-
treated with all haste through a coun-
try manifestly well known to them
and were beyond our reach in ten min
utes. In this tritling affair not sin
gle British soldier was scratched, whilst
of the enemy, but one solitary dead
body was discovered.
Trihing as the <kirmish was. it
served, us the sound OF the bugles in
all directions toll us, to put the whole
army on the alert. Advance was again
the order Of the day, and advance we
did, in higher spirits and better humor
than had distinguished us from the
beginning. The enemy, we trusted
would sooner or later hazard a battle
and as he had begun the system of dis
putting his territories with us, we
doubted not that he would hencetortl
act up to it. But the prospect of be
ing every moment hurried into action
even though it be accompanied in the
bravest heart with sensations-not per
haps of alarm, but of something re
motely akin to It's, upon the whole
to a soldier i'm full march, and surround
ed by gallant comrades, one of the mos,
animating and exquisite sensations o
which human nature is susceptible. Ii
is not then with him, as it is in the
stiffness of his tent or bivOnac, when ht
knows that tomorrow sun must light
him to field of carnage and death