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

the three brigades into which the army
was divided a cOmmandant had been
appointed 1t cou Id not, therefore, be
for the purpose Of organizing his trools
that our leader abstained from advan-
ciny. But there were stores to be
landed, medical and commissariot de-
partment to be arranged, and disposi-
tions to I've made for speedy and safe
reshipment, in case of any reverse or
check in our operations. Besides, it
was not quite certain that the end Of
the debarkation had as yet been deter
mined on. The most prevalent rumor,
indeed. spoke of tlotilla of gun-boats
up the river; and of the necessity Of
cooperation between the fleet and the
army, to secure its capture; but wheth-
er even now, the general or admiral
were not calculating their means for
the attainment of a higher object, is to
say the least of it, doubtful BE this
however. as it may, one thing appeared
very certain, namely, that there was
but a slender chance of our etfecting
anything, or making any progress, dur
ing the day.
Having remained in the neighbor-
hood of the position till noon. | deter
mined, in company with friend. my
brother subaltern, whose name was
Williams, to proceed upon a toraging
excursion up the country. With this
view we took the right hand road, of
which have already spoken, and ar
rived. after walk of about a couple
of miles, at farm house. 1t was the
same which another officer had visited
during the previous day; and if, as l
bave no reason to doubt, he really
found it. uninjured.- d.-marauders had
been busy enough between the period
of his visit and ours. 1t was now
thoroughly ransacked. Scarcely an
article of furniture remained entire;
and as to living creatures, there was
not one to be seen in its vicinity. We
left it behind and went forward. \
further walk, of perhaps half Il mile,
brought us to poor cottage, situated
about stones throw from the road,
the general style and architecture of
which bespoke it as being the residence
of some new settler. Even it had not
escaped the rapacity ofstragglers. Its
hogsty was torn down, its poultry
house broken open, and its little gar
den robbed of almost every cabbage
and potato that grew in it. There
was wretched old woman here. who
began to weep bitterly as soon as she
beheld us. With some difficulty We
managed to convince her that from us
she had nothing to apprehend; and
having informed her of what we We're
in quest, she produced, as she declared,
her last fowl: for which she was aston
ished at being paid by quarter-dollar
piece This act of barter on our parts
restored her to herself, and we were
not less gratitied than surprised to
learn, that .he had suffered no injury
from the British troops; but that her
son, with whom she lived, had himself
driven off the hogs, and let the poultry
loose into the woods We likewise
learned that there were neither villages
nor farm-hOuses within six miles of her
cabin, space of country which We
did not deem it prudent to traverse.
SO wishing her good morning, we di-
rected our steps backwards, and reach
ed the bivouac unmolested.
On returning to our home under the
tree, we found that Charlton and the
servants had been far more actively.
or rather successfully, employed than
o lrselves. \ pig, Il goose, and a barn
door fowl. bore testim ony to the zeal
and diligence with which they had con-
Quoted themselves: and these being all
in an advanced state Of preparation,
we looked forward with satisfaction to
the enjoyment of substantial and deli
cate repast But rs the poet expresses
; himself
s.The best laid schemes of mice and men
g. Gang aft awIy:
, could this day painfully vouch. Our
. mrsscs were just laid upon the grass.
f and we had Just taken our seats beside
them when the bugles suddenly sound
ed Mortified, as it was but natural
| that we should be, at an occurrence SO
. ill-timed, there remained for us only
one course to pursue. We took each
= in his hand as much meat and bread
e as he believed he should be able to coz
: sumo whilst on the march, and the rest
: was unceremOnlously bestowed in oul
own and our mems haversacks; we
|, buckled on our accourtrements, and
e slung our baggage Oh our backs and
, hurried of to our stations.
0 \ few minutes only elapsed, before
: the whole army, consisting ofnear foul
| thousand men, and divided. as | have
f: already stated, into three br:gades
/ drew up in the order in which it was
: designed to move. 1t was my fortune
1 to be attached to the light brigade
which, as forming the advance, took
n part ut the head of the column. This
y force, which WAS composed of the s5tl
e regiment, the light companies of the
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