The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-10-30

tramp of people marching. but their
very forms were distinguishable in the
starlight. Without Il moments hest
taton commanded the men to fire
The enemy halted, seemed to hesitate,
and then. without 50 much as return
ing the salute, melted away. All this
was a matter of extreme mystery to
me: but in a few minutes it was cleared
up very satisfactorily.
The sound of our firing drew Charl-
ton, with the rest Of the picket, to the
spot Immediately; and from them we
learned, that the troops, whose advance
in an opposite direction had first
alarmed us, proved to be an escort of
our own people conveying ammunition
and provisions from the fleet. This in
telligence at once accounted for the
precipitate retreat of the Americans.
| They had doubtless obtained informa-
tion of the coming up of this detacil-
ment, and supposing that its object was
to reinforce us, they not unnaturally
concluded that their intentions were
known, and their plot defeated. Such,
at least, was the opinion which |
formed at the moment; and though l
profess not to speak upon any ground
more sure than my own surmises, l see
no reason to suppose that it was incor-
rect. Be this, however, us it may, one
thing is certain, that the force which
but a moment ago had threatened us
disappeared. and that neither it nor
any other gave us the slightest an
noyance during the remainder of our
| watch.
| was quite aware that the preced-
ing account will convey to the mind of
the reader but a very inadequate idea
of the state of painful and feverish ex-
citement which affected us during the
greater part of the night. From the
instant that we became acquainted
with the attempt which was about to
be made against us, we naturally
looked for its commencement; and
hence every noise, the signing of the
wind through the trees, the waving of
the branches, the creaking of a gate or
door upon its hinges, one and all OF
these, as often rs they occurred, were
construed into the sound Of an advan-
eng enemy. Nor was this feeling of
anxiety less intensely experienced by
the sentinels than by us. All their
senses may truly be said to have been
upon the stretch; and as there was no
moon, nor any other light except that
| which the stars afforded. it is not to be
wondered ut if the sense of sight re-
peatedly deceived them. Many bush
and stake was pointed out as the lead
ing file of a column of troops; more
than one musket was levelled at such
maginary foes; and but that most of
them were old soldiers, well trained to
GOODNESS and caution, the worst conse-
quences might have followed. Our
situation, be it remembered, was total
ly different from that Of an ordinary
outpost. In the latter case, your de-
tachment forms but one link of con-
nected chain, any effort to break in
upon which must be made at the haZ-
ard of alarming the whole army; and
if you be forced, your retreat is always
direct and sure upon the main body.
We at this moment stood perfectly
alone; and though a few sentinels
doubtless communicated from us to the
pickcts, 5000 men mi ght have thrown
themselves between us and the camp,
without one being able, by any eXer-
tions, to know it. There is not doubt
that we owed our safety altogether to
the opportune arrival of the CONVOY;
though even that, which consisted of
no more than l2O men, might have
been cut off as we'll as we, had the
Americans been somewhat less eau
tious of risking their persons. have
said that after the retreat of the corps
| which threatened us from the cross
road, we neither saw nor heard any
thing more of the enemy that night.
| The AleXandrian road continued, in
deed. to the last to furnish occupation
for the vigilance of our sentries; for
there was no end to the stragglers,
sailors, companies, and troops which
moved along it. But this circumstance
though abundantly harassing at the
moment, tended not little to increase
our security, inasmuch as it gave init
nation to the Americans, if any Law
near, that our people were awake. At
length, however, the moment of our
departure drew on, and we waited its
arrival with the most unfeigned salts
faction. The first streaks of dawn were
barely visible, when. calling in the more
remote sentnels, we began our march
towards the camp; and, gathering up
the rest as we proceeded, reached Wood
yard just as the army was making
ready to prosecute its advance.
Gro BE CONTINuED.)
St Peter-''Halt!'
New Spirit-"Can' come in?'