The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-11-20

principal street which conducted to the
bridge. lay completely exposed to the
fire Of a two-gun battery. which the
enemy had erected about the centre OF
their position; and instantly on our
showing ourselves that battery opened.
1t was well served, and the guns were
admirably laid. The very first shot
cost us three men; one killed, and the
other two dreadfully wounded; and the
second would have been in all proba-
bility, not less fatal, had we not very
wisely avoided it. We inclined, at
once to the right and left of the road;
and winding around the houses, made
our way without any farther loss, as
far as the last range; when we were
commanded to lie down, and wait for
the column.
| In the meanwhile, the main body
being informed how matters stood, re-
sumed its march, and approached the
town. 1t was saluted, as we had been
saluted, by a heavy and wel[directed
clnnonade; but being warned by some
of our people, where the danger lay, it
so far avoided it, as to close up its
ranks, and effect all the arrangements
| for hn IL
of the green mound. Whilst this was
going on, Charlton, Williams and my
self. having got our company as well
together as night be, were lying be-
hind Il house, in mOmentary eXpecta-
ton of the word. Cannon shot, after
cannon shot, continued all the while,
to pass through the thin brick walls
about us; nevertheless we felt it derog-
atOry to our character to move, and
we treated these visitationS with no
other notice besides an ill-applied rail
lery. At last ball struck soldier
who lay between Williams and myself,
and carried off his leg. The boy looked
ut me, rs much as to ask how, under
such circumstances, he ought to behave;
and though, dare say, his courage
was quite equal to mine, | really could
not help laughing at the peculiar eN-
| preston which passed across his coun-
tenance. But no great while was
| granted for consideration. The acc.-
dent just recorded had hardly happen
ed, when Colonel Thornton, riding up,
exclaimed, "Now, my lads, forward!-
You see the enemy; you know how to
serve them So saying, he spurred
on, and the whole of the advance,
springing, with the celebrity of Thought,
into their places, rushed towards the
bridge 1t was gained in moment;
but couple Of guns, which had doubt
less been laid with special care, instant
ly opened, and seven men were swept
down. No pause, however, occurred.
Forward, forward" was the only word
heard; and forward we hurried, as fast
as the excessive fatigue which we had
undergone during the last eight-and-
forty hours would allow.
| l had forgotten to mention, that
| whilst our bank of the river was bare
and exposed, that occupied by the ene-
my was covered with pretty thick
belt of wood, which they had very
judiciously filled with host of rifle
men. These, taking cool and deliber-
ate aim from their lurking places, soon
began to gall us with their fire. Not
a few of our men fell beneath it, but
the bridge was instantly cleared, the
advance was quickly scattered into
skirmishing order, and in five minutes,
Or little more, the belt was emptied of
it's defenders. Never did men with
arms in their hands, make better use of
their legs. Though we did our best
to kill few of them question wheth-
er one American lost his life in that
copse; so rapid, or if you please, SO
judiciously conducted, was their re-
treat.
We had hardly cleared this little
wood, when the S5th regiment, and
the light companies of the 4th and 44th
came pouring up to our assistance.
To these we now attached ourselves,
and the whole of the light brigade, in
to one extended line, advanced to the
attack 1t was our fortune to act up
on the left of the road where the copse
happened to be more thick, and the
ground considerably more uneven,
than on the right. The consequence
was. that we moved on for several min
utes without seeing any enemy; but
the wood suddenly ended, an open
sloping field lay before us; and in the
rear of high paling, which ran across
the centre of that field, the enemy's
first line presented itself | have stood
under many heavy fires of musketry
in my day; but | really do not reco-
lect to have witnessed any more heavy
than that which they instantly opened
upon us. Had we been numerous
body, and in compact array, our loss
must have been terrible; but we were
few in nnmber-certainly not more
than one hundred mi all and our or
der was that of skirmishers, each file be-
ing full ten PAGES apart from the 9th
er The Americans, on the other
hand, were in line, wedged together as
closely as they could stand; their
number could not fall short of a thous-