The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-01-22

hamlets, seats, and solitary farmhouses,
are scattered in every direction over
its extent. OF these very many, with
Annapolis among the number, have
been planted close to the waters edge;
partly, perhaps, on account of the ad-
ditional salubrity which the sea-breezes
bring, and partly because the situation
accorded we'll with the leading habits
of the people. But there were other
erections, besides towns and villages,
which attracted our attention. Nu-
merous watch-towers, forts, signal sta
tions, and places of arms, occupied the
high grounds; whilst. nearer the beach,
guard rooms for the accommodation of
cavalry patrols, open batteries for the
cover of guns, with all other edifices
which a people invaded are apt to throw
up, extended, in regular chain, from
one extremity of the State to the 9th
er. Of these we were enabled, by
keeping close to shore, to obtain dis
tinct view. We saw horsemen mount
at every station, as we approached it,
and gallop with all haste towards the
interior. Beacon after beacon burst
into blaze; guns were fired from every
tower: and telegraphic communication
carried on without intermission. Then,
again, as we drew near to town or
village every house was seen to pour
forth it's inhabitants; while carts, wa
gons, and carriages, of all descriptions
fastened off, loaded, as we could dis
tinctly perceive, with people and eff
.ects. In Annapolis, in particular,
confusion and alarm appeared to pre-
vail to an extraordinary excess. Be
ing the capital of the State, and ex-
posed, in remarkable degree, to in
suit, its inmates doubtless anticipated
nothing else than hostile visitation;
truly, if to destroy neat, clean town,
surrounded on all sides by elegant vii
las, had been our object, no task could
have been more easily performed. We
passed it by, however, unharmed; not,
perhaps, quite satisfied that so fine
prize should be permitted to escape,
but hugging ourselves in idea that an
other, and no less valuable one, was
before us.
Whilst the transports and larger
vessels Of war swept up the Chesa-
peake in body, the "Sea- Horse" fri
gate, with one or two lighter ships,
dashed forward to ascertain the course
or channel of the river. This measure
was resorted to, because, though the
Patapsco was known not to excel in
depth, it was deemed highly desirable
that some part of the navy should, at
all events, cooperate with the troops
in the reduction of Baltimore. Cap
tain Gordon was accordingly directed,
not only to stake soundings with all
accuracy, but clapping press Of can
vass upon his ship, to drive her, in
case ofany sudden obstruction, through
the mud; and to break, at all hazards,
such booms, or other impediments, as
might be laid across the channel. That
gallant officer failed not to execute his
orders as far as it was possible to obey
them. He actually sunk his frigate's
keel some feet in the slime, and tore
through banks, by which the progress
of almost any other individual would
have been arrested but all would not
do. The frigate stuck fast in the end;
and it was only by tightening her Of
her main-deck guns, and most of her
stores, that he succeeded in bringing
her of.
The day was drawing to a close,
when the Sea-Horse, (which lay at an
chor off a sharp promontory ahead
gave notice that it would be necessary
for us to ring up. We obeyed, and
came to our moorings just where the
Patapsco falls into the bay; by which,
indeed, on one side, and sort of creek,
or inlet of the sea, on the other, the
promontory in question was formed.
The sun went down in softened majes-
ty, tinging the whole surface of the
waters with his departing glory. The
wind, falling with the sea, sunk into a
perfect calm and the waves, which
had never been boisterous. became
gradually more and more quiet, till
the Chesapeake presented at last the
appearance of a placid lake. The read
er must, doubtless. be aware, that in
these regions the night is but of short
duration. The sun left us tonight
with its abruptness, but its last feeble
rays had not yet been eNtinguished,
when bright full moon arose. BY
her light, not the shipping alone, but
the beach, the green fields beyond it,
and the hoary forests in the back
ground, became again distinctly visi-
BILE. Another writer has spoken in
terms of rapture of the effect of that
moonlight; nor could pursue the sub
ject without quoting his very words :;
but this | must say, that at no mo-
ment i'll my life have | felt the inhu-
ence of Il bright scene more torcibly
than l felt it then.
But no great while was granted for
snch indulgences. Orders had already
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