The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-03-12

IL struck me, however, as beng highly
injudicious, to render raw troops thus
unsteady, at the very moment when
they were about to come under fire:
and | confess that | did not argur very
favorably of the determination which,
on that flank at least, the Americans
would exhibit. Lastly, the heads of
two columns appearing on the skirts
Of the more remote thicket, pointed out
how the reserve was stationed, and al
most told Of what numbers it consisted.
How different was the prospect to
which a glance towards our rear intro
duced us. We had taken possession
Of the farmhouse perhaps ten minutes
or a quarter of an hour before the lead
ing divisions Of our own troops began
to emerge from the forest. As soon
however, rs they showed themselves, a
flank movement to the right was made,
and the S5th regiment, in beautiful
regularity, spread itself at extended
order, over the whole Of the enemy's
front. The seamen, who came next,
marched straight forward along the
road, till they arrived within cannon
shot of the American line, where they
halted. The 4th Regiment arriving
after them, wheeled off, as the S5th
had done. to the right: but instead of
extending itself, filed along in column
of half companies, by the real Of the
light troops, till it was lost to farther
observation in grove. A similar
movement was made by the 44th, and
a battalion of marines, who, forming
line in the open field, stood to support
the skirmishers; whilst the 2lst, taking
up its ground on the road, came in on
the rear of the column, of which the
seamen constituted the front. AL
these formations were executed with
as much coolness and precision as if
the whole had been nothing more than
a reviews; and in the eyes of us, who
watched it, the spectacle was in the
highest degree interesting.
In the meanwhile, neither the Amer
lean artillery nor our own remained
idle. The head of the column no soon
er appeared, than the encmy's pieces
which commanded the road opened
upon it, and though the range was
somewhat long, did considerable exc
cution. To check this, Capt. Car
michael, by whom the British artillery
was commanded, instantly ordered two
guns and a howitzer to the front, and
pushing them forward within point
blank distance of the Americans, soon
paid them back, with interest, i'm their
own coin. do not know that | ever
saw shots more accurately throw At
the first disharge. five American gun
ners were killed; at the next, one of
the pieces was disabled; upon which,
turning their attention to the infantry,
our artillery-mcn moved them down
by whole sections. On this occasion,
the missile principally used was the
Shrapnel. 1t may, perhaps, be neces-
sary to inform the unmilitary reader,
that the shrapnel is hollow globe of
iron, the cavity of which is filled up.
MT with powder only, but with guam
tity of musket-balls. 1t is discharged
from cannon exactly as long shot
is discharged; and being supplied with
a fuse, more or less short, according to
the distance to be traversed; it bursts
just in front ofits object, and throws the
whole Of its murderous contents for
ward. To-day it did fearful havoc.
The Americans burst not stand before
it, but shrunk away from each spot
where a shell had fallen, as ifthere had
been something deadly in the very soil.
But it was not upon the road alone
that a smart cannonadng was kept up.
The three guns, of which | have al
r.ady spoken as being stationed in the
fields towards the Americans left.
opened upon the S5th regiment as soon
as they had taken their ground The
soldiers, however, paid little heed to
the salutation. Being commanded to
lie down, they did so, and rested for
twenty minutes very composedly, in
defiance of the showers of balls that
fell thick and fast about them
At the expiration of that period,
every necessary preparation appearing
to be complete, Colonel Brooke, on
whom the chief had devolved,
was seen to ride along the rear of the
line, followed by his staff. Hating
about the centre of the field, the little
group turned their glasses, for few
moments, in the direction Of the enc
my's position, and then, as if satisfied
that all things were in order, they be-
gan to disperse. An aid-de-camp gal.
Topped off to the right, Mr. Evans flew
towards the left, and the orderly bug
Ter sounding the charge, the whole
army sprung into its ranks. The spirit
stirring notes, were echoed back from
all quarters, and the line moved for
ward.
| have said that our position all this
while was among a number Of houses
and corn stalks, situated about mid
way between the hostile armies. Moth
ing can be conceived more animate |,