The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-04-16

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up, he easily forced a few bricks out
of their places. An exclamation indi-
cative of the hi CHEST degree of pleas
urt, instantly gave notice that some
great discovery had been effected; it
drew the whole of us to the spot, and
in five minutes, the cellar was crowded
with men, filling, in the first place.
their own haversacks and bosoms, and
then handing out bottles, with the ut
most liherality, to their comrades. In
less tl:an a quarter of an hour. not a
single pint, either of wine or spirits, re-
manned out CT all this magnificent
stock.
Well pleased with the issue of our
undertaking, we retraccd our steps to
the picket where we were received
with the cordiality which our burden
was calculated to produce. There IL e
spirits were equally divided, and the
men, receiving their due proportion,
there fell to the share of Charlton and
myself a flask of exquisite cognac, with
two magnums of superior bordeaux.
With the help of these, We contrived
to make a very comfortable meal upon
salt pork and biscuit, which alone re-
manned to us, and then lighting our
pipes, we sat down by the side OF the
fire, in state of excessive moisture, it
is true, but still of considerable enjoy
ment.
BY this time darkness began rapidly
to set in, and the scene acquired every
moment more and more of interest and
sublimity. The rain still fell, though
not with so much violence as it had
fallen a little while ago; whilst the
wind rising by fits and starts, waved
over the fiat, and whispered through
the woods in violent gusts. The
clouds rushed before it, and totally Oh
scured, from time to time, a young
moon, which seemed to struggle against
their supremacy, and their dividing
into grey tleeces, suffered her for
moment to smile out upon the storm.
But it was not in the operations of ma
ture alone that we found much to adj
mire. Our outposts, extending in
sort of curve, permitted us, who occu-
pied one of the extreme flanks, to look
at once upon the fires, both of the
British and American armies, and the
effect OF these, in dark and tempestu-
Gus night like the present, was in the
highest degree striking. Our troops
lay all along the plain; in part among
the wood which skirted the open coun.
try, in part upon the open country it
self; and their order, probably through
motives of policy, was as loose and
scattered us due regard to safety
would permit. The consequence was,
that their fires stretched out in single
line, presented an appearance far more
imposing, than if they had been con-
fined, as usual, to one or two spots.
On the part of the Americans again
there was no need for any artificial ex-
tension. Their fires ran along the
whole face of the hill. Like our own,
they were arranged in a sort of a semi
circle, only the horns of their crescent,
instead of advancing, fell back, on both
sides from the centre. 1t was impos-
sible not to feel the contrast, which the
dense arrangement of their bvouac
presented, to the scattered and some
what irregular dispositions of ours.
That they surpassed us in numbers, at
least threetold, we had all along been
aware; the very nature and extent of
their works were, of themselves, suffi-
cient to prove this; but I'm not sure
that the knowledge Of that superiority
produced its full effect, till after the
establishment of the two camps for the
night had brought it completely home
to us. Yet there was not man
amongst us who entertained doubt
rs to the issue of the battle, let it be-
gin when it might. We despised the
Yankees from our hearts, and only
longed for an opportunity to show
them how easily they could be beaten
Nor was this eager desire to engage
of an impetuosity, which British sol
dicrs always experience when in the
presence Of an enemy. 1t had been
explained to us, that us soon as COM
munication could be opened between
the amy and the fleet, of which all the
bombs and all of the lighter frieates,
were III the river, an attack upon the
American lines would be made. This
was to begin with a heavy fire on the
right, for the purpose of drawing to
that part the principal share OF Jona-
thans attack; after which, the S5th
regiment, and the seamen, supported
by the 4th and 44th were to penetrate
the left silently and with the bayonet
Having overcome all opposition, the
column was to wheel up upon the sum-
NIT Of the ridge, to remain stationary
till dawn; and then taking the whole
of the works in flank, to carry them
one by one in detail. But everything,
it was understood, was to depend upon
the ability of the fleet to cooperate.
There was, upon the extreme right of
the American position, strong post,
well supplied with heavy ordinance.