The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-01-22
Highest Of all in Leavenng Powe-Latest U Govt Report
R&!aa!l! g! RsxasSz RRa;;iRS
ABSOLUTELY PURE
was the duty of every officer to exert
himself IN carryinU into affaot

was the duty Of every officer to exert
himself IN carrying into effect.
Like my comrades, | accordingly
devoted the greater portion of my
waking hours to the inspection of arms,
the arrangement of necessaries, and
the handing out of accoutrements. On
the present occasion, as the distance be-
tween Baltimore and the beach could, it
was calculated, be traversed in twelve
hours, the men were not encumbered
as they had been encumbered during
the inroad upon Washington, with
their full quantity of baggage. Three
days provisions were, indeed, put up
in their haversacks, but as far as
clothing is concerned, a knapsack,
containing spare shirt, with blank
ct strapped over it, constituted the
whole load that each was required to
carry. In one respect, however, the
burden was increased some incon-
venience having been formerly expe-
rienced in bringing up ammunition,
the store Of powder and ball commit
ted to our charge was, on the present
occasion greater than usual. A sol
dier's pouch, as any military man
knows, is made to contain sixty
rounds of cartridges, tonight, twen-
ty additional rounds, carefully wrap
ped up in stout paper, were assigned
to each of the privates. This done,
all: both officers and men, addressed
themselves to repose, we lay down,
some in the bed places, others upon
the deck, clothed and accoutred for
service; and in shorter space of time
than might have been expected, the
majority were fast asleep; but l know
not whence it came, l could not follow
their example. 1t was in vain that l
had recourse to the expedients custom.
ary in such cases,-closing my eyes,
and counting hundreds and thousands,
and tens of thousands. Sleep obsti-
nately refused to come upon me; till
wearied at last with the fruitless effort,
| rose and ascehded the deck. The
night was as clear and balmy as ever;
a heavy dew, indeed, fell, but its mois-
ture, so far from being disagreeable,
served to refresh both living and dead
substances, after the excessive heat of
the day. There was not sound to be
heard, except the ripple Of the water
against the ships side, the cry of SEN
tinels exchanging, as every half hour
came round, "All's well!' and the heavy
breathing of those who preferred the
cool deck to the suffocating atmosphere
of the cabin.
1t was, take it all in all, as striking
night-scene as | recollect at any time
to have witnessed. What my own
feelings were, however, cannot pre-
tend to state. That l looked forward
to the morrow without something like
uneasiness, it would be the height Of
folly to affirm; no man can believe him.
self to stand on the brink, as it were,
of eternity, wit .out uneasiness; yet
were all the anticipations Of what
that morrow might bring forth,
inadequate to repress Consciousness
Of exquisite enjoyment, to which the
sights and sounds about me gave birth.
| walked the deck for some hours in a
state bordering upon enthusiasm; nor
did quit it, till the bells of the differ
ent ships striking eight, warned me
that midnight was passed.
Gro BE CONTINUED.)