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

| S''ii do IL was, W. lioSCcNSu W IIitke
our rude meal, lest an opportunity OF
so doing should not occur again.
At last, few faint streaks of dawn
showing themselves in the eastern sky
our sentries were called in, our men
took their stations, and the retreat be-
gan. To guard against surprsal, two
files, each at the distance of thirty or
forty PAGES from the other, were COM
manded to move about fifty or sixty
yards in rear of the company. Six
other files, three on each side of the
way, swept the woods as a sort of
flank patrol: whilst the body of the
company, amounting to exactly twen-
ty-four men, proceeded in column. Of
the rest of the army we saw nothing;
it had set out full hour and a halfbe-
fore us; although it necessarily moved
more slowly than us, we could hardly
expect to Overtake it till it should halt.
But so little were we apprehensive of
pursuit, that the idea of being cut off
never once occurred to us; and hence
we were not altogether so careful in
providing against such an accident as
we ought to have been. We were,
however, taught before the days jour
ney came to a close, that things do oc-
casionally happen which have not been
anticipated.
The storm of wind and rain having
died away, our march became, before
long, exceedingly agreeable. OF the
country through which we now trav-
elled, none of us during the advance
had seen anything; the scenery accord
ingly possessed all the attractions
which novelty bestows. The road, too,
though sandy, was good one, and the
late moisture rendered it better than
it had been before, by hardening it;
whilst the trees, bending over from
both sides, afforded an agreeable shell
ter from the suns rays, which soon be-
gan to beat upon us somewhat power
fully. With all these pleasant circum-
stances about us, it was but natural
that We should trudge on in excellent
humor. But the carelessness to which,
as our distance from the enemy's line
increased, we began to give way, sud-
denly received its chastisement, and
our attention was drawn from lighter
topics to the important business ofour
duty.
1t might be noon, or little past it,
and we were approaching the scene Of
the action of the 18th, when a shout
from the files in the rear, followed by
the discharge of a couple of muskets,
attracted our attention. We halted
instantly, and looked back, but no
time was allowed for any regular for
nation, ere troop of some twenty or
thirty horsemen dashed round an an
gle Of the road, and, sword in hand,
gallopped towards us. "To the right
and left" was the only word of COM
mand that we could give; the men un-
derstood it; and springing some to the
.~-l, al 70 {1,o 1>ft -
they threw themselves into the wood,
where the cavalry could not reach
them. Then was fire opened, which
in thrice brought men and horses to
the ground. The cavalry paused; one
or two attempted, with great bravery,
to force their horses into the thickets,
and two Of our people, who chanced to
be more exposed than their comrades,
were sabred. But the alarm having
spread to the main body, now not far
ahead Of us, howitzer and field-gun
came at full speed to our assistance.
The Americans waited not for the guns
to open. Instantly that they appeared
every man turned his head and as
they rode for life and death our gum
ners had only an opportunity of firing
two shots.
Ignorant, as we necessarily were,
whether the corps which had just
charged, formed part of the advanced
guard of the whole American army, or
was mere patrol, sent out to track
our steps and ascertain our plans, we
broke not at once into marching order
as soon as it had disappeared. On the
contrary the whole force drew up in
two lines; the artillery took its station,
and every arrangement was made for
fighting a general action on the spot.
But nothing farther being seen or
heard of the assailants, all hope of
bringing matters to that desirable is
sue was laid aside, and the brigades,
| ouc US IoOh UllC lodNi, bhSS llttSt
done before. A recognissance was, in
deed, instituted; that is to say, the
! rear-guard, supported by two pieces of
cannon, and four additional companies
of infantry, retraccd its steps about 4
mile, for the purpose Of ascertaining
with accuracy how matters stood; but
they meeting with nothing to excite
! their interest, they too turucd back,
and followed their comrades unmo-
Tested.
, The rest of our journey was per-
| formed without the occurrence of any
remarkable incident. Wepassed, rs we
! were necessitated to pass, our yester-
| days position, where men and officers
| recovered the cloaks and blankets