The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-02-05

tney were equally plentllul on DOCn
sides of the way; and being in general
deep enough to hinder us from ford
ing, they, for the most part, occasioned
us no little trouble and some fatigue,
before we succeeded in passing them.
Small streams. likewise, landing in the
heads of creeks. once more interrupted
our progress. In word, the country
presented thousand defensible posts,
even to a people so little accustomed
as we were to examine country with
the eye of soldiers; and it surprised us
not little to find. that no attempt was
made to defend it.
We had continued our journey about
an hour, when arriving suddenly at a
space Of open ground, three troopers,
dressed in dark-green uniforms, were
discovered. They occupied the sum-
nit of a gentle eminence, and appeared
to be axiously watching the movement
of the column along the high road.
Instantly the word was passed to be
attentive; and instantly we began to
steal round the height, keeping just
within cover of the wood, for the pur-
pose Of surprising them. But scarlet
is an inconvnnient color, in cases where
concealment happens to be desirable;-
the Americans soon discovered us; and
clapping spurs to their horses, galloped
off: Concluding, of course, that they
must be well acquainted with the d.f-
ferent roads which intersected the for
est, we very naturally gave them up
as lost, and continued our journey, with
the conviction in our minds that more
work would he cut out for us, ere many
hours should pass by.
Soon after this, the bugles of the
army sounded halt, and we, as well
rs the main body, prepared to obey it;
but just as we had fixed upon con-
venient spot for the purpose. a soldier
came running up with intelligence that
the three hOrsemen were still in the
thicket, about musket-shot fiom our
right. Taking with me dozen men,
| instantly plunged into the wood; and
here, sure enough, they sat upon the
edge of one of the lakes, their horses
being fastened by the brides to a tree
hard by. My party preserved pro-
found silence, and we closed gallantly
around them; but the crashing of the
boughs there was no sitting, and when
we reached the spot they were gone
They had lcaped into canoe on the
first alarm, and were now padding, as
fast as they could, to the opposite shore.
There was no time to be lost. called
out to them to surrender, and by way
of enforcing the summons, commanded
the whole of my people to level their
pieces. The spectacle was too alarm
ing for raw recruits; so they held up a
white handkerchief in token Ofsubmis-
sion, and pulled back again. Immedi-
ately on landing, they were, as may be
supposed, disarmed, and then, with
their three beautiful chargers, conduc-
ted to headquarters.
On coming in with the prisoners, we
found the army halted near a farm
house, around which were several
cleared fields, well adapted, in case of
need, for a rapid military formation.
The General himself, attended 10y Ad-
miral Cockburn, was sitting in the
midst of his staff by the way side, and
few orderlies were leading their horses
backwards and forwards. OF the sol
diers, few had strayed from the ranks;
but blue jackets might be seen in every
direction, pursuing pigs, fowls, and
other live stock, at full speed, and with
much apparent satisfaction. Nor was
it possible to refrain from laughing at
the singular behaviour of these men,
All the threats, orders and entreaties
| of their officers were set at defiance
they knew nothing about discipline on
shore, and they were not now going to
leave it. At last, the very endeavor
to bring them back was abandoned
and they continued to amuse the1a.
selves, as we'll as us, till the column
again began to move. Nor did any
one appear to enjoy the joke more than
General Ross. He was laughing
heartily, as were the Admiral and the
rest of the group, when we appeared
and he with difficulty suppressed his
mirth, even though the presence of the
prisoners drew his attention to gravel
matters.
Having put Il few questions to tie
young men, as to the duty on which
they had been themselves employed
Gen. Ross proceeded to catechise them
respecting the number and position OF
the force appointed for the defense OF
Baltimore. Their answers were Meth
er very distinct nor very satisfactory
They spoke Of a levy en- mnsse-hinted
that every male capable Of bearing
arms was enrolled-lnd calculated the
strength of the whole, including three
thousand regulars, at twenty thousand
men. The cavalry, they said, consisted
principally of volunteer troops, to one
Of which they had themselves belonged
and most of it, as well as large por
ton of the infantry, had met us in the
! field of Bladeusburp, In artillery