The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-10-12
CHAPTER Nj.
ACTION WITH THE AMERICANS

ACTION With Iii T. n vi Ehlt-t>S.
When | overlook the skirmishcrs.
they were in full pursuit OF the Amerl-
cans. now flying with all precipitation
before them. The wood was accord
inoly empticd in tricc: but on reach
ing its skirts, we found that we had,
to say the truth, expected to find, that
the rihemcn now dislodged were moth
ing more than the outposts, or rather
advance corps, Of a regular army. At
the opposite extremity of few open
fields. about SIX or seven thousand men
were drawn up in line. Their left rest
ing upon a lake, and their ri ght extend
ING to the mouth of creek; their CEN
tire was protected by high palings and
a row of lofty trees, whilst all before
them was exposed and bare, to the dis
tance of nearly half a mile. Of artil-
lery, they appeared to have some six
or eight pieces in the field. These
were arranged, two upon the main road,
which fell in towards the right of the
position, three somewhat farther to the
left, and the remainder singly. and at
different intervals between the corps of
infantry. About half-wusket shot in
front of them was farm house, sur
rounded by numerous barns, stables
and stock-yard. Whether or not
they had filled it with troops, we had
no means of ascertaining; but it oc-
Cured to Charlton that it might be
worth while 20 seize it, in case they
should have neglected measure to
them of so much Importance. With
this view, we lost no time in rushing
on. We sprung over the paling, and
having received two discharges of grape
from the guns upon the road, reached
the house in question with the loss o.
only three men. The enemy had not
occupied it; we took possession with
out delay; and rejoicing sincerely ii
the error of which they had been gull
| ty, determined that no efforts SHOULD
on our parts be wanting to hinder then
from retaking it.
Established in this snug post, abund
ant leisure was granted for observing
as well the dispositions made by the
enemy to receive the attack as the ad
vance of our own troops to make it
and q most animating spectacle boil
the one and the other presented. On
the side of the Americans, mounted
officers could be seen riding backward:
and forwards, apparently encouraging
their men to do their duty. Some
companies, moved from its rear, heelet
up into line; others, quitting the line
| fell back towards the reserve. Bu
the corps which attracted the chic
share of our attention, consisted of The
Identical rihcmen whom we had 81
lately driven before us out Of the wood
They continued for some time to drol
in, by sections of eight, six and ten
and taking post in rear Of the line, re
sumed, as they best could, something
Ike order Nor were other manifesto
tion of resolution to keep thci
ground wanting. Several tumbrils an,
ammunition wagons arriving, were
speedily emptied of their contents; an'
casks of cartridges, ranged n interval:
| behind the men. bore testimony to The
! zeal with which the store-krcpers' de
partment had been attended to. Su:l
was the condition of affairs on the ri ght
Away towards the left, again, 4 gooo
deal of marching and counter marching
went on; but whether it arose from
some mismanagement in the ori . ma
disposition of the force, cannot tell
1t struck me, however, as being highly
| lnjudicious, to render raw troops thu
unsteady, at the very moment whel
they were about to come under fire
and | confess that did not augur yer,
favorably of the determination which
! 81, a., Of 1ooc{ fho 4
wouIb exhibit Lastly, the heads Q
two columns, appearing on the skir'
of the more remote thicket, pointed Oh
how the reserve was stationed, and a
most told of what numbers it consisted
How different was the prospect t.
which a glance towards our rear intro
duced us! We had taken possession
of the farm house perhaps ten minute
or a quarter of an hour before the ieao
ING divisions of our own troops bega
to emerge from the forest. AS soon
however, as they showed themselves,
flank movement to the right was made
and the S4th regiment, in beautiful
regularity, spread itself at extende
order over the whole of the enemy
front. The seamcn, who came next
marched straight forward along tn
road till they arrived within canno