The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-11-23

casting anchor during the night, and
on the morrow made sail, with the
earliest appearance of dawn. The air
was chill, clear and fros'y, and the
fleet, steering in one compact body,
under the rays of brilliant sun, pro-
duced one of the most striking marine
panoramas which it has been my good
fortune to behold. But its progress
in this order was not of long continu-
ancr. The lake which we had entered
soon becoming shallow. the ships of
war, at least the line of battle ships, to
hinder themselves from running ashore,
were obliged to anchor; and then be-
gan scene rs stirring and uncomtort-
able as the Imagination can very well
conceive. The troops who had taken
their passage in them were all en-
barked in boats and transported to the
lighter vessels, which became, in con-
sequence, crowded to excess. We cs
capped not the fate of our companions;
instead of ten officers, the evening Of
the 18th saw full twenty huddled into
one small ca'i V; We non" of us
abated one jpt OF our former 90 81 hu-
NOR; and Charlton 5 ii Idle being, as
usual, brought into play, We danced
till late hour in the morning. This
was the last ball which We We're en-
abled to get up, previous to the disem-
barkation; it was the best in the
strictest sense of the term, to more
than one of those who to * part in its
merriment.
On the l4th we still held our course,
without any other event occurring. eN-
cept that in the evening a squadron Of
boats which had been employed in the
attack of the enemy's fotilla, passed
us. How they fought and conquered
on that occasion it is unnecessary for
me to relate, but this | must state,
that they were grccted rs they moved
along. with loud and hearty cheers
which their brave crews failed not to
return. They mad suffered severely;
but they had completely opened to us
the navigation of the lakes, besides
adding considerably to our means Of
transport by the reduction of six light
cutters, which General Jackson had
stationed here, to oppose our landing.
The same remarks may serve as mar
rative of our proceedings on the 18th.
We sailed on, till at last even we took
the ground; and it became manifest
that all further progress, otherwise
than in boats, was impossible.
1t is hardly necessary tor me to state
that from the moment land became Wis
ible, ann my companions began to
make preparations as seemed neces-
sary for our Decentralization. The
usual supply Of linen; that is to say, a
spare sheet and pair of stockings, were
carefully layed aside by each of us for
service. three days provisions were in
like manner cooked, and packed up;
whilst as much OF rum as we could eth
er spare from our daily allowance, or
prevail upon the master to issue out,
was put into a large horn. S.m..tr
had been taken by the men;
so that from this evening of the 10th
we were ready at moments 5 notice to
step upon shore. Not the slightest
hurry or confusion, therefore, ensued,
when at an early hour on the morning
of the 10th, it was announced, that
fotilla of boats were approaching the
vessel, and that the troops would be
required to load them without delay.
In an instant every man buckled up
his knapsack and haversack, putting
on his accoutrc!nents, AMI grasped his
musket; and when the leading barge
drew up alongside the gangway, the
first division stood in order to step on
bard In something less than hall fan
hour, about two hnnl.al IN IN, with Il
supply OF officers, quilted
the deck of No. 315; and in few min
utes after, the squadron began its voy
age.
We were SO far fortunate, that the
day chanced to he remarkably fine
one. There was little wind, it is true,
and the little that blew, blew against
us, compelling us to make way entire
ly 10y rowing; but there was no stream
to bear up against, so that we proceed
ed at a tocrably rapid rate. As we
went in, we had the satisfaction to dis
cover, that other ships besides ours,
were pouring forth their inmates.
Nearly one hundred boats of different
sizes covered the surface of the lake;
and as they were all crowded with sol
ders, not less than two thousand in
fantry moved together towards the
landing place. 1t was magnificent
spectacle. What an enemy snugly
stationed behind stone walls, and hav-
ing few pieces of heavy ordinance at
their command, would have thought of
it, | know not; but it appeared to me,
that no opposition could possibly him
der such a force from gaining the shore;
and that having gained it, no army, at
least of Americans, would have the
hardihood to dispute with it its ground
of cncampment.
From the naval officer who com
manded our boat, we learned there was