The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-12-07

| ulfPCtltn, as HcaI Iue camp so III III
be. know not; but the enemy not only
drove in the sentintls there, but
charged. or rather endravoretl to
charge, the body Of the picket itself.
They were received hy the rifles with
a close and weIldirectcd volley, which
killed three men and two horses, be-
sides wounding several others, and the
rest, not willing to abide another dis
charge. fell instantly into confusion.
They galIoped back with the same pre-
cipitation which had distinguished
their approach, and in ten minutes
after they had shown themselves, the
whole body was out of sight.
This was the very first occasion, dur
ing the course of our Transatlantic
warfare, that the Americans had in any
way venturcd seriously to molest or
threaten our posts, or shown the small
est disposition to act vigorously on the
offensive. cannot deny that it pro-
duced curious effect upon us. Not
that we experienced the smallest SER
sation of alarm. We held them in too
much contempt to fear their attack; |
question whether we did not wish that
they would hazard one; yet we spoke
of the present boldness, and thought
of it too, as meeting on which we had
no ways calculated, and for which we
could not possibly account. 1t had
not, however, the effect OF exciting an
expectation, that the attempt would
be renewed, at least in force; and
though we unquestionably looked upon
our position. from that moment, with
a more cautious eye, We neither felt
nor acted upon the snpposition, that
any serious danger would he incurred
till we ourselves should seek it. Moth
ing occurred during the remaining
hours of daylight. calculated to pro-
duce any change in these anticipations.
The enemy made their appearance no
more; and having carefully ascertained
that an unbroken chain of vidcttes was
established; having examined our men 3
arms, satisfied themselves that they
were in good order, and taken other
necessary precautions, We trimmed our
fires, as darkness thickcned, and drew
near them.
Charlton and were in the act of
smoking our cigars, the men having
laid themselves down about tue blaze.
when word was passed from sentry 10
sentry, and intelligence communicated
to us. that all was not right towards
the river. We started instantly to our
feet. The fire was hastily smothcred
up, and the mrn >natcllra their arms,
stood in line ready to act rs circum-
stances might require. So dense, how
ever, was the darkness; and so dazzling
the effect Of the glare from the bivouac,
that it was not possible, standing where
we stood, to form any reasonable guess
as to the cause of this alarm. That
an alarm had been excited was indeed
perceptible enough. Instead of the
deep silence which five minutes ago
had prevailed i'm the bivouac, Il strange
hubbub tf shouts, and questions, and
as many cries, rose up in the ni4ht all
nor did many minutes elapse, ere first
one muskct, then three OF iour, then a
whole platoon. were discharged. The
reader will easily believe, that the lat.
ter circumstances startled us protlig.
ou sly, ignorant as we were of the cause
which produced it, but it required no
very painful eXertion of patience to set
us right ON this head; flash, flush, flash,
came from the river, the roar of cannon
followed, and the light Of her own
broadsi.le displayed to us an enemy
vessel at anchor near the opposite
bank, and pnuring perfect shower OF
grape and round shot into the camp.
For one instant, and onl y for an in.
stant, scene Of alarm and consterna.
ton overcame us; and we almost in.
stinctivcly addressed to each other the
question, "What can all this mean?'
But the meaning was too palpable not
to be understood ut once The thing
cannot end here" said we,-"a night
attack is commenciny;' and we made
no delay in preparing to meet it
Whilst Charlton remained with the
picket, in readiness to act as the events
might demand, | came forward to the
s"ntries, for the purpose of cautioning
them against paying attention to what
sht pass in their rear, and keeping
them steadily engaged in watching
their front. the IN N We're fully alive
to the peril OF their situation. They
strained with their hearing and eye
sight to the utmost limits; but neither
sound nor sight OF an advancing col
una could be- perceived. At last, how
ever, an alarm was given. Olc Of the
rifles challrnged-it was the sentine
of the hi!lI rol'l; the sentinel who com
municated with him challenged also
. and the cry was taken up from man te
man, till our own most remote sentr,
eau yht it, flew to his station; ano
sure enough the tramp of many fee
| was distinctly audible. Having takel
the precaution to carry an orderly for