The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-11-02
CHAPTER MIL
EXPLANATIONS FOR ATTACKING THE
AMERER!CAN ENGAGEMENTS
SUDDEN RETREAT-AND
RE EMBARKATION.

AMERICAN ENGAGEMENTS
SUDDEN RETREAT-AND
RE EMBARKATION.
We had hardly taken poss 'sson OF
the post allotted to US. when the ram,
which during the whole OF the day had
ceased, began again to fall with re-
ncwed violence; it unfortunately hap
pencd, too, that there was nothing
within our reach which We conld op-
pose to it. Our station was at the
edge of belt of oaks, that cut off one
portion of large field from another,
and our advance sentinels were planted
about halfmusket-shot in front of us.
But the branches Of the trees were not
sufficiently close to afford the slightest
shelter nor was there hovel or shed
Of any kind, under which we could re-
tire. To add to our miseries, both the
officers cloaks and the mems blankets,
having been kept behind, we were de-
MED the means Of keeping ourselves
ordinarily warm; whilst it was not
without much difficulty that we sue
ceeded in getting fire to blaz,. The
wood within our reach was all green;
the rain of last night had completely
soaked it and it more than once oc-
Cured that the sheets of water which
poured down from tie clouds, extin-
guished in a moment the spark which
we had wasted full quarter of All
hour in coaxing into life. At last,
however, our patience received its re-
ward, and a couple of fires, roaring and
cracking beneath the green wood, had
the double effect Of increasing our bod
lily ease, and elevating our spirits.
About couple of hundred yards in
front of our videttes, stood mansion
of considerable size and gentecl eNte-
rior, upon which we cast many a long
ing look, without venturing for some
time to approach it. That a place so
neat in all its arrangements, and so
well supplied with out-buildings of
every description, could be wholly de-
void of the necessaries and comforts of
life, was a matter which we were I'M
willing to believe. Without doubt the
pens that stood at the western gable
contained their due quantity ofpigs.-
the hen-roosts could not be all tenant
less-and the flights of pigeons, which
went and came, gave decisive proof
that the dove cot had not been built
for purposes of empty show. Neither
was it probable that the larder would
be absolutely cleared out, or the Gel
lars totally empty. Our very mouths
watcred as these reflections occurred
to us; and at last it was determined
that, at all hazards, the mansion in
question should be examined.
The charge of conducting the search
f,ll, as it was proper it should fall,
upon me, as the junior; and set Off,
attended by four men, to affect it.
Being assured by the scntries that no
Americans had shown themselves there
pushed on without much apprehension,
and our satisfaction was far from being
slight when we tOnnd that the house
was empty. But the satisfaction
arising from that source. suffered a
very CONSIDERABLE tiininutun when, on
proceeding To look around for the
vian,lS, in quest Of which We had come,
nothing of the kind could be found
There was not a pig, fowl, or other
living creature about the place. The
pigeons alone, Of all the stock upon the
farm, remained, and they were great
deal too waIy not to battle every effort
which was made to surprise them.
Disappointed and chagrincd at an event
50 little anticipated, we were prepar-
ing to quit the inhospitablc domicile,
when a Whole crowd Of stragglerS, ar
tillcrymcn, sappcrs, sailors and soldiers
of the line, rushed into the lalI In a
moment tie walls of the building rr
echoed with oathS and eNclamations,
and tables, chairs, windows and even
doors were dashed to pieces, in re-
vcngc for tho absence Of food. By and
by, however, a shout of JOY was heard.
Like those about us, we ran in the di-
rcction of the sound, and beheld,
through a chasm in brick wall under
ground, the interior of Il wine cellar,
set around in magnificent array, with
bottles of all shapes and dimensions.
The willy Yankee to whom this house
belonged, unable or unwilling to re-
move his wine, had adopted the com
mon prccaution OF blocking up the en-
trance to his vaults with brick work.
But the absence Of all uniformity be-
tween the old and the new masonry