The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-08-03

ter the men from plundering, and to
keep them from being guilty OF those
acts of insuhorGlination which the habit
of plundering never fails to produce,
report had been industriously circu-
lated through the fleet, that the Ameri-
cans had poisoned both wines and pro-
visions, which were purposely left in
our way. Though | was never much
disposed to place reliance in this report
iC must be confessed that the idea hind
cred, not only a few privates, who fol-
lowed me into dairy, but myself also,
for several minutes, from applying oar
lips to PIG of delicious cream, which
occupied one of the shelves. Inclina-
tion, however, at length prevailed over
apprehension. | drank freely of the
pcrilous liquor; my men followed my
example; and none of us suffered the
slightest Inconvenience from this act OF
temerity Of which we had been guilty.
l have said, that the little detacl-
ment of which was in charge, made
good its landing about an hour before
noon. Nothing could exceed the de-
greeof cXhiIaration which was exhibited
| by persons of all ranks on the present
occasion. OF the privates, few had
planted foot on firm ground for the
space of three months, and of the ofli-
GERS there were several, the low state of
whose finances had not permitted them
to indulge very frequently in visits to
the towns or ports at which we had
touched during our passage. To them
the prospect of a few days sojourn upon
their own element, was in the highest
degree animating and delightful. For
my own part, had omitted no oppor-
tunity of breathing the land breezes,
or taking part IN such amusements and
recreatons rs our tenn lorary sojourn at
| St. Michael and Bermuda afforded; yet
| firmly believe. that not an individual
among them all enjoyed the change
more heartily than myself. Once more
| felt that the business of my profess
sion was to he carried on. Widely diff
terent, indeed, was the style Of conduct
ing that business here from that which
had attended our campaigning in the
Peninsula. We had no tents now to
pitch and to repose in; no bab-mulc'
loaded with portmanteaus and canteens,
attended us; nor were our saddle horses
ready at call. Each officer, on the
contrary, like the soldiers, carried his
bag gage on his back, and all had the
tirmamcnt of heaven to look to as their
canopy. 1t may. perhaps, amuse some
of your readers to be told in what
plight we, On this occasion. took the
field; and, as Il fair specimen of the
plight Of the officers in general, will
inform them how myself Was accour
tired when stepped for the first time
upon the soil OF America.
In the first place, then, | carried, as
is usual on such occasions, a perfect
equipment of military accourtrements;
that is to say, sabre, sash belt. pistols
and telescope. Strapped across my
shoulders was good cloak, which on
many previous occasions had done the
duty of Il bed, and which confidently
anticipated would he called upon to
discharge n similar duty i'll times that
were yet h fore me. On my right
flank, that is to say. sluns over my left
shoulder, lay Il black leathern haver-
sack, containing Il spare shirt, a pair
of stockings, dressing utensils, a fOrag-
ing cap, three pounds Of boiled pork,
cult. Ga my left breast again rested
a horn, file ii with ruin, such as pursers
usually serve ont, whilst Il woo'len keg
for the conveyance of water, hung over
my neck on the very middle of my
back. All these things the reader will
he pleased to observe, were necessary;
yet they by no means added to the
agreeable nature OF our feelings in the
meantime; whilst they certainly took
away very largely from the personal
elegance of such as were laid under the
necessity of carrying them. On the
present occasion, however, no one re-
garded appearances. We looked only
to such arrangement as might promise
to add little to our comforts; and as we
were equally loaded no man had
an opportunity OF quizzing or deriding
his comrade.
We reached our ground, as | have
already informed you, about half an
hour before noon; and seldom have |
'oolcd upon a more spirit-stirring spec
taclc Il an the position presented. just
under the ridge ola gentle cmncncc
extending. perhaps, about three OF
four hundred yards from one extremity
to the other, were piled in order OF
open columns the arms of the different
regiments, whilst :hc men to whom
these arms belonged were scattered here
and there in groups of twenty, thirty
; and fifty, over the whole slope. Some
were lying ut full length upon the
grass, basking in the beams of sultry
sun, and apparently made happy by
the very feeling of the green sod under
them. Others were running and leap
ing about, giving exercise to the limbs
Lo1