The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-11-30

coursing, being as yet too wide to per-
init view of both shores at once; but
the waters became gradually more and
more narrow, and long before the fresh
ness of the morning had passed away,
land was visible in every direction. 1t
was now manifest that our point Of de-
barkation could not be very rcmo,';
and all eyes were turned in search Of
the point near which we considered it
to be-
At length the mouth of creek or
inlet, wide at first, but rapidly narrow
ing, presented itself. Towards it the
Admiral Immediately directed his
course, but the schooner in which he
was embarked drew too much water,
and in a few minutes went aground.
We could not make any effort to re-
lieve him from his awkward situation,
for this was not a moment at which Sc
rious delay could be tolerated, and our
boats were all too heavily laden al
ready, to admit of their taking addi-
tional passengers on board. Onwards'
therefore, we swept, the banks on either
hand closing in upon US more and more
as we proceeded till at last we were nee
essitated to contract our front, so rs
that five boats, then there, and finally
that only one boat should move abreast.
We were now steering up narrow
cut, which measured. at its widest spot,
not more than 20 feet across, and which
in some parts, became so exceedingly
narrow, that the rowers ceased to dip
their oars in the water, and propelled
US by punting alone. Yet it WAS an
advisable spot for the conduct of a
secret expedition. As far as we could
judge from the appearance of the soil,
the bogs on either hand seemed quite
impossible even for infantry. 1t was
covered, as | have already stated, by
reeds, so lofty as to obscure, in the
most effectual degree, any object
which could float in the canal. Noeye
could, therefore, watch our proceed
ings; and though we, too, were shut
out from beholding all other objects
besides oar own line of boats and the
blue sky, there was not man amongst
us who entertained the slightest appre-
hension that danger could be near.
Having continued our progress thus,
till the leading boat took the ground,
preparations were made to land the
troops as speedily as possible. With
this view, party of sailors were di-
rected to leap on shore; who soon re-
turned with intelligence that the soil
was sufficiently firm, and that the de-
barkation might take place without
any risk. The boats which were ahead
lay so near the bank, that the people
who manned them, were enabled to
step from the gunwales to the bog;
those which came after them were not
so conveniently situated. The men
were, in consequence, directed to pass
on from boat to boat, and so to reach
the shore from one point only. This
arran Icmnnt necessarily occasioned
both delay and confusion; but, happily
for us, there was no enemy near to
avail themselves; and the whole adj
vance was itself safely in b,vouacs by
10 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd.
Though suffering still in no slight
degree from the rain of yesterday and
the cold of last night, the lighting of
fires was strictly prohibited. Con-
cealment, it was understood, was rs
yet the great object in view; and with
the attainment of it, the existence of
fires felt to be incompatible. Yet was
the attempt to conceal our landing al
most Immediately abandoned. The
Admiral and General having put them.
selves on board q gig, came up some
time after the men had formed; and a
sort of council of war was Immediately
held, as the most eligible course which
it hehooved then to follow. AS yet all
had gone on well. We were actually
established on land, an event which
had hardly expected to accomplish SO
easily and uninterruptedly. What
was next to he done? We were not
long left in doubt in this head. The
troops, who had begun to scatter them
selves little through the morass, were
recalled to their ranks, and line of
march was formed The deserters,
placed in front, served as guides, they
were under charge Of the advanced
guard, and directed its movements
and the little column set forward quite
indifferent as to the nature of the SER
vice in which it was about to be en-
ployed, and perfectly satisfied that
success must surely attend its opera
tions.
| know not by the use of what terms
| shall be best able to convey to the
readers mind, some II ,tion Of the ma
ture and appearance of the couut"y
through which our first movement was
made. The bog, though soft, gave not
away, as we had expected it would, be
meath our trcal, rs long as we kept
close to the margin of the creek though
any extended departure from that line
of road brought us into a perfect quag
| miro. Yet were we compelled to move