The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-08-24


thicket. Three -four men were wound
ed, and as yet we saw not the hands
which struck the blow; but now they
were visible enough. 1t was the rear
guard of corps ST observation which
had bivouacked last night within gun
shot OF our pickets, and which, fin, :.
that we were in full march towards
them were retreating. We drove their
skirmisher throught the wood in gal
liant style, scarcely allowing them time
to load as they retrcated; till at last
they fairly took to their heels and es-
capped.
In the meantime the rest Of the adj
vance guard pushing steadily along
the road, caused the section which was
meant to support the skirmishers with
whom we were engaged, to disperse
and fly in all directions. To the fugi-
tives, it is true, the country was famil-
lar; they therefore easily escaped; but
by their fight they enabled us to OBJ
tain view of the column, which it was
their business to have masked, and we
were consequently made aware that
about twelve or fifteen hundred infan-
try, with several pieces of cannon
were in full retreat before us. The
enemy observed us, probably at the
same moment that we beheld them, for
on our approach they halted, and drew
up upon some heights about a mile dis
tant. Of this matter the General was
soon informed, and one hundred and
fifty additional men arriving to our as
sistance, we made ready, about two
hundred in all, to dislodge them.
With this design one comprny ex-
tended itself in skilmishing array,
whilst the rest advanced in column;
but Jonathan was too timorous, or too
wary, to abide this shock. Their ar
tillery. indeed, opened as soon as we
arrived within point-blank range; and
to say the truth, the shots were well
directed; but we were yet great way
off from the bottom of the rising ground
which they occupied, when the infan-
try broke once more into marching Or
der,and retired. Notwithstanding this,
We continued to press on, till we had
crowned the heights. when Major
Brown, who directed the movement, in
formed us that it was not intended
that We should advance any further in
that direction.
A halt being accordingly command
ed: we lay down upon the grass, and
looked about, for the purpose of ascer-
tanning how far we had outstripped the
column, and in what manner the col
umn was occupied. Our surprise may
be guessed at, when not soldier ap-
peared in view. A cloud of dust ris-
ing at the back of a copse, which ran
parallel with the heights above, served
to point out the direction which the
army had taken; and even this was so
wavering aud uncertain in its aspect, as
to create some doubts in our minds,
whether a retreat were not begun. A
short time, however, sufficed to set our
minds at rest on this important sub
ject. We had kept our ground per-
haps something less than an hour, when
Lieutenant Evans, Assistant Quarter
master General, arrived with an order,
that we should abandon the post, and
keeping so far under the ridge as to
screen the movement, defile to our
right. The army, it seemed had taken
the road to Alexandria; we were to
follow it; and if we did not overtake it
before, we should certainly find it biv-
ouacked at place called Woody ard,
about four miles distant. Such were
the directions given to us, and these
we prepared to follow.
The evening was closing in when we
began to descend the hill, and it was
something more than dusk ere we re-
gained the road; but even then, our
only guide was the track of those who
had proceeded us, for Mr. Evans could
not, and did not wait to conduct u.s.
Nevertheless, we were not afraid to
trust to it, and it did not deceive US.
Darkness came on, indeed, whilst we
were yet far from camp. and we could
not but feel that had the enemy been
as enterprising and active as he ought
to have been, peahaps we might not
have reached it at all. But we did
reach it in safety; though, as far as
Charlton and myself were concerned,
it was only to be employed upon duty
as harrassing and disagreeable for the
time, as any recollect ever to have
performed.
About mile, or a mile and half
from the situation of the camp, and
considerably out of the line even of the
pickets, stood large house, built after
the fashion of chateau. 1t was the
residence of a gentleman of extensive
fortune, who, probably not anticipating
that he ran any risk of visit from the
invaders, had not removed either his
family or his effects from his house;
and now entreated that General Ross
would station an officers guard there,
for the purpose Of protecting him and
them from violence. The General
readily acceded to his wishes: and it
fell to the lot of my friend and myself
to be appointed to this service. AS
the events arising out Of our leaders
generosity were to us, at least at the
moment. replete with interest, it may
be well, instead of entering upon them
imperfectly here, to reserve my rela-
tion of them for fresh chapter.
(TO RE CoNTJNIED \