The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-08-17

merry chat and rude repartces of those
about, similar spirit animated the
men.
But though our occupation was pro-
ductive of much mcrrimcnt and very
considerable excitement, it must bc
confessed. that the fatigue which ac-
companied it began, before many hours
had expired, to counterbalance in no
slight degree both the one and the 9th
cr of these advantages. The woods,
be it remembered, were thick and tang
led, and the grass that grew under the
taller trees seldom reached lower than
our hips, and often passed our middles.
Besides. no enemy appeared to interrupt
our progress; and there was a tame
ness in searching continually to no pur-
pose, and in expecting forever, without
having the expectation gratified. I'm
der these circumstances, we were be-
yond means displeased, when, towards
noon, our bugles sounded the halt. At
this particular moment, | and my sec
ton were extended on tue right Of the
road; and occupied part of a wood,
which presented every appearance of
having continued unmolested since the
days of Noah But as the blast did
not call us in, we were at no loss to
discover that the halt was merely tenn
porary, and that the ground Of en-
campment for the night could not yet
he in view. We lay down, however,
where we were, well pleased that an
opportunity of resting our weary limbs
was afforded, and, unbucklng our hav-
ersacks, addressed ourselves with eN-
treme good will to the remnants of
such provisions as could still he found
there.
1t Glanced, that in securing these
forests, we had put up, among other
animals. leveret, which poodle dog,
the property of my friend Charlton,
chased and caught. The reader will
easily believe that poor puss was not a
little bafiied and confused by the shouts
and cries with which our men anima-
ted the pursuer, and that nothing like
fair play was granted to her in her eff
forts to escape. Taking advantage of
this pause. a few of the soldiers set to
work, skinned and cut up the hare,
lighted fire, and were preparing to
| dress it, when circumstance occurred,
which in an instant called Oft our at
tcntion to other and more important
matters. What is that said cor
poral, who stood beside inc, whilst |
was watching the progress of dissect-
ing the leveret. DO you not see some
thing, sir, moving through those bushes
to the right" | looked instantly in
| the direction towards which the soldier
pointed, and beheld plainly enough
flash, like that which the sudden fall
ing of sunbeam on bright arms pro-
due, 5. There was no room to doubt
from what source that flash proceeded.
My bugle sounded the alarm. the men
stood to their arms. and we dashed
| forward to the copse. 1t was as | an
ticipated. \ body OF the enemy, per-
haps an hundred and fifty in number,
were there. Perceving 10y our move
mcnt that they were discovered, they
instantly opened their fire, and 4 very
pretty and interesting .shirmsh began.
1t WAS not, however, Of lonr continu-
ance. We rushed on, the men firing
as an opportunity offered, and covering
themselves all the while, as they easily
might, by the trees; whilst the Ameri-
cans, not waiting for our approach, re-
treated with all haste through coun-
try manifestly well known to them,
and were beyond our reach in ten min
utes. In this tritling affair not a sim
gle British soldier was scratched, whilst
Of the enemy, but one solitary dead
body was discovered
Tritiing as the skirmish was, it
served, as the sound Of the bugles in
all directions told us, to put the whole
| ho al Il
the order of the day, and advance we
did, in higher spirits and better humor
than had distinguished us from the
beginning. The enemy, we trusted,
would sooner or later hazard a battle;
and us he had begun the system of dis
putting his territories with US, we
doubted not that he would hencetorth
act up to it. But the prospect of be-
ing every moment hurried into action,
even though it be accompanied in the
h.avest heart with scnsations-not per-
haps Of alarm, but of something re-
moteiN akin to it's, upon the whole,
| to a soitier in full march, and surround
ed by gallant comrades, one of the most
animating and exquisite sensations of
which human nature is susceptible. 1t
is not then with him, as it is in the
stiffness of his tent or bivouac, when he
knows that to morrow 5 sun must light
HIM to Il field of carnage and death.
Then, indeed, there is time to think;
and no man can think of an impending
dissolution, without at least degree of
seriousness which no other thought is
capable of producing. But when he is
securing tie woods. or advancing
through fields and inclosures,-h men
all about him, and eager and animated.