The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-12-14

stead Of u frost, thick mist hung in
the air, which not only annoyed by the
cold moisture which it threw around
us. but ctfectually hindered the stars
from casting even their feeble glimmer
over the scene. Worn out with fatigue,
l had returned to the ditch to
seat myself beside comfortable blaze,
i:,r no fire was lighted, and it would
| have been madness to think of light
| ing one, but to rest my limbs little
hy lying down. and to smoke a cigar.
| was thus employed, when heavy
rolling noise, like the movement of ar
tillery, caught my ear. 1t proceeded
from the enemy's line, and its drec-
tion was plain! V rH ,ngh towards our
camp, though greatly to the left of my
most remote sentinels. | sprang to
my feet, and once more hurried to the
front. had traversed about half the
space which divided the picket from
the videttes, when the rolling sound
ceased; and the reader will not doubt,
that turned my eyes anxiously to the
spot where it did so. l paused too for
a moment, and before l could resume
my progress, three distinct flashes,
followed by a similar number of report
sufficiently informed me Of the cause
of my disturbance. The enemy, find
ing that their heavy artillery hardly
reached our camp, had moved two
field pieces and mortar without their
lines, and advancing them as near to the
sentries as regard to their own
own safety would allow, were now
cannonading, not the outports but the
main body of the British army. 1t
was not easy to preceive that the balls
fell not short of their make. Looking
back towards the position, l saw that
the flies were hastily covered up; and
the murmur of voices which arose,
gave testimony, that they were not
thus shifted before it was necessary.
NJ directions had been given to
us how we should act, in case of such
an ,-becausc, in truth, the
emergency had never been contem-
plated; yet both my companion and
myself felt strongly tempted to try,
whether or not we might, by forward
rush, make ourselves masters of their
guns. We lad even resolved upon
hazardins the attempt, and were in
the act of arranging our men for the
purpose, when the firing suddenly
ceased, and the sound of artillery re-
treating became audible.
To have followed them in their re-
treat would have been madness-even
when we thought of attacking, we
hoped for success only by coming In
expectedly upou them, for We were by
no means strong enough, nor was it at
all in accordance with our duty to haz-
ard an action with the whole Ameri-
can army. We, therefore, permitted
them to depart unmo!ested, and con-
tented ourselves with patroling for
ward, about half an hour after, to see
that all was right.
From that time, till towards morn
ing, we were left in great measure,
undisturbed. The enemy it appeared,
satisfied with what they had done,
gave themselves up TO repose, whilst
we continued vigilant as before, though
without meeting with any serious
cause of alarm. About two hours be-
fore day break, however, general stir
took place in the American lines. 1t
was their mastering time; they were
then getting under arms-not Tor the
purpose of attacking us, but to oppose
any attack which we might hazard,
and they did 50 to the sound of drums
and trumpets, and other martial in
struments. The effect of this warlike
tumult as it broke in all at once upon
the silence of the night, was remarka-
bly fine Nor did the matter end there.
The reveiIl. having ceased, and the
different regiments having taken their
ground, two or three -tolerab!y full
bands began to play, which continued
to entertain both their own people and
Il; till broad daylight came in. Be-
iny fond of muS.c,-particularly of a
military band, | crcpt forward beyond
the scntries. for the purpose of listen
ing to it. The airs which they played
were some Of them, sprit.css enough
thc Yankees are not famous for their
good taste in anything,-but one or
two of the waltz struck me as being
particularly beautiful, the tune, howe
vcr, which seemed to pl asC themselves
the most. was their national air known
among us hv the title of "1 ankec
doodle Inr they repeated it at least
s:X times in the course Of their prac
ticc.
Dawn WAS beginning to appear,
when the party destined to relieve us
came up. Having communicated to
the officer in command as much infor-
nation as | myself possessed, | very
gladly called in my sentinels, muster
ed my people, and marched to the
rear.
Gro BE CONTINUED.
They say that the men who hesi-