The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-01-04
(Re published by rtquest.)
A Subaltern in America.
CHAPTER Xxx.

of the eff ct which glance from one
to the other was calculated to produce,
l shall not, perhaps, he regarded as
stepping greatly out of my way, if |
endcavor here to make up for my
former omissions.
1t has already been limited, that the
field of operations consisted OF a mar
row plain, hemmed in on one hand by
the Mississippi, and on the other by
the woody morass. The open space
between these eXtremities could not
exceed one thousand yards, whilst the
distance of the British from the Ameri-
can camps may he calculated at about
two miles and a half As there was
nothing to interrupt the vision, the
disposition Of our force could as easily
be noted from the enemy's lines, as
their lines could he seen from our biv-
ouac; hut the point from which to OBJ
tain the most satisfactory view Of both,
was The lire of our advanced posts.
lie who stood there saw, IN his front,
long parapet, composed entirely of
earth, which was riveted with thin
planks, and supported by stakes.
About thirty or forty yards in advance
of it, ran a bayou, or canal, measuring,
to all appearance, from ten to fifteen
feet in width. This, however, ended
considerably to the left of the river;
indeed, it can hardly be said TO have
covered more than two-thirds of the
entrcnchment, whilst upon the high
road, and somewhat out of the line,
was again erected a flanking redoubt;
| there was a sem-circular battery about
the middle, and third, called, in the
language of the profession. an inverted
Ridan, protected the extremity which
Joined the wood. On the summit OF
the central work, a lofty flag staff was
erected, from which large American
ensign constantly waved; whilst in the
rear of the breast-work, crowd of
white tents showed themselves, not a
lew of which bore flags at the top Of
their poles. The American camp, in
short, exhibited, at least, as much of
the pomp and circumstance of war: as
modern camps are accustomed to ex-
hibit; and the spirits of its inmates
were kept continually in a state of ex-
citation by the bands of martial music.
How different was the spectacle to
which glance towards the rear intro
duccd the spectator, presenting exact
| ly the same extent of front; the Brit
ish army lay there without tents, with
out works, without show, without pa
rade, upon the ground. Throughout
the whole line not more than a dozen
huts were erected, and these, which
consisted only of pieces of plank, torn
from the houses and fences near, fur
nishcd but an inefficient protection
against the inclemency of the weather.
Our men might accordingly be ob-
served, some of them. walking back
wards and forwards, collected in groups
round their fires, others stretched at
length in the sun beams, apparently
rejoicing in the warmth witch they
conveyed. No band played among
them, nor did bug le give its sound,
except to warn the hearers of danger,
and put them on the alert; on the con-
trary, the routine of duty was con-
| Quoted in as much silence as if there
| had been no musical instruments in
the camp. 1t was impossible not to
be struck with the contrast which the
conditions, and apparent comforts, OF
the invading and defending hosts pre-
sented.
But if there was so much to interest
and excite during the day, at night the
scene assumed a thousand degrees OF
more excitement and attraction. Then
al hundred fires, from the one cncamp.
ment as we'll as from the other, threw
up broad red liz Int into the air, round
which groups could be seen, moving
or sitting, in attitudes the most varied
:nd picturesque. With the Amcri
cans, indeed, the light falling strongly
Il ,on II thousand tall marques, pro
d c,d an If. ct as beautiful as can well
be inns; ined; while even the rude huts
and blanket tents of the British troops
exhibited when begirt with flames, ar
appearance far more imposing thar
they ever assumed when the sun s rays
smote them
Then again, the few solitary fires
which marked the stations of some G
the outposts, were not without theil
effect in htigl.tening the subimity c
the panorama; while Il cannon or NOR
tar discharged, f! on time to time, by
the enemy, gave to tie whole an ap
pcarance of warlike grandeur, thar
which nothing almost car he conceived
more imposing. In short, in spite 0
all the drawbacks which attended til,
guidance of 4 picket, | am not sur,
that spent any portion of my time il
a state Of higher enjoyment, than when
during the silence of the night, | wa
perambulating from sentry to sentry
and teasting my eyes on the ditteren