our retreat; and we now began to count our beads
of repentance; but the trial was to be made; so on we pushed, and
reached camp without molestation, thanking the auspicious stars that
were our safeguards. The distance we had ridden was about thirteen
miles, which, being doubled, made a pretty good morning's ride; add to
which, that during the excursion we had leapt over about a hundred
large trees. For this piece of palpable indiscretion, we were, as we
richly deserved, most severely admonished; but the information which we
had gained was truly acceptable, and we the following day commenced our
march, taking the road which we had so rashly explored, preceded by
pioneers, who soon cleared a way, and made a good carriage-road. We had
scarcely any stoppage, nor did we see a soul of the enemy. If small
stockades had been thrown across this narrow pathway, our loss of men
must have been great; but the supposed inaccessible nature of their
mountains made the enemy slumber in security. We soon got through the
avenue, and continued our march through the pebbly bed before alluded
to. About a mile ahead of this, a small plain opened to view, studded
with small bushes, at the extreme end of which the bed of the dry ravine
took a direction to the left. Here a most magnificent scene burst upon
the sight. The hills at this point represented a flight of stairs; one
reared its golden summit above the other in beautiful succession; the
whole of them were wooded with the most beautiful variegated trees and
shrubs; and, here and there, majestic rocks elevated their proud heads,
and seemed to bid defiance to the besieging enemy. At the foot or base
of these hills were posted two strong piquets of the enemy; one on a
hill to the right, in a house similar to the one described at
Summarabassah: but on our approach they flew into the hills in the
vicinity, without giving us a shot in earnest of being our enemy. This
silence on the part of a subtle and cunning foe informed us, in plain
terms, that something was brewing for us. They seemed to coax and invite
us to advance and view their picturesque country. It was necessary to
establish here a post of communication, through which we could obtain
supplies; for which purpose the house just spoken of was fortified, and
a depot established. Here we waited until this post was well stored with
every requisite for war. During this time, the quarter-master-general's
department was busily employed in recon