nt on in a body. Marching
over the field where the battle of the 12th had been fought, we
beheld the dead scattered about, and still unburied; but so far
different from those which we had seen at Bladensburg, that they
were not stripped, every man lying as he had fallen. One object,
however, struck me as curious. I saw several men hanging
lifeless among the branches of trees, and learnt that they had
been riflemen, who chose, during the battle, to fix themselves in
these elevated situations, for the combined purposes of securing
a good aim and avoiding danger. Whatever might be their success
in the first of these designs, in the last they failed; for our
men soon discovered them, and, considering the thing as unfair,
refused to give them quarter, and shot them on their perches.

Here we paused for about an hour, that the soldiers might collect
their blankets and refresh themselves; when we again moved
forward, passing the wood where the gallant Ross was killed. It
was noon, and as yet all had gone on smoothly with out any check
or alarm. So little indeed was pursuit dreamt of, that the
column began to straggle, and to march without much regard to
order; when suddenly the bugle sounded from the rear, and
immediately after some musket shots were heard. In an instant
the men were in their places, and the regiments wheeled into
line, facing towards the enemy. The artillery turned round and
advanced to the front; indeed I have never seen a manoeuvre more
coolly or more steadily performed on a parade in England than
this rally. The alarm, however, turned out to be groundless,
being occasioned only by the sudden appearance of a squadron of
horse, which had been sent out by the American General to track
our steps. These endeavoured to charge the rear-guard, and
succeeded in making two prisoners; but a single Shrapnel checked
their farther advance, and sent them back at full speed to boast
of the brave exploit which they had performed.

Seeing that no attack was seriously intended, the army broke once
more into the line of march, and proceeded to a favourable piece
of ground, near the uncompleted position which I have already
described, where we passed the night under little tents made with
blankets and ramrods. No alarm occurring, nor any cause of delay
appearing, at daybreak we again got under arms, and pushed on
towards the shipping, which in two hours were distinguishable.

RE-EMBARKATION.

The infantry now