ck. The death of General Ross seemed to have
disorganized the whole plan of proceedings, and the fleet and
army rested idle, like a watch without its main spring.

Whilst things were in this state, whilst the banks of the rivers
continued in our possession, and the interior was left unmolested
to the Americans, a rash confidence sprang up in the minds of
all, insomuch that parties of pleasure would frequently land
without arms, and spend many hours onshore. On one of these
occasions, several officers from the 85th regiment agreed to pass
a day together at a farm-house, about a quarter of a mile from
the stream; and taking with them ten soldiers, unarmed, to row
the boat, a few sailors, and a young midshipman, not more than
twelve years of age, they proceeded to put their determination
into practice. Leaving the men, under the command of their
youthful pilot, to take care of the boat, the officers went on to
the house; but they had not remained there above an hour, when
they were alarmed by a shout, which sounded as if it came from
the river. Looking, out, they beheld their party surrounded by
seventy or eighty mounted riflemen; the boat dragged upon the
beach, and set on fire. Giving themselves up for lost, they
continued for an instant in a sort of stupor; but the master of
the house, to whom some kindness had been shown by our people,
proved himself grateful, and, letting them out by a back door,
directed them to bide themselves in the wood, whilst he should
endeavour to turn their pursuers on a wrong scent. As they had
nothing to trust to except the honour of this American, it cannot
be supposed that they felt much at ease; but, seeing no better
course before them, they resigned themselves to his guidance, and
plunging into the thicket, concealed themselves as well as they
could among the underwood. In the mean time the American
soldiers, having secured all that were left behind, except the
young midshipman, who fled into the wood in spite of their fire,
divided into two bodies, one of which approached the house,
whilst the other endeavoured to overtake the brave boy. It so
chanced that the party in pursuit passed close to the officers in
concealment, but by the greatest good fortune failed to observe
them. They succeeded, however, in catching a glimpse of the
midshipman, just as he had gained the water's edge, and was
pushing off a light canoe which he had loosened from the stump of
a tree. The barbaria