cern a long line of men, but whether they were
friends or foes the darkness would not permit ups to determine.
We called aloud for the purpose of satisfying our doubts; but the
signal being disregarded, we advanced. A heavy fire of musketry
instantly opened upon us; but so fearful was Grey of doing injury
to our own troops, that he would not permit it to be returned.
We accordingly pressed on, our men dropping by ones and twos on
every side of us, till having arrived within twenty or thirty
yards of the object of our curiosity, it became to me evident
enough that we were in front of the enemy. Grey's humane caution
still prevailed; he was not convinced, till he, should be
convinced it was but natural that he should alter his plans.
There chanced to be near the spot where we were standing a huge
dung-heap, or rather a long solid stack of stubble, behind which
we directed the men to take shelter whilst one of us should creep
forward alone, for the purpose of more completely ascertaining a
fact of which all except my brave and noble-minded comrade were
satisfied. The event proved that my sight had not deceived me: I
approached within sabre's length of the line; and having
ascertained beyond the possibility of doubt that the line was
composed of American soldiers, I returned to my friend and again
urged him to charge. But there was an infatuation upon him that
night for which I have ever been unable to account: he insisted
that I must be mistaken; he spoke of the improbability which
existed that any part of the enemy's army should have succeeded
in taking up a position in rear of the station of one of our
outposts, and he could not be persuaded that the troops now
before him were not the 95th Rifle corps. At last it was agreed
between us that we should separate; that Grey with one half of
the party should remain where he was, whilst I with the other
half should make a short detour to the right, and come down upon
the flank of the line from whose fire we had suffered so
severely. The plan was carried into immediate execution. Taking
with me about a dozen or fourteen men, I quitted Grey, and we
never met again.

How or when he fell I know not; but, judging from the spot and
attitude in which I afterwards found his body, I conceive that my
back could have been barely turned upon him when the fatal ball
pierced his brain. He was as brave a soldier and as good a man
as the British army can boast of; beloved by his bro