from their present perilous
situation, with as little loss as possible.

The first thing to be done was to remove the dismounted guns.
Upon this enterprise a party of seamen were employed, who,
running forward to the spot where they lay, lifted them, in spite
of the whole of the enemy's fire, and bore them off in triumph.
As soon as this was effected, regiment after regiment stole away;
not in a body, but one by one, under the same discharge which
saluted their approach. But a retreat thus conducted necessarily
occupied much time. Noon had therefore long passed before the
last corps was brought off; and when we again began to muster
twilight was approaching. We did not, however, retire to our
former position; but having fallen back only about two miles from
the canal, where it was supposed that we should be beyond reach
of annoyance from the American artillery, we there established
ourselves for the night, having suffered less during the day than,
from our exposed situation and the enemy's heavy fire, might have
been expected.

The ground which we now occupied resembled, in almost every
particular, that which we had quitted. We again extended across
the plain, from the marsh to the river; no wood or cover of any
description concealing our line, or obstructing the view of either
army; while both in front and rear was an open space, laid out in
fields and intersected by narrow ditches. Our outposts, however
were pushed forward to some houses within a few hundred yards of
the enemy's works, sending out advanced sentinels even farther;
and the head-quarters of the army were established near the spot
where the action of the 23rd had been fought.

PREPARATIONS.

In this state we remained during the 28th, the 29th, and 30th,
without any efforts being made to fortify our own position, or to
annoy that of the enemy. Some attempts were, I believe, set on
foot to penetrate into the wood on the right of our line, and to
discover a path through the morass, by which the enemy's left
might be turned. But all of these proved fruitless, and a few
valuable lives having been sacrificed, the idea was finally laid
aside. In the meanwhile the American General directed the whole
of his attention to the strengthening of his post. Day and night
we could observe numerous parties at work upon his lines, whilst
from the increased number of tents, which almost every hour might
be discerned, it was evident that strong reinforcements