le the land force advanced up the
river to prevent their retreat, armed boats from the fleet were
to engage them in front. That such was in reality the primary
object of the landing, I have every reason to believe, though
circumstances afterwards occurred to bring about a change in the
plan of operations. Into these, however, I shall not now enter,
because they are in no way, connected with the present stage of
my narrative, but shall merely observe, that in their
expectations of an immediate advance the troops were
disappointed. Whether it was that the arrangements had not been
completed, or that intelligence respecting the state of the
country and the enemy's preparations was wanting, I do not know;
but the regiments returned to the ground which they had occupied
during the night, and everything resumed the same face which it
had worn on the evening before.

In this state affairs continued till four o'clock in the
afternoon, when the General suddenly made his appearance in the
camp, the bugles sounded, and the regiments formed in order for
marching. Nor did many minutes elapse before the word was given,
and the army began to move, taking the direction of Nottingham, a
town situated on the river, where it was understood that the
flotilla lay at anchor. The march was conducted with the same
caution and good order that had marked the choice of ground for
encamping and the disposition of the troops in position. The
advanced-guard, consisting of three companies of infantry, led
the way. These, however, were preceded by a section of twenty
men, moving before them at the distance of a hundred yards; and
even these twenty were but the followers of two files, sent
forward to prevent surprise, and to give warning of the approach
of the enemy. Parallel with the head of the three companies
marched the flank patrols; parties of forty or fifty men, which,
extending in files from each side of the road, swept the woods
and fields to the distance of nearly half a mile. After the
advanced guard, leaving an interval of a hundred or a hundred and
fifty yards, came the light brigade; which, as well as the
advance, sent out flankers to secure itself against ambuscades.
Next to it, again, marched the second brigade, moving steadily
on, and leaving the skirmishing and reconnoitring to those
in front; then came the artillery, consisting, as I have already
stated, of one six and two three-pounder guns, drawn by seamen;
and last of