ow-sufferers. To him, as
well as to the other prisoners, was given his parole, and to his
care were our wounded, in a peculiar manner, intrusted,--a trust
which he received with the utmost willingness, and discharged
with the most praiseworthy exactness. Among other stipulations,
it was agreed that such of our people as were left behind should
be considered as prisoners of war, and should be restored to us
as soon as they were able to travel; and that, as soon as they
reached the ships, the Commodore and his countrymen would, in
exchange, be released from their engagements.

As soon as these arrangements were completed, and darkness had
come on, the third brigade, which was posted in the rear of our
army, began to withdraw. Then followed the guns, afterwards the
second, and last of all the light brigade, exactly reversing the
order which had been maintained during the advance. Instead of an
advanced guard, this last now furnished a party to cover the
retreat, and the whole procession was closed by the mounted
drivers.

It being a matter of great importance to deceive the enemy and to
prevent pursuit, the rear of the column did not quit its ground
upon the Capitol till a late hour. During the day an order had
been issued that none of the inhabitants should be seen in the
streets after eight o'clock; and as fear renders most men
obedient, the order was punctually attended to. All the horses
belonging to different officers were removed to drag the guns, no
one being allowed to ride, lest a neigh, or even the trampling of
hoofs, should excite suspicion. The fires were trimmed, and made
to blaze brightly; fuel enough was left to keep them so for some
hours; and finally, about half-past nine o'clock the troops
formed in marching order, and moved off in the most profound
silence. Not a word was spoken, nor a single individual
permitted to step one inch out of his place, by which means they
passed along the streets perfectly unnoticed, and cleared the
town without any alarm being given. Our pace, it will be
imagined, was none of the most tardy, consequently it was not
long before we reached the ground which had been occupied by the
other brigades. Here we found a second line of fires blazing in
the same manner as those deserted by ourselves; and the same
precautions in every respect adopted, to induce a belief that our
army was still quiet.--Beyond these, again, we found two or three
solitary fires, placed in suc