d, waited till daylight should appear. A
heavy rain had come on about midnight, and now fell with so much
violence, that some precautions were necessary, in order to prevent
the firelocks from being rendered useless by wet. Such of the men as
were fortunate enough to possess leathern cases, wrapped them round
the locks of their muskets, whilst the rest held them in the best
manner they could, under their elbows; no man thinking of himself, but
only how he could best keep his arms in a serviceable condition.

As soon as the first glimmering of dawn could be discerned, we
moved to the road, and took up our wonted order of march; but
before we pushed forward, the troops were desired to lighten
themselves still further, by throwing off their blankets, which
were to be left under a slender guard till their return. This
was accordingly done; and being now unencumbered, except by a
knapsack almost empty, every man felt his spirits heightened in
proportion to the diminution of his load. The grief of soldiers
is seldom of long duration, and though I will not exactly say
that poor Ross was already forgotten, the success of yesterday
had reconciled at least the privates to the guidance of their new
leader; nor was any other issue anticipated than what would have
attended the excursion had he still been its mainspring and
director.

The country through which we passed resembled, in every
particular, that already described. Wood and cultivation
succeeded each other at intervals, though the former surpassed
the latter in tenfold extent; but instead of deserted villages
and empty houses, which had met us on the way to Washington, we
found most of the inhabitants remaining peaceably in their homes,
and relying upon the assurance of protection given to them in our
proclamations. Nor had they cause to repent of that confidence.
In no instance were they insulted, plundered, or ill-treated;
whereas every house which was abandoned fell a prey to the scouts
and reconnoitring parties.

But our march to-day was not so rapid as our motions generally
were. The Americans had at last adopted an expedient which,
if carried to its proper length, might have entirely stopped
our progress. In most of the woods they had felled trees,
and thrown them across the road; but as these abattis were
without defenders, we experienced no other inconvenience than
what arose from loss of time; being obliged to halt on all such
occasions till the pione