n effect. She was,
in fact, on fire, and being abandoned without resistance, in
little more than an hour she blew up. In itself the sight was a
fine one, but to us it was peculiarly gratifying, for we could
not but experience something like satiated revenge at the
destruction of a vessel from which we had suffered so much
damage. A loud shout accordingly followed the explosion, and the
guns were immediately turned against the ship. But the fate of
her companion had warned her not to remain till she herself
should be attacked. Setting every inch of canvas, and hoisting
out her boats, she began, to stem the stream at the very instant
the schooner took fire, and being impelled forward both by towing
and sailing, she succeeded in getting beyond the range of shot
before the guns could be brought to bear. One shell, however,
was thrown with admirable precision, which falling upon her deck
caused considerable execution; but excepting this, she escaped
without injury, and did not anchor again till she had got too far
for pursuit.

Having thus removed all apparent obstacles to his future
progress, the General made dispositions for a speedy advance.
Dividing the army into two columns, he appointed General Gibbs to
the command of one, and General Keane to the command of the
other. The left column, led on by the latter officer, consisted
of the 95th, the 85th, the 93rd, and one black corps; the right,
of the 4th, 21st, 44th, and the other black corps. The
artillery, of which we had now ten pieces in the field, though
at present attached to the left column, was designed to act as
circumstances and the nature of the ground would permit; whilst
the dragoons, few of whom had as yet provided themselves with
horses, were appointed to guard the hospitals, and to secure the
wounded from any sudden surprise or molestation from the rear.

But the day was too far spent in making these arrangements, and
in clearing the way for future operations, to permit any movement
before the morrow. The whole of the 26th was therefore spent in
bringing up stores, ammunition, and a few heavy guns from the
ships, which being placed in battery upon the banks of the river,
secured us against the return of our floating adversary. All
this was done quietly enough, nor was there any cause of alarm
till after sunset; but from that time till towards dawn, we were
kept in a constant state of anxiety and agitation. Sending down
small bodies of rifleme