n, the American General harassed our
piquets, killed and wounded a few of the sentinels, and prevented
the main body from obtaining any sound refreshing sleep.
Scarcely had the troops lain down when they were roused by a
sharp firing at the outposts, which lasted only till they were in
order, and then ceased; but as soon as they had dispersed and had
once more addressed themselves to repose, the same cause of alarm
returned, and they were again called to their ranks. Thus was
the entire night spent in watching, or at best in broken and
disturbed slumbers, than which nothing is more trying, both to
the health and spirits of an army.

With the piquets, again, it fared even worse. For the outposts
of an army to sleep is at all times considered as a thing
impossible; but in modern and civilized warfare they are
nevertheless looked upon as in some degree sacred. Thus, whilst
two European armies remain inactively facing each other, the
outposts of neither are molested, unless a direct attack upon the
main body be intended; nay, so far is this tacit good
understanding carried, that I have myself seen French and English
sentinels not more than twenty yards apart. But the Americans
entertained no such chivalric notions. An enemy was to them an
enemy, whether alone or in the midst of five thousand companions;
and they therefore counted the death of every individual as so
much taken from the strength of the whole. In point of fact they
no doubt reasoned correctly, but to us at least it appeared an
ungenerous return to barbarity. Whenever they could approach
unperceived within proper distance of our watch-fires, six or
eight riflemen would fire amongst the party that sat around them,
while one or two, stealing as close to each sentinel as a regard
to their own safety would permit, acted the part of assassins
rather than that of soldiers, and attempted to murder him in cold
blood. For the officers, likewise, when going their rounds, they
constantly lay in wait, and thus, by a continued dropping fire,
they not only wounded some of those against whom their aim was
directed, but occasioned considerable anxiety and uneasiness
throughout the whole line.

It was on this night, and under these circumstances, that I was
indebted to the vigilance of my faithful dog for my life. Amid
all the bustle of landing, and throughout the tumult of the
nocturnal battle, she never strayed from me; at least if she did
lose me for a time, sh