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334 junctions, warned him not to make any rash attack, but to await his coming in person; for such was his design,—intending, at the head of a second detachment, consisting of a larger number of troops that were quartered in the vicinity, as soon as night favoured the circumspection of his movements, to take the enemy by surprise at the first break of day.

This being arranged, Major Harrold, having promised faithful obedience, accompanied by his officers, descended to the parade, there to employ himself with the utmost dispatch in the muster of his men, who in less than an hour were under arms, and in readiness, previous to their departure, to be passed in review by their General.

It is true that the Fort, being but thinly armed, in sending thus forth the most effective of its forces, the garrison during the interval would be comparatively divested of power; but naturally impetuous, excited also by zeal in the country's cause, the General, under such urgent circumstances, felt that active measures were necessary to be adopted, and hoped, by one decisive blow, to extinguish the flames of rebellion. Thus animated himself, he exhorted the subalterns, and even the privates, with these words: "Go, my gallant friends; tomorrow we return victorious!" Then