The men got within a hundred feet of the camp, when they heard several terrible yells in succession, and several natives ran out from behind one of the tents, screaming at the top of their voices, and not pausing to look around at all.  The officer in command of the company of men was much disturbed by this demonstration, and, without pausing a moment, gave the order to fire.  Five of the natives fell immediately, but the other six kept running, and soon disappeared among the trees on the other side of the clearing.  The men stood still awaiting developments, but though they waited several minutes nothing more was heard, and it was decided that the camp must be deserted.  So they marched up to the tents, and then the officer almost fainted, for inside the first one he entered was standing an American flag, and scattered about were the accoutrements and camp equipment belonging to an American force in the field.  There was now no doubt but what the tents belonged to an American regiment, and that the fleeing natives were either servants or prisoners, more likely the former.  The men were all much excited at this discovery, and the officer ordered the natives to be looked after at once.  It was found, however, that all but one were dead, and he expired within an hour, so that the men felt that they had killed five innocent men, a thought which made some of them weep, hardened though they were.

It was now decided to await the return of the regiment, which was out, the officer thought, on a practice march, and could not possibly be gone much longer.  So the men lounged about on the grass for more than an hour.  Then, about three in the afternoon, a rifle-shot was heard in the near distance, and instantly every man was on his feet, rifle in hand.  “They must have found the rebels,” said the officer; “so be ready, men, to help them out, should they be retreating to the camp.”  This supposition turned out to be correct, for a few minutes later some members of the regiment came running into camp and announced that a large body of insurgents was after them.  Later the remainder of the regiment followed, and the joy of the colonel when he found these unexpected reinforcements was very great.  “There must be more than fifteen hundred rebels,” he said, “and they will all be on us here in less than an hour, for their sharpshooters have been following us up for a long time.  I was beginning to think that we would be unable to fight them, for they seem to be well equipped, but with the cruiser to kelp us we can whip them at once.  The thing to do will be to let them come on without suspecting that we have received any help, and then, when the fight is getting a little warm, or they are about to charge us, let the cruiser fire a few shells into the air, and it will all be over.  Most of them are country troops, and have never seen a cruiser, so they will be too much frightened to speak when they hear the thunder of the guns, and see the shells explode in the air.  And then they have a village about three miles back from the coast, and if you can send a few shells into that village it will simply ruin the insurgents.