_9th._ We marched through some first-rate woodland, and through a large prairie of the best quality. It is badly watered; the water in the wagon-ruts was the only drink we could get to cool our scorching thirst, and but very little of that. We encamped near the River St. Mary’s, eighteen miles from the fort. At 11 o’clock and at 3 we were alarmed by the sentinels firing several guns; we formed in order of battle, and stood so fifteen minutes. The following extract of a general order is designed to show the order of battle for night and day attack. “HEADQUARTERS, “_Second Crossing of St. Mary’s, Sept. 10, 1812_. “The signal for a general charge will be beating the _long-roll_. Officers and men will be upon their arms and in their clothes. “Two or more guns firing in succession will constitute an alarm, at which the whole army will parade in the order of encampment (that is, in a hollow square), unless otherwise directed. When a sentinel discharges his gun in the night the officer of the guard to whom he belongs will immediately ascertain the cause, and should he have sufficient reason to believe, on an examination, that an enemy is near, he will cause two guns to be fired in quick succession. Should the firing of a sentinel appear to have proceeded from a cause not sufficient to give an alarm, the officer of the guard will immediately call out ‘_all is well_,’ which will be repeated through the army. The same thing will take place upon an accidental fire made in the day. “The order of battle for rear attack will be so far attended with regard to the rear line; the rear battalions of Colonel Lewis’s regiment and Colonel Allen’s only are to turn upon their centre, while the heads of the front battalions are to close up the front lines, then, facing from the centre, march out until they respectively gain the flanks of the front line. Should the attack be in front, the senior officer nearest the flank battalion will judge of the propriety of bringing up that battalion to form on the flank of the front line. The second battalion of Colonel Lewis’s and Colonel Allen’s regiments will, in all cases, close up as the leading battalions shall advance, and make room for them. Captain Garrard’s troop, forming the rear guard, will also close up and act as circumstances may require. “WM. H. HARRISON, “_Major-General Commanding_.”