The army remained in position near St. Benedict until four o'clock on the afternoon of the following day, when the bugles sounded, the regiments turned out in marching order, and proceeded in the direction of Nottingham, a town on the banks of the Patuxent, which was found deserted, while the appearance of the furniture, and in some places the bread left in the ovens, showed it had been abandoned in haste. On the 22d the army proceeded to the delightful village of Upper Marlborough, situate in a well-cultivated valley about two miles broad; and during the march loud explosions were heard, which proved to be the enemy destroying his flotilla to prevent its falling into the hands of British seamen. The object of the expedition had thus been accomplished; but, as the army had advanced within sixteen miles of Washington, and the enemy's force was ascertained to be such as would authorize an attempt to carry the capital, the troops moved forward on the 23d of August. They had scarcely proceeded three miles when the advance-guard encountered a party of American riflemen, who maintained a sharp contest before they gave way; and arriving at a point where two roads meet, the one leading to Washington and the other to Alexandria, twelve hundred Americans and some artillery appeared on the slope of a height opposite. The army turned along the road leading towards Alexandria, and the Americans fled before the detachment sent against them. Having deceived the enemy respecting the real design of the expedition, the route was changed, and the troops proceeded in the direction of Washington. About noon on the 24th a heavy cloud of dust was seen to arise at a distance, and the British troops turning a sudden angle in the road and passing a small cluster of trees, discovered above eight thousand American infantry, with a numerous artillery and three hundred dragoons, commanded by General Winder, occupying a formidable position beyond the village of _Bladensburg_, where they were awaiting the advance of their opponents.