rendering each one to his neighbor a little timely help now and then, we managed to reach Trindle Spring Creek, a small stream which crosses the road about seven miles out from Fort Washington; though when we think of the weight we bore, of the warm afternoon, and of our being totally unused to such hardships, it is a little remarkable that we got through so well. The following tabular statement exhibits the actual avoirdupois weight of our equipments--a fair average being taken, some being more and some less than the estimate. lb. oz. Musket, 10 8 Belt, etc., 1 10 Forty rounds ball cartridges, 3 6 Knapsack, packed, 9 0 Haversack, containing two days' rations, with a few trifling extras, 2 0 Woolen Blanket, 5 8 Rubber Blanket, 2 8 Canteen, half-filled, 2 8 Overcoat, 5 0 A half shelter-tent, 2 0 Total, 44 lbs. This is about the weight of a healthy boy, eight years old. Some carried even more than this, viz.--an extra pair of heavy government shoes, together with an assortment of tins, such as cup, plate, teapot, etc. We were halted in a clover field a little after ten o'clock. The night was dark, the sky being overcast; and here we had our first bivouac. No sooner had we reached the spot than we saw what convinced us that we had entered in good earnest upon the business for which we professed to have left our homes; for far away to the front rose the heavy boom of artillery firing, and a bright light reflected from the clouds indicated that a conflagration was raging in the same vicinity, probably at Carlisle. This proved to be a demonstration of the rebel General Fitz Hugh Lee against the small force of militia under General W. F. Smith then holding Carlisle. The former it appears was escorting a train which was on its way toward Chambersburg, and fearing an attack from General Smith made a show of taking the offensive and demanded a surrender of the place. This was refused; whereupon the rebel officer contented himself with shelling the town, which resulted principally in the burning of the government cavalry barracks situated there. At length having by his audacity gained security for the train he withdrew. In recognition of the service rendered to Carlisle by General Smith on this occasion of alarm, some ladies of the place have since presented to him the compliment of a silver urn:--the only instance, by the way, which the citizens or government of Pennsylvania is known to have furnished of their appreciation of the service they received at the hands of the New York Militia.