The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-17 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF FORT ST. LAURENT.

The preparations required for the construction of the three
mines, and that of the bridge of rafts to be thrown into the
fosse, had not been finished until three quarters of an hour past
3 this morning. Previously the fire of the besieged was well
supported, firing on the workmen on the right, and on those of
the lunette, grenades, bombs, and muketry, very violently.
The miners having retired, a slight detonation, but with
powerful effect, was heard at 4 o'clock.

Some minutes after, a strong explosion took place, and a
small depot of grenades and shells having burst, some men
were wounded. On examining the place, we saw the bridge
sunk one third of its length, and the slope of the building
had fallen at the extremity. Although the report was very
slight, the commotion was violent. The waters of the fosse
were driven back into the approaches of the covered way, pa-
rallel to the left face of the lunette, and inundated them. The
workmen were immediately set to work, and a great number
of fascines and sacks of earth having been transported to the
spot, in less than three quarters of an hour a solid bridge, of
the width of four metres, was established between the coun-
terscarp and the broken part of the scarp. The firing still
continuing from the lunette, a company of light troops was
ordered to the assault ; two detachments of grenadiers, each
45 men, went immediately down the trench to turn the lunette
right and left. Both met at the breastwork, and entered on the
open space, while the voltigeurs ascended by the breach: these
movements were strictly executed. However, the voltigeurs
got in advance of the grenadiers, who had a long and dangerous
passage to go through : nut a shot was fired. Some Dutchmen
were killed at the point of the bayonet, and the remainder
were made prisoners. Immediately after the occupation of the
lunette by the French troops, the miners prepared themselves
to make a lodgment, which has been placed in advance of the
blindage, at the saillant of the lunette, and on the open ground.
They continued behind the part of the parapet which was
thrown down, and a second lodgment was made at the breast.
work. A howitzer was found charged in the lunette, which, in
a few moments after the place was taken by assault, was fired
against the citadel.
The following are the results of the works of this morning
against the lunette:— A practicable breach in the lunette, a
solid bridge which it was unnecessary to put under cover, the
occupation of the lunette, and a lodgment six metres in ad-
vance of the blindage.

The troops have displayed the greatest courage in the at.
tack, and General Haxo directed the whole in person.

The following letter has been addressed by Marshal
Gerard to the Minister of War:—

" Head-quarters at Berchem, Dec. 10.
" Sir,—Yesterday the works on the left in the covert-way
and the glacis of the Lunette St. Laurent, as well as those on
the right, which are directed from the passage of the counter_
guard towards the bastion of Toledo, were continued. It was
intended to attach the mine near the salient point of the Lu-
nette St. Laurent to part of its scarp that is not flanked, by
opening the projecting descent already made, and launching a
raft into the fosse ; but this descent was not found so forward
as it was expected. The works have therefore been suspended,
and confined to the construction of the raft. The most im-
portant operation in the night was the construction of a third
parallel, about 120 metres in advance of the second, to join the
passage from the foot of the glacis of the lunette to that of the
covert-way of the counter guard. This operation was perfectly
successful. These works were not executed without being
much harrassed by the fire from the citadel, which in the
course of yesterday was very brisk, yet without causing us
any great loss. Last night I had advanced nearer three of
our mortar batteries, the effect of which, on account of the
distance, was very uncertain. They have been placed behind
the second parallel, and one of them is only 200 meters distance
from the Lunette St. Laurent. The battery of 24-pounders,
commenced yesterday, has fired this morning. I also wished to
establish a battery of four or six mortars on the left side of the
counterscarp, already occupied by our lodgments ; but it is
impossible to do it at present, as there is not space enough at
that spot to place mortars, and there are not even communica-
tions to convey them thither. General Neigre having found
in the Lunette Montebello room for placing four more mortars,
which will fully Attain the object that may be hoped for, I have
given orders for their being placed there, which has been
effected to-day. The Dutch fleet, which is still lying beyond
Fort Lillo, has not made any fresh attempts against the posi-
tions we occupy on the banks of the Scheldt. The armament of
Fort St. Philippe and St. Marie, which is completed, will, I
hope, suffice to put a stop to further aggressions from the fleet,
and render us perfect masters of the river. Our loss is still
very inconsiderable, for since the beginning of the operations
up to this day we have had but 140 killed or wounded.
Accept, &c.

" COUNT GERARD."

The following letter has been addressed by Marshal
Gerard to the Minister of War :
" Headquarters at Berchein, Dee. 12.
" Sir,—Last night the miners resumed their work at the
scarp of the Lunette St. Laurent, which was commenced yester-
day. In order to overcome the solidity of the masonry work
they made use of two petards, which perfectly succeeded. The
miners displayed great perseverance and bravery. Several
shells fell near their raft, and two men were wounded. A
fourth parallel has been opened before the projecting point of
the bastion of Toledo. Two new passages, one leading to this
new parallel, and the other to the glacis of the left front of the
bastion of Toledo, have been completed on the right. Not-
withstanding the nearness of the enemy, we have had, during
these works, neither killed nor wounded. The guard of the
trenches and the working parties have conducted themselves
well. Captain Lerebours, of the 25th of the Line, Captain Du-
but, of the 7th, Corporal Hamon and Sapper Robert, deserve
particularly to be mentioned. Last night also a new battery of
four mortars, intended to throw shells upon the bastions Nos.
1 and 2 in the citadel, was established and armed at the extre-
mity on the right of the second parallel. It has opened its fire
this morning. The batteries of the garrison have answered
ours but faintly. It is now evident that the enemy places his
principal defence in musketry, with which he interrupts our
foremost workmen.—Accept, &c. Count GERARD."

PRINCE TALLEYRAND.—It is Curious that
the sudden visit of the venerable diplomatist to Brighton,
and his lengthened audience of the KING, upwards of a
week ago, have not been announced even in the Court
Circular. The Prince made the journey to Brighton, and
back again to town (after refreshing himself with the warm
bath), in one day. No light feat for a man of his ad-
vanced age--and no trifling business, we may hr sure, I .t
called for such an exertion..—Spertator,

The firing on both sides was constant during the night,
yet the number of men injured on the French side has not
equalled that of former ❑ights, in consequence of the ces•
sation of all hostilities cn their flank by Fort St. Laurent.
The blockade of the Scheldt, as ordered by the Dutch
King, is hut another mode of trying if Belgium is to be
governed now as it was under Philip IV. of Spain, in
1648. Two centuries have left too clear a proof of the
ignorance and impotence of the Spanish councils on that
occasion, and this proof is known to Europe ; the Dutch,
therefore, contend in vain for the commercial stoppage of
the Scheldt. Europe demands its freedom, and will
have it.

The weather is damp and chilly ; a few days will enable
the French soldiers to warm themselves in the ruins of the
citadel. The defence of Chasse is praised by them as a
military exploit, but the politicians look upon it as an act
of madness, which tends to no good for Holland.

11 o'er OCK.

Persons who have come from the arsenal state that the
breach-batteries will be ready to-morrow. Others think
that a mine will be sprung, as General Haxo has great
confidence in these means, which considerably spare the
French troops.

1 o'ci ock.

The firing of heavy guns has been very great to-day.
On the river there has occurred as yet nothing new. The
gun-boats nppo.ite the citadel remain in their former
places. The weather has turned to drizzling rain. K.

(From the Emancipation.)
FRENCH ARMY.

BERCHEM, AFTERNOON.

FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SIEGE.

Since 5 o'clock this morning we have been in possession
of the Lunette St, Laurent. It is an important event, and
will facilitate the attack. It animates the spirits of the
besiegers, while it greatly discourages the besieged.
When the sap was prepared for the descent into the fosse,
three modes presented themselves to take the fort. One
was to attack the gorge by a strong force by which there
was a probability of great loss. The opening of the bzeach
by the artillery would be so much lost time, and the third
mode which was suggested by General Haan., and which
was in unison with the principle on which the siege was
conducted, was to place a mine in the flank of the lunette.
This last was adopted, and executed with brilliant and
fortunate results.

On the 10th, a raft was constructed under the blindage
near the fosse. During the night 14 workmen of the en-
gineers, led by an officer, crossed the flsse, and fastening
themselves to the left flank of the fort near the saillant,
they remained there five hours, during which every means
that art could suggest produced no other effect than that
of removing two bricks.

The difficulties were such, that in the (lay following it
became a matter of deliberation whether they should not
resort to the more certain, though more tedious, proces,
of opening the breach with artillery. General Haxo per-
sisted, and at 6 o'clock in the evening of the 11th the
engineers crossed the fosse a second time, still unobserved
by the besieged in the fortress, who, by a lucky chance,
could not enfilade this fosse, which is not under any guns
but those of the city itself.
The firing of the besiegers against the citadel was be-
sides at this time extremely quick, in order to turn off the
attention of the garrison. To give you an idea of its
rapidity, I need only state that on this night 77,000
cartridges were consumed. After a hard labour of several
hours, and the employment of petards, the men at last
succeeded in destroying a coating of brick, and a thick
layer of cement, by which they attained their object. An
excavation was soon made, ihto which the miners entered.
Thus these resolute men remained lodged in the very flank
of the lunette from the I2th to the 13th, and during this
time they had dug to the depth of 30 feet under the plat-
form of the fort. The excavatio❑ was in the form of a
T, in the upper part of which there were three maga-
zines. Yesterday evening each of these magazines was
charged with 500 kilograms (I,ooolbs. English) of
powder. The remainder of the night was employed in
filling up the excavations with a considerable number of
sacks of earth.

It was calculated that the shock produced by the ex-
plosion would throw down a portion of the fosse. Fas-
eines were brought up to facilitate the passage immediately
on the firing of the mine; the trenches in the vicinity were
also filled with fascines, to he ready in case of necessity.

It is now said that at nine o'clock the officer command-
ing the lunette had a suspicion of what was going on, and
communicated these suspicions to General Chasse, who
sent him answer 41st-he must be mistaken. Be that as

it may, about 4 o'clock this morning everything being
prepared, the train of the mine was fired. The soldiers
then retired within the second parallel, and in half an hour
after, a violent explosion, followed by an eruption of
stones, several of which fell at our side, announced that a
practicable breach had been effected. The first detona-
tion was followed by a second, occasioned by the explosion
of a small magazine of shells and grenades, which had the
appearance of a brilliant discharge of firework,. The
garrison of the lunette took the explosion as the effect of a
bomb.

The shocl was very violent ; the water was thrown
back up to the covered way, and deranged the fascines
thrown forward in the fosse. This, however, was soon
repaired, and in half an honr a solid footway was made
up to the bridge.
In the mean time some discharges of musketry which
came from the fort announced that it had not yet been
abondoned. The elite companies of the 65th of the Line
received orders to enter by the breach, and at the same
time by the breast-work. This order w.as executed with
great bravery. M. Borrelis, Lieutenant-Colonel, and
Lieutenant Duveiger, both of the 65th, at the head of 40
men, crossed the fosse, and quickly mounted the breach•
and were soon seen at the top of the slope. There they
encountered about 100 Dutch, who after a few charges of
the bayonet called for quarter. The officer who com-
manded them came forward, and presented his sword to
M. Richepanse, an officer of the Staff, who had already
arrived in the lunette, saying, << Do with me as you please,
but spare my men." .

The company of Lieutenant Duverger having had eight
men wounded that night, it was feared that they might
show irritation i❑ consequence of the loss. However, no
injury was offered to any of the prisoners. One of our
soldiers called out to his companions, " We do not em-
ploy our arms against men who call for quarter."
During this time a company of grenadiers bad entered
by the gorge without meeting any obstacle, but Wing to

" The Dutch prisoners are sent off to Berchem. I
spoke to one of the sergeants, who was an old soldier of
the Imperial Guard. He wore three decorations, one of
which was the Legion of Honour. I got from him the
following particulars :—At the time of the attack the gar-
rison of the lunette consisted of 124 men, of whom 20
were artillery. They were commanded by a Captain, but
he having received two wounds the evening before, one in
the arm and the other in the thigh, was conveyed to the
citadel. The Lieutenant, who is now a prisoner, then took
the command. At the time of the explosion, athough the
mine carried away but a corner of the lunette, a party of
the garrison, fearing that their comrades would not make
a stout resistance, and not wishing to expose themselves
to the danger of being taken, quitted the fort, and
having cleared the pallisades, entered the citadel. But for
the accident which happened to our raft by the falling of
the part of the fosse, the whole of the garrison would
have been prisoners. The sergeant also informed me that
three days ago, in one of their sorties, they carried off
three of our men, who are now in the citadel. The
Dutch prisoners are for the most part young men. They
are in general badly clothed, and their appearance alto-
gether is calculated to excite pity more than any other
feeling.

4 O'CLOCK, AFTERNOON.
The troops doing duty in the trenches have been relieved
by two battalions of the 25th. They are under the
command of General Rumigny, and the Colonel of that
regiment. Our fire has become more relaxed, and from
this time until the whole of our batteries was ready to
commence in breach, we shall not have any thing of im-
portance to relate.

(From an Antwerp Paper, Dec. 14.)
We are assured that General Chasse has gone over to
the Tete de Flandres, his health not permitting him to
remain longer in the casemates. lle has also caused his
sick and wounded to he removed to the same place. This
intelligence is an additional guarantee that there is no in-
tention of firing on the city, that of the Tete de Flandres
depending entirely on that event.
Another account says, that after the explosion the small
Dutch garrison that remained in the lunette offered to
surrender provided they were allowed to return to the ci-
tadel. This offer having been conveyed to the Marshal,
he returned for answer that he would not grant any capi-
tulation, but that they should surrender unconditionally.
The commanding officer wished to prolong the defence,
but the appearance of his men made him prudently de-
cline all further resistance. This capture is chiefly owing
to the talents of the French engineers. It neutralizes an
important point for the besieged, while it is at the same time
an excellent position for the besiegers, and it is a sure omen
of the fall of the last bulwark of King William's domina-
tion in Belgium. The capture of Fort St. Laurent has
thrown a great damp on the hopes of the Orangeists. They
now, at length, see that all the efforts of their patron to
maintain himself in Belgium, are vain, and that, notwith-
standing all he has done to fanaticize his subjects, and to
interest Europe in his cause, he is left to take the conse-
quences of his own stupid infatuation.
The number of projectiles thrown on the citadel within
the four days from the Bth to the 12th inclusive, was as
follows:

Sth to 9th-704 of 241 b., 843 of 161 b., 774 howitzer
bhells, and 664 bombs.

9th to 10tb-538 of 241 b., 756 of 161 b., 1,023
lowitzers, and 985 bombs.

10th to 116-347 of 241 b., 612 of 161 b., 1,001
howitzers, and 833 bombs.
11th to 12th-789 of 241 b., 465 of 161 b., 823
howitzers, and 1,278 bombs.

Thus, according to the accou❑t which I sent you before
you will perceive that, from the 4th to the 12th, in-
clusive there were fired on the citadel 7,854 shot of 241 b.,
3,190 of 161 b., 7,241 howitzer shills, and 6,220 bombs;
making a total of 26,503 projectiles of all kinds, or 3,312
per day.

BRUSSELS, 5 P.M.

The accounts received since the morning state that the
firing was continued with spirit on the part of the be-
siegers; and that every exertion was made to get the heavy
cannon in battery in advance.
An account which left the bead-quarters at 12 o'clock,
says that Chase had commenced a heavy fire of howitzer
shells on the Fort St. Laurent.

(Flom the Morning- Herald.)

Chasse pissed over on Wednesday in a boat to the Tete
de Flandres, and inspected the new works that have been
erected there. He also gave some instructions about a
dike that has been cut near Burcht, by which a com-
munication Ls been effected with the polders.
There has been a great deal of firing along the Scheldt
to-day ;it is supposed that the Dutch have been pouritig
soroebroadsides into Fort St. Marie. I have heard that
the Dutch fleet has fired within the last 21 hours more
than 1,200 shot on the batteries and posts of General
Sebastiani. The following will give you some insight
into the operations of Sebastiani, descriptive of the first
four days of the invasion :
"NEWS OF THE DIVISION OF SEBASTIANI.

" The division Sebastiani placed on the left bank, has
had difficulties of the severest nature to surmount ; the
works which they have executed are quite extraordinary.
On the 30th of November, the Belgian posts were given
up to the French ; in the morning the Forts Lief kenshock,
Isabelle, and Burcht were summoned, and on their refusal
to surrender, the divisions were immediately established
on the neutral ground which the Belgians and Dutch
respected equally. General Sebastiani repaired to the
fort of Sainte Marie, and informed the Admiral of the
Dutch squadron that he would not allow the fleet to
pass up or down the river. The Admiral collected
some vessels opposite the place which the French occu-
pied, and threatened to bombard them if they did not i:u•
mediately evacuate it. An engagement took place, and
the result was that the ships were obliged to fly."
A .despatch has just been received at head-quarters, an-
nouncing that the Dutch army has made a movement to-
wards the frontiers. The Marshal instantly ordered that
the sth Hussars of the brigade of General Simonnian
should go to the frontiers, and act as a corps d'observation.
There have been two houses on fire to-day in the cita-
del ; one of them is said to be a church. There was at
une time a tremendous explosion, as if a number of bombs
had burst at the same time. The following order of the
day has been issued :
" Since the opening of the trenches the service of the
ambulances has been conducted with the greatest order,
zeal, and skill. Persons to take care of the wounded are
placed in the most convenient spots, in order that they
may be ready to assist when wanted. Assistance and the
greatest attention are lavished on the. wounded by the

you think proper, but pray pardon my men." A cry was
instantly heard from our grenadiers—" We bear not arms
against those who surrender themselves," said the brave
fellows, who yet had the blood of their comrades to avenge.
The officer sent his sword to the garrison, and was made
prisoner. The garrison had been composed of 108 men,
with a First and Second Lieutenant; but 47 of these re-
tired before the first explosion.
In the lunette, therefore, were found only 61 men—
that is, 57 inferior officers and soldiers belonging to the
10th afelding, composed partly of Jews, which accounts
for the devastations during the days of Brussels ; a First
Lieutenant (De Brown) of this afelding; and three
artillerymen. Five of these men, being wounded, were
conveyed away to the ambulance ; and five pieces, of
which three were mortars, in the cohorn.

Such is the summary of this most important operation,
the circumstances of which I have received from the very
best authority.
I am enabled to add the following details :—The Cap-
tain who commanded the lunette was dreadfully wounded
on the evening of yesterday by the bursting of a bomb,
and was immediately carried into the citadel. At the
moment when the grenadiers of the 69th advanced on the
bastion, the Second Dutch Lieutenant took advantage of
the tumult to disperse the soldiers who surrounded him,
and to betake himself to the citadel, as the besiegers had
now entered the breach.

The Colonel of the Engineers, accompanied by M. Ne-
guier, guard of the Engineers of the second cla,s, were the
first to enter the lunette ; and to both, the howitzer of the
place taken was given, the one to charge, and the other to
fire it against the citadel.
The prisoners were brought immediately to Berchem,
and were placed near the church, in the custody of a com-
p iny of infantry, where one of the engineers visited them.
This honest fellow said to them, " Yesterday we were
enemies ; to•day you are unfortunate ; you are in want ;
here is something to drink (drawing nut a bottle from un-
der his cloak) which of you will drink ?" The unhappy
prisoners were trembling with fear. They accepted the
offer, and drank from the bottle. Some cannoneers, in
fantry officers, soldiers, &c., of the engineers, helped them
to eatables, made up a fire for them, and a large crowd
soon collected near the church, out of curiosity to see the
Dutch. They were in general young soldiers, badly
clothed in every respect, and looking as if they had suffered
intensely. The officers had them properly taken care of.
One of the prisoners marked out a Belgian artilleryman
who had been once his comrade; they embraced each
other. The scene produced a great sensation.
Immediately after the occupation of the lunette by the
French troops the pioneers made a lodgment behind that
part of the parapet which had fallen. A second lodg-
ment was made at the gorge. The troops which occupy
the lunette are now under shelter.

A howitzer, still charged, was found in the lunette.
Some minutes after the capture by assault it was turned,
and fired on the citadel.

The following is the result of the operations of the
night against the lunette of St. Laurente :
A practicable breach made in the lunette ; a solid
bridge, which has no occasion to be sheltered ; the occu-
pation of the lunette ; the lodgment in the gorge.
The troops have employed the greatest vigour in their
dangerous works as well as in the attack. Lieutenant-
General Haxo directed every movement in person, and
he has seen his skilful operations crowned with the hap-
piest success.