Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-07

oheTs then drawer 5, aud a lady her under |
IetucOat, tor fine want OF flannel. to make !
cartridges with. A strong battery is
constructed hail way down Groton iiiii. |
Inc magazines are all bomh-proof. we'll
stored with ammunition, OF which observ-
ed upwards of 5000 heavy cartridges in
one Of them, besides fixed charges in the
laboratory and all the forts are in such
stare o. preparation, that in two minutes
Their whole fire could be opened on any
object. doubt whether all the navy of
the English on the coast could have effect
ea Passage through these works into
Ne|-London harbor
icing 50 near Stonington, | could not
res st an inclination to visit tnat little SPOT.
40 famed IN the annals OF modern warfare.
Although its brave protectors did not. like
the defenders of Thermopyl;e, record their
heroism with their blood, yet for the gal
lantry and iOrtitude with which they sus-
tanned terrible and reiterated attack
from force an hundred fold superior, It
would deserve iii any country, to
Lac in description, and Igros, green in sang.
rode down TO the Point, and, without
beng known to single inhabitant, view
ed and reviewed, in silent admiration, the
marks oil .'thc pifless peiting ofthe storm"
wa re little village had endured. Its
defence was two eighteen Founders, man
ned by less than 90 volunteers, mount
ed on travelling carriages, and playing
over hartette parapet, scarcely knee
high part OF the time, and sometimes from
the open field, where one would suppose
& single broadside Of grape shot would have
swept every thing movable from the face
OF the earth. 1--WE smaller pieces were af-
forwards mounted upon the carriages of
oIoarts. The village company of militia
exchanged their firearms for water buck
cts, and acted as firemen, to extiDgu ish
the flames lIndled by carcasses and Con-
sreve rockets or bombs; andin the latter
part OF the action, which continued from
one day to sunset the next, three rag;-
ments OF the neighbor:ng militia had arrived
and were stationed at a convenient dis
lance to repel any attempt at landing. The
attacking force consisted of the Families,
OF "A guns, the Pactolus of SO, the BRIG
despatch OF 90, and bomb ship, with their
usual complement Of barges for coast SER
vice.
Notwithstanding there was no life de-
stroved on shore at the time, excepting that
of horse, from which the rider had lust
dismounted, the damage done to the build
InSs and fences was by no means inconsi-
derabie, and proves that The British were
not the worst gunners III existence. Of
fence in thenear battery or platform, scarce
~ board was left unshattered by the shot
from the squadron, and not a house in the.
immediate vicinity and direction of the
flagstaff, remained untdiched. The mi
raculous escape of the Spartan band who
worked the guns, reminded me Of the cv-
mic philosopher who placed himself before
the target OF an inexpert marksman, as the
only place where he was sure OF not being
struck. The carcasses and shells taken
up by tie inhabitants weigh from $50 to-
2lo pounds empty, and with rockets,
round shot and grape in abundance, 10 or
2tons OF which have been picked up) re-
main the durable witnesses of an affair off
which Copenhagen was the prototype on "a
larger scale. Stonington was the first
place cannonadedin the revolutionary war.
but experienced nothing then Of the ferrors
ofits recent commandment. Several car
casses penetrated from the roofs into the
cellars of the houses, and were buried and
9hioIhVIeu III Jle edFtl. Dome SneiiS burst
within the buildings, 4 some went oblidae-
iy through and exploded in the streets
One sunk feet diagonally and feet per-
Pendicularly in the hard ground, and was
dug up by a by-stander. The rope walks.
stores, barns, and every thing visible. are
scorchcd with the iron compliments of
the hostile assaiiants. Here hole is made
ty the bursting of shell, and there field
turrowed, a rock mcked, or a tree croptl
by the round shot from 8 to 80 Founders,
or fences specklcd by grape and canister,
yet not man was killed, and but one
wounded, who died some time after
while the barges of the squadron were dri-
ven OF by the two guns OH shore, and the
gun brig so much damaged as to cut her
cable and make off. 'Of the killed of the
assa;lants, II were buried on Fishers Is
land. The little garrison were at first
Destitute o. ammunition, and obliged to
make their wads Of green cornstalks, grass
or-sods. Fly the way. the moment she left
psr anchor, boat started from the shore
and without being fired UPON cut the
rome and brought away the buoy, for the
qualification Of the people, who merrily
dragged it about the streets as trophy OIL
victory, and afterwards took up the an
Choir which am told, is nov attached to
Al