Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-13

the 44th with the ladders and fascines be-
hind them, rushed on to the assault On
the left. detachment OF the 95th, 2lst, 4
9TH. stormed three gun battery, anu
took it. Here they remained for some
time, in tue expectation of support; none
arriving, and strong column OF the enc
my forming for its recovery, they deter
mined to anticipate the attack, and push
ed on. The battery which they had Ia
ken was in advance of the body Of the
works, being cut off from it by a ditch,
across which only single plank was
thrown. Along this plank did these brave
men attempt to pass: but being opposed
by overpowering numbers, they were re-
pulsed; and the Americans, in turn, fore
ing their way into the battery, at length
succeeded in re-capturing it, with I'M
mense slaughter. On the right again,
the 2lst and 4th being almost cut to PIE
ces, and thrown into some confusion by
the enemy's fire, the esd pushed on and
took the lead. Fastening forward, our
troops soon reached the ditch; but to scale
the parapet without ladders was impossi-
BILE. Some few, indeed, by mounting one
upon another's shoulders, succeeded in
entering the works, but these were in
stantly overpowered, most of them killed,
and the rest taken; while as many as stood
without, were exposed to a destructive
fire, which cut them down by whole COM
panies. 1t was in vain that the most OBJ
stinate courage was displayed. They fell
by the hands of men whom they absolute
ly did not see; for the Americans without
so much as lifting their faces above the
ramparts, swung their firelocks by one
arm over the wall, and discharged them
directly upon their heads. The whole of
the guns, likewise, from the opposite bank,
kept up a we'll directed and deadly can
nonade upon their flank; and thus were
they destroyed without an opportunity
being given to display their valor, in OBJ
tanning SO much as revenge.
Poor Packenham saw how things were
going, and did all that general could do
to rally his broken troops. Riding to-
wards the 44th, which had returned to
the ground, but in great disorder, he cal
led out for Col. Mullens to advance; but
that officer had disappeared, and was not
to be found He therefore prepared to
lead them on himself, and had put himself
at their head for that purpose, when he
received slight wound in the knee from
musket ball, which killed his horse.
Mounting another, he again headed the
44th, when second ball took effect more
fatally and he dropped lifeless into the
arms of his ABIDE camp
Nor were generals Gibbs and Keane in
active; riding through the ranks they
strove by all means to encourage the as
sailants and recall the fugi.ives; till at
length both were wounded, and borne off
the field. All was now confusion and dis
may. Without leaders, ignorant of what
was to be done, the troops first halted and
then began to retire; till finally the retreat
was changed into flight, and they quit
ted the ground in the utmost disorder.
But the retreat was covered in gallant
style by the reserve. Making forward
motion, the 7th and 45d presented the APP
pearance OF renewed attack; by which
the enemy were SO much awed that they
did not venture beyond their lines in pur-
suit of the fugitives.
While affairs were thus disastrously
conducted in this quarter, the party un-
der Col. Thornton had gained the landing
place. On stepping ashore, the first thing
they beheld was rocket thrown up as
signal that the battle was begun. This
unweicome sight added wings to their
speed. Forming in one little column, and
pushing forward single company as an
advanced guard, they FASTENED on, and in
half an hour reached a canal, along the OPP
posite brink of which detachment of A.
mericans was drawn up To dislodge them
was the work of moment; boat with
canonade in her bow got upon their flank,
gave them single discharge of grape,
while the advanced guard extended it's
ranks, and approached at double quick
time. But they scarcely waited till the
latter were within range, when firing
volley, hey fled in confusion. This how
ever was only an outpost. The main body
was some way in rear, and amounted to
no fewer than fifteen hundred men.
1t was not long, however, before they
likewise presented themselves Like their
countrymen on the other side, they were
strongly entrenched, a thick parapet with
ditch covering their front; while bat
terry on their left swept the whole position,
and two field pieces commanded the road
Ut artillery the assailants possessed not
single piece, nor any means beyond what
nature gave, of scaling the rampart Yet
nothing daunted by the obstacles before
them, or by the immense odds to which
e