Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1821-06-23


the expedition. ais attempt to silence
the enemy's guas was unsu ccessful,
and may therefore be deemed unfortu-
nate in it's issue, rather than It's design,
bat his subseadent plan no words can
sufficiently applaud. Ii was at once
bold aud jadieious; and deserved in e.
very point Of view different result
from that with which il was attended.
But for its failure poor Paekenham is
in no way answerable. Against the
falling in of the canal, no prudence
could provide; and TO the loss IF time
thereby oceasioned, the fatal issue of
the decisive battle may in some mea-
sure be ascribed.
cit must however be confessed, that
this sad calamity was not wholly oeca-
stoned by unfavcrnble accidents. For
the conduct Of colonel Muiieus, and
the 44,h regiment under his Command,
no excuse can be afforded. When l
include that corps in the censure be-
slowed upon its commander, it is evil
dent that 1 do so only as one would
blame school-boys for deficiency Of
learning, whose master was unfit for
his Office. Unless q leader undere
stand bis duty, it is not possible that a
regiment can conduct itself with pro
priety; aud as the 44th was as much
composed Of British soldiers as any
battalion in America, no doubt can De
entertained but that, had 1t been ditfe
Tentsy commanded, it would have made
different figure on the present dis
tressins occasion.
s'But the behaviour Of the colonel
was dissracefnl in the highest degree.
When the orders were issued for his
regiment to hear the fascines and lad
ders. instead of feeling pride at the
h0n0r conferred upon him, that officer
He'll into despair. He stated in the
hearing Of the private soldiers that his
corps was devoted to distinctions; aud
conducted himself in every respect
like condemned criminal on he night
previous to his execution. When the
troops cat uader arms, instead Of
bringiog his battalion TO the redoubt,
where he had been Instructed to find
the ladders, he marched directiy~past
1t, and led them into a field without
single ladder or fiseIae. When the
day dawnea, and he vas sent back f,r
these instruments, he beaded his eorps
an is retrogrsie movements, hut J. fl il
to return as ii could Is the front: AMI
when sought for TO guide the attack,
he was not to be fouod. That resi-
meat thus abused aud deserted by its
commanding officer, should fall into
eoniusIon, cannot occasion any sur
prises and therefore the subsequent dis
orderly advance and hasty retreat of
the 4+th were no more than might
have been expected.
sit NAV here be ASKED whether. pro.
videl all things had gone right on this
side the river, if the fifth had doue
ITS duty, and the ladders and fascines
had been properly brought mp. the lie.
lay III carrying the batteries on the oD-
pesita side would not have oceasinned
a defeat? rhis must of course remain
as matter of donbt; but my .~npri
yate opinion is, that il would not. Had
the faseines been at hand to cast into
the ditch, and the ladders TO plant a..
g,inst the rampant as soon as day light
appeared, conceive that the battle
would have ended in favor of the as.
saiiants; but as this was cot the case,
as the army was under FIRE before
1hese Implements were so much Do
sought for, it is no wonder that vic,ory
declared in favor Of the Americans.
To plant ladders and faseines 10 opeo
day, and under heavy discharge Of
mu.ketry aud artillery. requires aruch
eo"iness and determinations, neither OF
which was eViucsd by the corps 10
which that duty was assigned; for be-
aug deserted by their leader, and igno-
rant of the pnint whittier they we're to
proceed, the settlers lost their rank.
and advanced or reirested as tbei, in.
diyidusI feelings urged them, covering
the field with thnse very machines
which they ought to have carried to
the front of the rampsrts. The con-
sequence Of this was, that other regi.
menis likewise FELL into confusion: and
before order could lie restored, all the
generals were borne dead from the
held. Much the greater part, there
fore, OF the blame attached TO this fail
ure must rest where fidelity IF nara
ton has obliged me to place it.
s'But the primary cause Of thrs de-
Feat may be traced TO source even
more distant than any have mention
ed; mean to the disclosure of our de-
sign TO the enemy. How this occurred
L shall aOt iake it upon me 10 declare,
though several rumors, bearing at least
the gutse nf nrnhsbititv haze boo., ~