Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-09-06

the victory shall be nurs.' The re
gulars deliberately advances to thu
the attack, the grenadiers in front.
The Americans reserve their fire till
the enemy are within 8 or 10 rods,
that they may d" effectuaI execution.
when, by general discharge of mus
kerry and field artillery, several off
GERS and men are seen to fah,-
"!heir ranks are thinned-see the
ground covered with the slain-see
those wounded officers borne off the
field" The conflict becomes close,
and such are the fata! effects of the
incessant and furious discharge Of
our musketry, that the regulars re-
treat in disorder, and many Of them
flee even to the boats. The officers
greatly agitated pursue their men
and threaten them with their swords;
with great difficulty they are rallied,
and commanded to advance again to
the attack. The provinrials are
prepared, and when sufficiently near,
a deadly fare from their ranks pats
the enemy q second time to flight.
leaving such numbers Ut dead and
wounded that sev eral Of their officers
exclaim, "It is downright hatchery
to lead the men on afresh against
the lines" At this critical moment
Major General linton, who ill now
had been spectator with Gen. Bur
gn!ne on Cops hill in Boston, pass.
ed over aud entered the field. just in
time to unite bis efforts with those Of
the other Officers f"r the purpose of
forcing the regulars to renew she at
tack. The Americans still remain
firm and courageous at their posts /;
but unfortunately it was no" dis
covered that their powder was near
iy expended, aud another supply
could not be procured. The enemy
now change the position of their can
non and place them in situation to
take the Inside of our breast work in
its whole course, which at length OBJ.
liges the provincials to retire within
their little redoubt. The firing from
the British ships, and other armed
vessels and batteries, is now pushed
to the utmost extremity; the regu-
lars are impelled forward by their
officers, and orr redoubt is attacked
on three sides at the same time. Our
brave men continue their resistance,
AID actually cuntr"nt the enemy with
tho but end of their muskets after
they had entered the fort.
A party of on: men under com.
mand of Capt. Knowlton. had taken
up post and rail fence, and placing
it against another, filed the vacancy
with new moved hay, which served
as slight defence. The British
light Infantry attempted to force this
little party from its stand. and by
his means to cut nf the retreat Of
our troops. In This they displayed
the greatest bravery. but their oppo-
sers poured forth their reserved and
formidable fire in such manner as
to produce astonishing execution &
to arrest their progress. till the
whole of the Americans could effect
a retreat. The narrow neck Of land
over which alone the proyinciAls
could retire, Was 50 securely guard.
ell by a man of war and two floating
batteries. 40 to render it extremely
hazardous to pass over; but notwith.
staad,ng their incessanl firing, our
loss there was quite inconsiderable--
The provimials were obliged to leave
5 pieces of field artillery in the hands
of the enemy. findins it impossible
to renew them. But a loss infinite
ly to be iamented, and which Occa-
sions universal grief and sorrow, is
that of Major General Joseph War
rem. This distinguished patriot and
heru was. but few days before ap-
pointed by Congress to the rank Of
MAJOR General in our army. Such
was his zeal aud ardour that he rush.
ed into the battle foremost with his
musket. aud encouraged the soldiers
by his example, till near the close Of
the battle, when he received a fatal
shot and Immediately expired. The
loss at this crisis of "a man possessing
$" much public virtue and military
ardor, is almost irreparable. But the
valor with which lie is signalized re-
fleets glory on his memory. Ityetre-
mains to mention that on this memora.