Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-09-14

The principal annoyance which The besiegHrs
|expenencedin their approaches, came fromtwQ1
redoabts ie:ffent of the. enemies defepces, and
nearly hapkang the second parallel. These il
was detesmsned to storm at the same time. Cen
erai Washington, availing himself Of the noble
riyalsMp which impellcd the respective corps to
deeds OF eInulous yalour, committed the attack
OF the one to the americans, and that of the of
therto the French. The Marquis DE La Fay
cite commanded the american detachment des-
tined to act against the first, and the Baron DE
yiomeni led against the second party OF
french grenadiers and chasseurs. The van of
the Americans was, on the evening of the 18th,
led to the assault by Colonel Hamilton; and Co
lionel Lanrens was detached, at the head of 90
men, 70 the rear Of the redoubt, with view to
intercept the retreat of the garrison. The add
vance OF DE fiomeDil's detachment in another
quarter, was simultaneous.
The Iedoubt attacked by the Americans was
on the left OF the British. Major Campbell,
WITH few inferior officers and 40 priyates, de-
Tended it. lmpetuously rushing forward, Ham
'iton and his party, in moment oycrcame eve
ry obstacle, and mastered the foe. Laurcns
personally took the commanding officer prison
er. The garrison, except seven or eight who
unaccountably escaped, were either killed or
| taken. The laws of war would have justified
the destruction of all the men in a redoubt thus
carried ny storm; and the laic merciless carnage
IN fort Griswold, seemed to call for stern retail
iation. But sthe Americans" Colonel I1amil-
ton observed In his report 10 General La Fay
ette,f "were incapable of imitating examples
OF barbarity, and forgetting recent proyocaton
the soldiery spared every man that ceased TO re-
| sist." The killed of the enemy amounted ONLY
10 eight Nine ofthe assailants were slain, and
80 wounded.
| By Major Barbour, one of his aids, La Fay
| cite apprized the Baron De Viomenil of his sue
cess. The French sappers were then cuttinr
Gown the palisades, and removing the abbatis OF
the redoubt to be attacked. De ViomeniI. in a
loud voice proclaimed the triumph of tue Anne
rlcans, aud directed his grenadiers to advance.
Here resistance was greater. The redoubt
was defended by Lieutanant Colonel, Will,
100 men. Such, however, were the arlor and
lntrepidty of the assailants, that the rcdoub was
quickly carried. In killed and wounded Dc
siomenil's loss amounted to nearly. 100. E,gh-
teen of the enemy were killed, and 42 made pri
soners The commandment escaped, with the
| rest OF the Observation-Disclosures extended to
iaoour, as well as to military achievement Be-
fore day light, the two rcdoubts taken from tie
enemy, were included in the second parallel. In
the course of the next day, some howitzers were
placed In them, and their fire turned on fl. he
sieged
In the orders of that day, the Commander in
Chief applauded, in very flattering terms the
ludiclous dispositions and gallant conduct of La
I
| iirmness of the officers and men engaged in the
double attack. He thus concluded this militia
ry homage "The General reflects with the
| ''hghest degree of pleasure ON the confidence
(which the troops OF the two nations must here
'sater have in each other. Assured of mutual
support, he is convinced there is no DANGER
"they will not cheerlulty encounter; no Difficult
''ty which they will not bravely overcome.n
| BY the taking of these two redoubts, the fate
of CORVALLIS was in reality decided In let
ter which he then wrote 10 Sir Henry Clinton,
he represented his situation as so desperate that
the fleet aud army ought not to run any extraor-
binary hazard for his relief Nearly all his guns
were silenced; the old batteries of the besiege,s
alone, were able TO complete his ruin and those
OF their second parallel would soon be ready TO
| play on bis half demolished works. In this cr-
SIS, he attempted, at least, to procrastinate The
expected catastrophe. Against two batteries in
the second parallel, which were now nearly fin
! ished, and the effect of which must prove deci-
sive, sortie of three hundred and fifty men, I'M
der Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie, was di
rected. .dbercrombie formed this party into
two detachments, which, saiying forth little
before day-brcak carried both batteries with
very little loss but this success was rnonentary:
| the guards from the trenches soon drove back
the enemy to their lines; the cannon hastily
spiked, was again rendered serviceabIc: and
such was the industry of the combined troops.
mat, towards the close of the afternoon The
whole parallel and the batteries were completed
SO as to threaten the British works with utter
ruin on the succeeding day. No part of the
whole hostile front could now she,v a single Gun:
and scarcely any shells remained in the besieped
place.
In this extremity, Lord CORVALLIS formed the
bold, but hopeless design to attempt all escape
on the Gloucester side. His intention was To
abandon his baggage, and leave behind a de-
tachment to capitulate for the loyaists and the
sick and wounded Already he had prepared
letter for General Washington on that sub
lect. Lieutenant Colonel johnson was selected
TO manage the intended capitulation. Corn
wallis himself contemplated to cross oyer TO
Gloucester Point, in the course of the night.
with the flower of his army. Before break of
day. De ChoIsy's bockstling corps was TO be
| attacked by the whole British force. Cornwall
lis confidently relied the defeat Of that corps
Seizipg on the horses oftbe French cavalry, he
would be enabled TO mount part of his
troops, and TO accelerate his retreat Other
horses would be collected on the route, and the
whole British infantry ultimately mounted
Moving with rapidity, and leaving his destina-
ton uncertain, until he came opposite TO the
fords of the great rivers, he intended suddenly
to shape his course TO the Northwarg, in the cx-
pectatIon that tire efforts made 10 intercept him
| would chiefly be towards the South. He would
then force his way to New York, through, Ma
ryland, Pennsylvania, and the Jerseys. The
conception was great; but its issue, depending
cies was highly problcmatical. Yet, ray Of
L.. a.