The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1825-03-03

I f1OIQ exclaimed LlOnei-llS SlnplclOE
an idiot, fool
| But the angry and savage murmurs a
quickly subsidized. and were lost in other feel
ings, as the bright red lines of the roya
troops were seen issuing from the smoke
waving and recoiling before the vivid fire o.
their enemies.
Hal said Burgoyne--'ti some feint to draw
the rebels from their hold
lis palpable and disgraceful retreat
muttered the stern warriors nigh him, whose
truer eye detected at glance the dscomit-
ure of the assailants--''ris another base re-
treat before the rebels.
Hurrah shouted the reckless changeling
again; there come the reg'lars out of the or
chard too--see the grannies shutting behind
the kns! Let them so to the Breeds, the
people will teach 'em the law
At this instant, an officer from the field held
earnest communication with the two leaders,
when, having delivered his orders, he hast
ened back to his boat, like one who felt him
self employed in matters of life and death.
! 1t shall be done sir, repeated Clinton, as
the others departed, his own honest brow
stcrnly knit under high martial excitement.
The artillery have their orders, and the
work will be accomplished without delay"
| This, Major Lincoln! cried his more so.
! phisticatcd companion, this is one of the try
ing duties of the soldier To fight, to bleed,
or even to die, for his prince, is his happy
privilege but it is sometimes his unfortunate
! lot to become the instrument of vengeance.
| Lionel waited but moment for an expla-
naton-the flaming balls were soon seen TAX
ing their wide circuit in the air, and carrying
their desolation among the close and infiam-
able roofs of the opposite town. In a very
few minutes dense, black smoke arose from
the deserted buildings, and forked flames
played actively along the heated shingles, as
though rioting in their urmolested possession
Of the place. He regarded the gathering
destruction in painful silence; and on bend
ing his looks towards his companions, he fan
cied, notwithstanding the language of the
other, then he read the deepest regret in the
averted eye of him who had SO unhe stating
| ly uttered the fatal mandate to destroy
In scenes like these we are attempting to
describe, hours appear to be minutes, and
time flies as imperceptibly as life slides from
beneath the feet OF age. The disordered ranks
of the British had been arrested at the base Of
the hill, and were again forming under the eyes
of their leaders, with admirable discipline,
and extraordinary care. Fresh battaiions,
from Boston, marched with high military
pride into the line, and every thing betokened
that second assault WAS at hand. When the
moment of stupid Amusement which sue
ceedetl the retreat Of the royal troops had
passed, the troops and batteries poured out
their wrath with tenfold fury on their enc
mics. Shot were necessarily glancing up the
gentle ACTIVITY, madly ploughing across
its grassy surface, while black and threatens
ing shells appeared to hover above the work
like the monsters of the air, about to stoop
upon their prey.
The heads of the columns were already in
| rat.z I.
swiftly ascending the hill from the burning
town he paused amid the peril, on the ma
tural gacs, and swung his hat triumphantly,
and Lionel even fancied he heard the exult-
ing cry, as he recognized the ungainly form
of the simplcton, before it plunged into the
work.
The right of the British once more disap-
pearcd in the orchard, and the columns in
front again opened with all the imposing
exactncss of their high discipline. Their
arms were already glittering with the green
faces Of the mound, and Lionel heard the ex-
pericnced warrior at his side murmuring to
himself
"I.et him hold his fire, and he will so in
at the point OF the bayonet'"
But the trial was too great, for even the
practised courage Of the royal troops. Vol
ley succeeded volley. and in a few moments
they had again curtained their ranks behind
the misty skreen produced by their own fire.
Then came the terrible fash from the re-
doubt, and the eddying volums from the adj
verse hosts rolled in one cloud, enveloping
the combatants in its fold, as if to conceal
their bloody work from the spectators. Twen-
tv times in the short space of as many min
utes, Major Lincold fancied he heard the in
cessant roll of the American musketry die
away before the heavy and regular volleys
of the troops, and then he thought the sounds
Of the latter grew more faint, and were given
at longer intervals.
The result, however, was soon known.
The heavy bank of smoke which now even
chung along the ground, was broken in fifty
places, and the disordered masses OF the Bri-
fish were seen driven before their deliberate
foes, in wild confusion. The flashing swords
Of the officers in vain attempted to arrest the
torrent, nor did the flight cease with many o.
the regiments until they had even reached
their boats. At this moment a hum was
heard in Boston like the sudden rush of wind,
and men gazed in each others faces with I'M
disguised Amusement. Here and there Il
low sound of exultation escaped some N
guarded lip, and many an eye CLEANED with
triumph that could no longer be suppressed.
Until this moment the feelings of Lionel had
facilitated between the pride of country and
his military spirit, but losing all other feelings
in the latter sensation he now looked fcrceiy