The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-03-03

or. ri
Receive him. said Clinton, with smile OF
abstraction with which men acknowledge
,alucd friend in moments OF great trial; ana
hen row for your lives, or what is OF more
,aluc, for the honour of the British name.
The brain of Lionel whirled as the boat
shot along its watery bed, but before he had
,ained the middle of the stream he had time
% consider the whole of the appalling scene.
The fire had spread from house to house,
and the whole village of Charleston, with its
four hundred buildings, was just bursting INTO
flames. The air seemed filled with Whist
ling balls, as they hurled above his head, and
the black sides of the vessels OF war were
vomiting their sheets of flame with unwarlcd
industry. Amid this tumult the English
H General and his companions sprung to land.
The former rushed into the disordered ranks.
b and by his presence and voice recalled the
men of one regiment to their duty. But long
and loud appeals to their spirit and their an
Gent fame were necessary to restore mole
ty of their former confidence to men who had
been thus rudcly repulsed, and who now
u looked along their thinned and exhausted
ranks, missing in many instances more tiah
half the well known countances OF their lei-
4 lows. In the midst of the talterlnS troops
stood their stern and unbending Chief, but
Of all those gay and gallant youth VINO ioi-
lowed in this train as he had departed from
Province -house that morning, not one re,
manned, but in his blood. He alone seemed
undisturbed in that dsordered crowd; and
his mandates went forth as usual, calm and
determined At length the panic, in some
degree, subsidized, and order was once more
restored as the hgh-spirited and mortif1ed
gentlemen of the detachment regalned their
lost authority.
The leaders consulted together, apart, and
the dispositions were Immediately renewed
for the assault. Military show was no longer
affected, but the soldiers laid down all the
useless implements OF their trade, ana many
even cast aside outer garments, under the
warmth of broiling sun, added to the heat
of the conhagration which, began to dltfuse
itself along the extremity Of the peninsula.
Fresh companies were placed III the columns
and most of the troops were Withdrawn from
the meadows, leaving merely few skir-
mshers to amuse the Americans VINO lay De
hind the fence. When each disposition was
completed, the final signal was given TO aa-
vance.
Lionel had taken post in his regiment, but
marching on the skirt of the column, he com
. nanded a view of most of the scene or bat
tie. In his front moved battalion reduced
TO handful Of men ii tAe previous assaults
Behind these came psrty OF the marine
guards, from the shipping, led by their own
veteran Major; and next followed the delect-
ed Neshitt and his corps amongst whom Llo-
ne! looked in vain for the features OF the good
natured Polwarth. Similar columns marched
on their right and left, cncircling three sides
Of the redoubt BY their battalions.
A few minutes brought hun in full view OF
that humble, and unfinished mound Of earth
for the possession Of which so much blood had
that day been split in vain. Itlay, as before
still as if none breathed within its bosom
though terrific row of dark tubes were ar
rayed along its top. following the movements
Of the approaching columns, as the eyes o
the imaginary charmers OF our own wilder
mes are said to watch their victims. As The
uproar OF the artillery again grew fainter
the crash of the falling streets, and the ap'
palling sounds of the conhagration, on thei
left, became more audible. Immense volumes
Of black smoke issued from the smoulderine
ruins, and bcllying outward, fold beyont
fold, it overhurg the work in hideous cloud
casting its gloomy shadow across the place Q
blood
A strong column was now seen ascending
as ftrom out the burning town, and the ad
vance Of the whole became quick and spirit
ed. A low call ran through the piatoons, L
note the naked weapons of their adverssries
and it was followed by the cry Of, 70 the bay
oneti to the bayonet
Hurrahl for the ROYAL Irish shoute
Al'Fuse, at the head Of the dark column tror
the conhagration
Hurrah echoed well known voice fror
the silent mound; let them come on
Breeds; the people will teach EN- tn
law
Men think at such moments with the rap
dity Of lightning, and Lionel had even far
ced his comrades in possession OF the work
when the terrible stream of FIRE flashed in tn
faces Of the men in front
"Push on, with the--th," cried the vt
teran Major of Marines push on, or til
18th will get the honor of the day!
We cannot, murmured the soldiers of ii
-----th, their fire is too heavy
Then break, and let the marines pa
through your
Tie feeble battalion melted away, Ar
the warriors of the deep, trained to confiic
of hand % hand, sprang forwards with lot
Shout, ii their places. The Americans, e?
hausted Of their ammunition, now sunk su
lenly back, q few hurting stones At their foe
III desperate Indignation. The cannon OF Il
British had been brought to enflade the
short breast work, which was no long
tenable; and as the columns approached clio
to the low rampant, It became 4 mutual pr
lection to the adverse parties.