Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-21

shot insix several days, the gentleman
winning most out of the six matches to
be the winner. Distance 81 yards.
The first match was decided on Sa-
turday last, in favor of the Captain,
who killed So, his opponent losing by
one BIRDS to on the Captain.
The second match took place yester-
day, and also terminated in favor Of the
Captain, who killed 40 birds out Of the
so, missing the Cd, 18th, 18th, goth,
22d, and 25th, out of the first IS, and
the lst, 4th, 9th, and gath, out Of the
second IS. MIR. Osbaldestone killed
SO, missing out Of the first IS, and 4
out of the other IS. Betting to 2, S
to 4, and finally to 4, on the Captain,
who at one time killed Ia, and at an
other ls, without missing. Altogether
the shooting was excellent. The birds
were the best Blue Rocks.
it was reported Of the Caribbs ofSt.
Vincents, that they were such expert
marksmen, that with common gun
they could shoot dollar off of the cork
of bottle, and perform other feats E.
qually remarkable. This experiences
and steadiness of aim, however, desert
ed them when skirmishing warfare
was waged against them in the woods
in 1896. In these skirmishes, except
when concealed behind trees or rocks,
they were found to be very indifferent
marksmen. An English officer, wish
ing to ascertain the truth of what was
so much talked Of, gave loaded mus
ket to a Caribb prisoner, desiring him
to fire at an orange on the mouth of a
bottle, at 200 yards distance. On the
first attempt he missed, on the second
he broke the bottle, and the third time
he hit the orange. The officer then
asked him why he did not mark so well
against the soldiers as against the
orange. "Massa," he replied, "the
orange no gun or ball to shoot me back;
no run at me with bayonet."
Extract of letter from General Burgoyne to
noble Lord, dated Boston, June IS, 1775.
Boston is peninsula, joined to the
main land only BY narrow neck, which
on the first troubles gen. Gage fortified.
Arms of the sea and the harbor sur
round the rest on the other side; one of
these arms, to the north, is Charles
town, or rather was, for it is now rub
bish, and over it large hill, which is
also like Boston a peninsula. Tothe
south of the town is a still larger scope
of ground, containing three hills, join
ing alsoto the main by tongue of
land, and called Dorchester Neck; the
heights, as above described, both north
and south Tin the soldiers phrase)
commands the town; that is, give an
opportunity of erecting batteries above
any that you can make against them,
and consequently are much more adj
vantageous. II was absolutely neces-
sary we should make ourselves masters
of these heights, and we proposed to
begin with Dorchester, because, from
the particular situation Of batteries and
shipping too long to describe, and un-
ineligible to you if I did) it would E.
Violently be effected without any consi-
derable loss. Every thing was accord
ingly disposed; my two colleagues and
myself (who, by the bye, have never
differed in one jot of m ilitary senti-
ment) had, in concert with Gen. Gage,
formed the plan Howe was to land
the transports on the point, Clinton in
the centre, and was to cannonade from
the causeway, OF the neck, each to take
advantage Of circumstances, the opera
tons must have been very easy; this
was to have been executed on the 18th.
On the 18th, at dawn Of day, we found
the enemy had pushed entertainments,
with great diligence, during the night,
on the heights of Charlestown, and we
evidently saw that every hour gave
them fresh strength; it therefore be-
came necessary to alter our plan, and
attack on that side. Howe, as second
liz command, was detached with about
1000 men, and landed on the outward
side of the peninsula, covered with
shipping, without opposition. He was
to advance from thence up the hill
which was over Charlestown, where
the strength of the enemy lay. He had
under him brigadier general Pigot;
Clinton and myself took our stand (for
we had not any fixed post in large
battery directly opposite to Charles
town, and also reaching the heights a.
bove it, and thereby facilitating Howe's
attack. Howe's disposition was ex-
ceeding soldier-like, in my opinion it
was perfect. AS his first arm advanc-
ed up the hill, they met with thou
sand impediments from strong fences,
and were much exposed. They were
also exceedingly hurt by musketry
from Charlestown, though Clinton and
did not perceive it until Howe sent us
word by boat, and desired us 10 set
fire to the town, which was immediate
| w done. We threw a marcel Of shells