Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-04-01

|
outstanding the language of the other that he read the
deepest regret in the averted eyes him who had so uncsi
| tatinsiy ISSUED the fatal mandate % destroy
In scenes like these attempting describe hours
appear to be minutes AID time flies inpe as life
Mes from beneath the feet of age. The of
the British had been arrested at the base of the hill and
were again forming under the their leaders with
nrabe discipline and extraordinary care Fresh battali-
ons from Boston, marched with high military pride into the
ine aud every thing betokened that
h"ho. Nhen the moment OF stupid amazemen which
ceeded the retreat of the royal troops had passed. the ships
and batteries poured out their tenlod fury
em'es Shot were necessarily gancing up gentle acvi-
ty madly poughng the grassy surface while black
and threatened shells Appeared hover above like
the monsters of the air about pounce upon their prev
Still all lay quiet and mmoveable within the low mounds
OF earth, if there had the issue of the
bloody day For few only the tall figure Of an
aged man was seen slowly moving along summit the
rampant calmly regarding dispositions of the ENGLISH
general IN the more distant parts of his line
changing few words with gentleman who ,oined him in
ms dangerous look out they disappeared together behind
the grassy banks. Lionel discovered the name of
Prescott OF Pepperel passing through the
murS and his glass did deceive him when he thought
IN the smaller OF the two he had himelfdesced the grace
full person of the unknown leader OF the caucus
All eyes were watching the advance the battali-
onN, winch once more drew nigh. right of the British
once more disappeared in the orchard. and the in
front OF the redoubt again opened the imposing ex
ac'neSs of their high discipline. THEN already
glitteng in line with the green mound and
Lionel heard the experienced side,
to himself
Let him hold his fire, and he will go the point of the
bayonct.''
But the trial great for even the pacsed courage
of the royal troops. Noev succeeded vollev and in a few
minutes they had again ranks behind the
misty screen Produced 10y THEM fire Then came the
terrible flash from the reloub eddving volumes
from the adverse hosts rolled cloud, enve oping the
combatans in its folds il their bloc " work
from the spectators Twenty times in the short space of as
many minutes, Major Lincoln iance he the ncessan
roll ot the American muskey die away before hearty
and regular volcy OF troops, and he thought the
sound OF the latter grew faint an" were given at longer in
tervals.
The resuhowever, was soon known.--The heavy bank
OF smoke which now tlung around the ground was
broken in fifty places, and the dsorde,ed of the
ish driven before their deliberate foes, in wild
confusion The flashing swords the officers vain at
tempted 10 resist the did the fight with
many OF the regiments until they had
boats. At this hum heard in Boston like the
sudden rush OF wind and men gazcd in each others faces
with undisguised amaZemsnt. Here there low sound
OF eXutaon escaped unguarded lip, many all eve
cleaned with triumph that could longer Suppressed
nti this moment the feelings of Lionel vacird he
tween the pr ofcountry aud his military spirit but losing
all othereeings in the latter sensations he fierce
ly about him, If he would seek the dare eXu
i'll the repuse OF his conradeslhe poetic chi,taim
still his side biting his lip vexaor; but his more
tried companion had suddenly quick
glance ieli upoh his missing form in the entering
boat at the foot OF the hill Quicker thought Lionel
was on the shore crying as he flew to the waters edge:
"Hcd! or Gods sake, hold remember the 4zth is in the
field, and that am its maior'
Effective him, said Clinton with that grim satisfaction
with which men acknowledge valuable friend in moments
OF great trial; ard then for lives what
more valve, for the honor of theBritisil name
The brain OF Lionel wled the boat Shot Hong lis
watery bed but before had gained the middle the stream
he had time consider the whole the appalling
The fire had spread from house house. and the whole viii
lage of Charestown with its four hundred buildings was
just bursting into flames. The seemed filed with whist
ling balls they hurtled above head and the black
sides OF the ships OF vomiting fl me
with nnwearied industry. Amid this tumult the English
General and his companions sprung land The former
rushed into the dsordee ranks and recalled the men
G El , loud,
To their spirit and their ancient necessary TO re-
store mOiety of their former confidence men who had
been hus fudey repulsed, aud who looked along their
thnned aud exhausted ranks. missing in many Instances
more than half the well known of their fell
Iows-ln the midst OF the ftcng troops stern
and unbendng chief but all those gay aud gallant Youths
who had followed III his train he had departed from Pro
vnce-house that morning, remained in his bloc d
He alone seemed undsubed in disoriered crowd: and
his mandates TO tn usual, calm and determiucd-
At length the panic in degree subsidized order was
once more estored the hghsped mortified gentle
men of the detachment regancd their lost authority
The leaders consulted together apart. and the dsposi-
tons Immediately renewed fo assault Military
show longer affected. but the soldiers laid down all
te Useless implements of their trade, many even cast
aside their outer garments under the heat boilimy sun
added to the heat of the conHagaon which began To diff
fuse itself along the extremity Of peninsula Fresh
companies were placed i'll the columns. most If th.
troops were Withdrawn from the meadows leaving
few SkrmiShers Americans who Law behind t
fence: When each disposition Completed the final
signal was given tn advance.
the skirt of the column he commanded view of most of
the of battle. In his front battalion reduced
to handful OF men III the previous assaults Behind these
came party Ct the mdrae guards Shipping led
by their own veteran major; and followed the detected
Neshtt and MS corps, among whom Lionel looked i'm vain
for the features of the good-natured Powarh. Similar
columns marched o" their right and c( encircng three
sides OF the rcdoubt by their battaions
few moments brought him in full view of that humble
aud unfinished mound of earth for the possession of which
so much blood had that day been split vain 1t law az
before still II breathcd within its bosom tno,tUL
terrific OF dark tubes arraycd along its ton fol-
lowing the movements Of the approaching columns as the
eyes OF the imaginary charmcrs of wilderness are
said to watch their victims. As the uproar the artillery
again grew fainter, the crash of falling the an
pang sounds of the conag alton, their left became
more audible. Immense volumes of black smoke issued
from the smoudeng ruins. and beIlyng outward fold be-
yond iold 1t overriding the WORK hdcous cloud casting
It's gloomy shadow across its place Of blood.
strong column ascending, rs If from out
the burning town. and the advance OF the whole became
quick and spirited low call through the paloons,
to note tic NAKED weapons of their adversacs and was
followed by the cry Of to the bayonct to the bayone