The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-07-14


pared for the active adventures of day, so
propitious to the objects of our visit. The
panorama of the falls, as the sun rose above
the banks and poured his beams upon the
woods and waters, was glorious beyond what
have ever witnessed, or ever expect to
witness, till another pilgrimage be perform
ed to the same spot. 1t appears to me I'M
possible that any thing in nature can be
more grand, more sublime, more impressive.
To whatever point the spectator directs his
eve. his attention is involuntarily arrested,
and he stands like statue upon the rock,
mute with astonishment and awe. But is 1t
not my intention to attempt to pourtray my
own feelings; much less to describe the OBJ
iccts which excited them to such pitch OF
intensity. !,
after having taken morning view OF
the falls, and while breakfast was pre-
pairing, we paid visit to the battle ground,
at Lnndy's Lane, under the guidance ot
Mr.. Forsyth, who is the proprietor OF the
ground, resided there at the time the action
was fought, visited the field OH the morning
after the memorable and bloody night of the
25th. of July 1914, and is intimately acquaint-
ed with every circumstance connected with
the battle. A finer theatre for an event OF
such magnitude cannot we'll be imagined; the
scenery around corresponding with the NOR
al grandeur of the achievements of that day.
The right wing of the American army, and
the left of the British, rested upon the bank
of the Niagara, at point not more than
three quarters of mile below the cataract,
and of course within the sounds or Its thun
ders. Nothing could exceed in sublimity
the roar of Cannon the clangor OF the drum
and buglc, and the mingled din OF battle,
uniting with the dashing OF the torrent.
From the highest part OF the field, which is
a little hill on the left side of Lundy's Lane,
running at right angles to the road along the
bank, the river may be seen for several miles
above the falls, rolling its broad and rapid
current between its woody shores. On the
afternoon, when the celebrated action COM
menced, as Oh this morning when its events
were called to mind, the banks of the river
were clothed with the richest verdure, and
| the silver torrent glittered with the blaze OF
the sun.
"rhere arc other circumstances, which
give an uncommon interest to the battle
ground, and impart to it an air of romance,
suited to the chvaliy Of the two armies.
In the rear of the American line, as also
between the road and the Niagara, are beau-
tiful groves of oak, which yet bear the mark
of having been shatteredby the storm Of war.
| Some of the trees we're entirely cut ofiby the
shot and the dead branches of others were
pointed out to US, still hanging amidst the
! foliage. The NUMBER Of Scars upon the
| trunks, as well as upon the adjacent build
| ings, evnces the severity Of the engagement.
.Just in the angle formed by the road and
the lane, is little burying ground, covered
with copses of oak and other trcss, with a
few aged and decaying memorials. 1t has
been a place Of intermcnt for many years,
and imparts all air of solcmnity to the scene.
The British artillery were planted among
1 the tombs, and the confused and tremendous
din of battle, at the moment Miller led on
his successive charges to this point, and storm
ed the battery, must have seemed almost
sufficient to break the slumbcrs of the dead
Their graves must have been actually rock
ed, and, their dust shaken, by the tumult Of
war, which invaded their reposc. Sevcra
of the monuments are Of wood, and wcrs
perforated with balls
"a few rods to the west OF this spot, is the
height of ground where the scverest Of thu
bloody conflict took place, and was disputed
till after midnight, the sun and moon hav-
ing both gone down from, the hour CT it.
commencement, at o'clock in the afternoon
The dead and wounded lav heaped upol
llic HGltl, III pIpnlsSuOuo tluiil
the remainder of the night, the field being
literally strcwed with those who had fallel
in battle. In the morning, the wounded wer,
taken to neighbouring barn which wa
pointed out to MS, and made as comfortable
rs beds Of straw, or in some cases the nakct
earth, could render them.
The dead were collected into heaps, am
most Of them burned, pyres being formed Q
rails from the adjacent fences. Others wcr
promiscuously thrown into bitches, and COY
. cred with earth. Three points were designa
ted, where the dust of our gallant country
men mingcs with that of their enemies
Fragments of their bones still whiten tn
surface of the ground, where they sleep. A
we stood upon the sacred turf, and plucke
- :, a wild flower, or blade of rank grass grow
z ing upon the common grave of 50 man
!. hundreds, a tide of feeling rushed upon til
:, heart which was never before experienced.
: 'Several rods in advance Of the America
line, was pointed out to us a solitary gray
/. forming little cavity i'll the green sod, ali
! without stone, in which reposes the ga
= liant Captain Hull, who was killed i'll the az
: tion, and as a mark of distinction for h
7 signal bravery, was buried upon the vei
- spot where he fell. He was the son of Gel
- eral Hull, and is said to have felt most keel
y ly the censure attached to the surrender
y Dctloit In the battle of Lundy's Lane,
. apparently courtcd danger and death, as
: proof that his heart was devoted to h
RI Gil tn he fpt.