Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-02
CUe late 9Uar.
BATrLE or RLApENsBuRG.

uensourg - taken from a work, entitled "a
Subaitern in America written BY = British
officer who took part in the engagement
We are Inclined to believe that Il is, with a
few trivial exceptions, tolersbiy accurate.
Raleigh Star
We had proceeded about 3 couple Of miles
from the batting place, and the hour OF noou
was past, when our attention was drawn To the
lett, BY heavy clouds of dust which aTose ia
that direction. Though we could not doubt
from what source the dust proceeded, the in
ter,ention OF q considerable copse between US
and ii, hindered us from saying with certainty
that the enemy was IN the position. The screen
thus interposed was, however, speedily with
drawn. A farther advance OF some hundred
and ht,y yards b ought US clear OF the plsnta.
ton, and the American army became visible.
Williams and I were walking together at that
instant. care these Ysnkeesi" said he, with
all the nalyete imaginable; cor are they our
sesmen got some what ahead Of usi"
could not repress a smile At tie question,
though, to say the truth, All older soldier than
Williams might have easily mistaken the force
opposed TO Us for any thing rather than the ar.
my on whose vslour the safety of q great capitol
depended.
have seldom been more forcibly struck with
any thing than with the contrast which a glance
to the rear afforded al this moment, with the
spectacle which was before me A column of
four thousand British soldiers, moving in sec.
tons of SIX abreast, aud covering an extent Of
road greater than its wlndings would permit the
eye to take in, met my eye in that qusrter-
The dress, the perfect regularity of their step,
the good order which they preserved, and a.
boye all, the internal conviction, that they were
only advancing to victory, excited in me feel
ings for which | have no words, and which he
only can conceive who has stood IN a sImlisr 81.
tuation. Nor was It The sense of SIGHT alone
which, on the present occasion, was forced into
a powerful comparison. The Americans from
the instant that our advance guard came in view,
continued 10 reno the air with shouts. Our men
marched on, silent as the grave. and orderly as
people st a funeral. Not q word vas spOken,
scarcely a whisper passed from man to man. but
each held his breath, and mustered up his best
Courage for The shock.
The head OF the column had just turned the
corner OF the wood, when it halted, and an aid
de-csmp riding up to Maj Brown, desired that
he would proceed with the advance guard IS
certain the state Of the village of Biadensburg,
and in case il should be occupied, dislodge It's
gsrrisoa This order the Major prepared to o.
bey, and calling in all his skirmlshers. except
about bait a company, he formed his men into
one little column for the assault. Our surprise
was not less palpsble than our satisfaction. when
on reaching the town, We found that il was
empty.
As our orders went no farther thar 10 direct
that We should ascertain in what condition the
place stood, our Commanding officer deemed
IT needless TO 2ttempt any thing beyond its mere
occupation. Even this however was not ehec-
ted without annoyance. The principal streets,
which conducted to the bridge, lay completely
exposed TO the fire of a two gun battery, which
the enemy had erected about the centre of their
position, and instantly on our showing ourselves
the battery opened. II was well served. and
the guns were admirably laid. The very first
shot cost us three men, one killed and the o.
Their two dreadfully wounded. and the second
would have been in all probability not less fatal
had we not very wisely avoided il. We inclin.
ed, at once to the right and left OF the road;
and winding round the houses, made our way
without any further loss, as far as the last range,
where we were commanded to lie down, aud
wait for the column.
In the meanwhile, the main body, being in.
formed how matters stood. resumed its msrch,
and approached the town. IL was ssiuted. as
we had been saluted, by q heavy and well di-
rected cannonade: but being warned by some
OF our people where danger lay, it so far avoid.
ed it as to close up its ranks. and effect all the
arrangements necessary for the assault, under
cover of the ground mound. Whilst this was
going on. Charlton, Williams, and myself, hav-
ing got our company rs well together as might
be, were lying behind a house in the momenta-
ry expectation of the word Cannon shot after
cannon shot, continued all the while, to pass
through the thin brick walls about us; never
theless we felt 1t derogatory to our character TO
move, and We treated their yisitstlons with no
other than an ill applied r%aillsry. At las, a bali
struck a soldier who lay between Williams and
myself. and carried off bis leg. The boy look
ed at me, as TO ask how, under such eircum-
stances, he ought TO behave: and though | dare
say his courage was quite equal to mine. I re-
ally could not help laughing at the peculisr ex-
preston which passed along his countenance -
But no great while was granted for considera-
ton. The acciden just recorded had hardly
happened, when col. Thornton, riding up, ex-
claimed, now my lads forward You see the
enemy; you know how TO ser Z them. So say
ing he spurred on, and the whole OF the adj
vance springing with the CELEBRITY OF thought in
to their places, rushed towards the bridge. Ii
was carried in a momedt; but a couple OF guns
which had doubtless been laid with special care,
instantly opened, and seven men we're cut down.
No pause however occurred Forward forward
was the only word heard, and forward we bur
rled. as fast as the excessive fatigue we had un-
dergone during the last forty eight hours would
allow.
I had forgotten to mention, that whilst our
bank OF the river was bare and exposed, that
occupied by the enemy was covered with q
pretty thick belt OF wood, which they had We.
~ judiciously filled with a host of riaemen.-
These taking a cool and deliberate aim from
their lurking places, soon began to gall us with
their fire. Not a few of our men fell beneath
il. but the bridge was instantly cleared; the adj
tu4a nuarEtU -ns.--1 - IL--.uAa-a.