Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-30

EN . EAAN kitBt " - communion. WHICH NJ
the mole remarkable, as several naval officer
we're serving ashore, who should have correc
ted the error. A large ship had dropped
down tae river and anchored in front OF the
position, about a mile above the schooner; hse
the batteries been, IN the first instance, cree
ted against her, her consoVt would have beer
oohged, either to pass our batteries IN ordei
TO get up TO the town, which against the stream
OF The Mississippi would have been no cas-,
task, or she must have dropped down the riv
or, IN winch case no tuture annoyance could
have been anticipated from her. The schoon
er was blown up-the ship escaped; and tho
1t does not appear that any actual mischief wa
done by Der, yet her subsequent position
thanking the enemy's lines, added materisl,
10 taele apparent strength, intimidating ou
troops, and giving courage TO the adversary.
on the 9th tae whole army advanced TO
wards the town. but after a slight skirmish a
gam retired
I'VE remained inactive during the 28th
%S.h' and SOth. but not 80 the enemy. Day
ana night We could observe numerous partie,
employed III strengthening hs lines. while
from the increased number of tents, which al
most every hour might be dlsceraed. It was {
vIdent that strong reiniorcements we're contin
usi!y pouring into his camp Nor did be leave
us totally unmoIested. by giving to bis guns /.
great degree of elevation, he contriyed az last
to reach our bivouac; and thus were we con
stantiy under a cannonsde which, though il de
little execution, proved nevertheless extreme.
~ annoying. Besides this, he now began 10 e
rect batteries on the opposite bank OF The river
from which a Hawking fire could be drown q
cross the entire front OF his position. IN short
he adopted every precsullon which prudence
could suggest, and tor the reception Of which
the nature OF his post was so admirably adapted
"Under these circumstances, II was evident
that the longer an attack was delayed, the les,
likely was &c 10 succeed; that something musi
be done immediately every one perceived. bu
how TO proceed was the difficulty. Ii We Al
tempted TO storm the American lines, we should
expose ourselves to almost certain destruction
from their artillery. To turn them, seemed TO
be impossible; and to draw their troops by an,
ma0uuyring from behind their entrenchments
WAS a thing altogether cut OF the question.
There seemed, therefore, 20 be bat one prac,
ticabie mode OF assault; which was, 10 treat
these field works as one would treat a regular
fertilization; by erecting preaching batteries a.
gainst them, and silencinP, It possible, at least
some OF their guns. To this plan, therefore,
did our leader resort, and, IL consequence, the
whole OF these three days were employed ~
landing heavy Cannon, bringing up ammuni.
ton, and making such preparations as might
have suficed ior a siege"
Batteries Of their own sugar hogsheAds were
therefore erected against the enemy, (the ga
baltern values his costly material st many
thousand pounds;) but they had heir revenge,
our engineers had yet 10 learn thst sugar and
sand possessed very different powers OF resist
snce. The shot passed through our works and
killed many Of he artiIlery.-0n the ensmy's
side, however, little impression was made, and
from a cause IS singular; fer it is said that the
cotton bags, tbs capture of which had provoked
the attack, contributed to the defence OF New.
Orleans. Certain it Is. that the idea of regular
approaches aud preaching batteries was lmme
dlately abandoned,
"All our plans had IS yet proved abortive; e.
ven this, upon which 81 much reliance had been
placed, was found to be of no swat; and it mus,
be confessed. that something like murnuring
begsnt TO be heard through the camp. And, in
truth If ever an army might be permitted to
murnur, 1t was tins. 10 landing, they had
borne great f~ardshIps, not only wlihou. repin-
ing. but with cheerEulnsss; their hopes had
been excited by false reports, rs to the prac-
tlcAbility OF the attempt in which they were
embsrkeds and now they found themselves en-
tangled amidst difficulties from which there
appeared to be no escape, except b. victory.
In Their attempts upon the enemy's line howe
yer, they bad been twice t0lled; in artillery
they perceived themselves so greatly oyer.
matched, that their own could hardly assist
them; their provisions being derived wholly
from the fleet, were both scanty and coarse;
and their rest Was continually broken. For not
only did the cannon and mortars from the man
OF he enemy's position play unremitsingly up
onthem both day and night; but they were
~ -.na A. . all. E~. trN~N NAA
pnsite bank Of the river, where not less than
eighteen pieeeso OF artillery were now mounted.
and swept the entire lire OF our eucampment.-
Besides all this to undertake the duty of a pr
qdes, was as dangerous as TO go. into action.
Parties OF American sharp shooters harrassed
and disturbed those appoin ed 70 that service,
from the time they took possession OF their
post tllithey were relieved, while to light fires
at night was impossible. because they served
but as certsIn marks for the enemy's gunners
| repeat, therefore, that a little muFmuring
could not be wondered. Be it observed, how
ever, that these we're cot the murmurs OF men
anxious to escape iFcm a disagreeable situation
! by any means. On the contrary, they resem.
bled rather the growing OF a chained dog,
when he sees his adversary, and cannot reach
him; for in all their Complaints, no man ever
binted al a retreat, while all we're eager to
bring matters TO the is1ue Of a bsttle, at any sa'
critce OLIVES.
"Nor was our gallant leader less anxious to
fight than his followers. To fight upon some
thing like equal terms, however, YVES 10 WISH;
and fer this purpose a new scheme was invent
| ed worthy, for its boldness, of the school IN
which Sir Edward had studied his profession.
1t was determined to divide the army, to send
part across the river, who should seize the en-.
emy's guns, and turn them on themselves;