Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-11-18

cuhrehce uurlng the niS0t on the heights OF
Charles Town, were there in force, and wa
evidently saw that every hour gave them new
strength. 1t therefore became necessary to
altar our plan, and attack on that side
Howe, as second IN command, was detached
with about 2000mea, and landed on the out
ward side OF the peninsula, covered by ship
ping, without any opposition. lie was 10
advance from thence up the k,ll, which was
the enemy lay. He had under him Brigadier-
General PIgot. Clinton and myselftook our
stand, flor we had not a fixed post in a
large battery directly opposite to Charles
Town, and commanding il, aud also reach
ing 10 The heights above it, and thereby fa-
|ciiitalrS Hewe's attack Hawe's dispesit.ln
was extremely soldier like. in my opinion it
was perfect. As his first line advanced up
the bill, they met with n thousand impedi-
mcnts from strong fences, and were much
exposed. They were also exceedingly hurt
by musketry from The tawn of Charles Town,
though Clinton and | did not perceive il till
Hs*e sent US word BY a boat, and desired us
TO set fire to the town. No sooner said than
done. We threw in a parcel of shells, and
the whole was instantly in flames. Our bat
terry afterwards kept an incessant fire upon
The height IL was seconded by a number
OF irigates and floating batteries, and one ship
of the line.
And now ensued one ofthc greatest scenes
oil war that can be conceived Ii we looked
to the right, Howe corps ascending the hill
ia The lace oi entertainments, and in very dis
Advantageous ground, warmly engaged; to
the left, the enemy pouring IN fresh troops
by thousands over the land; and in the arm
Of the sea, our ships and floating batteries
~caasonadlng them. Straight before US, a
laise and noble town ia one great blaze; the
church steeples, being all OF timber, were
great pyramids Of fire above Il. rest: behind
Us, the church steepics, and heights, and our
own camp, covered with spectators of the
rest OF our army which was d~isengaged; the
hills all around the country crowded with
spectators OF the enemy, all IN anxious sus
pense. The rear of cannon, mortars, and
musketry; the crash of churches, ships upon
the stocks, and whole streets falling together
IN ruin, TO fill the ear; The storm OF the re-
doubt. with the objects above described, to
I'LL the eye; and the reflection, that perhaps
a defeat was a final loss to The British, empire
in America, to Til the mind. made the Whsle
a picture aud complication of horror and in
poftance beyond any il ever came TO nAy lot
10 be witness OF. | much lament Toms alb.
sencc; 1T was a sight for a Young soldier, that
the longest service may never furnish again;
and had he been with me, he would likewise
have been out of danger, for except two c8a-
nop-b a Ds that weat a hundred yards over ear
heads, we were not in any parto Of the dieec-
ton Of the enemy's fire. A moment OF the
day was critical. Howe's left was staggered
Two battallions had been sent to reinforce
them, but we perceived them on the beach,
seeming ia embarrassment which way to
march. Clinton, then next for business,
took the part, without waiting for orders. tc
throw himself into a boat to head them. lie
arrived ia lime to be ef service. The day
ended with glory, and the success was most
Important, considering the ascendency it
gives to the regular troops. But the loss
was IN officers for the numbers
engaged Howe was untouched, but his
aid dc camp, Capt Sherwin, killed. Jordan,
a friend oil Howe's, who came 10 gaiete 6e
cosar to see the campaign, a shipmatc OF ours
on board the Cerberus, and who acted as
aid de camp, badly wounded. Pigot was
anhart, but behaved Ike j hero. You will
see the list OF the loss Poor Col Aberciom-
by, who commanded the Grenadiers, died
Yesterday Of his wounds. Capt. Addison
eur poor old friend, who arrived but the day
before, and was 10 have dined with me OF
the day of the action, was also Killed, his son
was upon the field at the time. Major Mitch
ell is Slightly wounded. Young C~hetwyadss
wound is also slight. Lord Percy 5 r~egimenti
has suffered the most, and behaved the best,
his Eordship was not in the actions Lord
Rawdon behaved to u charm, his namei is es
tatlished for life. -