Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-11-09

Fort McHenry Is located upon the
eastern extremity Of a long and mar
row Promontory, which divides the
waters Of the Patapsco from those O
the harbor, and is so situated ~ L
completely defend its entrance, while
to prevent the debarkation Of a hostile
force at the head waters Of the river
another defence was erected, to which
was given the apPellation Of Fort Gov
'ington.
II was the intention Of Lord Cock.
burn to land body Of forces between
the two defences, which he designed
should attack the Fort on the western
side, while he, with his vessels, would
move up and attack it by water. So
iudicious a manGuvre, if properly per-
formed, would in all probability, have
proved successful; and they, BY pas
sessing themselves Of the Fort, would
compel the town to an immediate ca
pituIation; but the Americans, foresee-
ing the advantage that would be gain
ed by such a movement, anticipated
their purpose. end, unknown to them,
erected a battery Of six guns in the i'm
mediate vicinity Of the principal de-
fences.
The barges containing the forces
destined to assault the Fort by land,
had kept close under the Anne Arun-
del shore, to prevent discovery by the
American sentinels, but having passed
the works Of McHensy, their prows
were directed to the poirt where it
was intended they should debark, and
which lay in a straight line with the
battery. The discharge Of rocket
was the signal fixed upon to aPPrise
their countrymen Of their having pass
ed the Fort. 1t was given, and the
meteory rocket ascended high in the
air, marking its wake with a brilliant
stream Of light, and scattering on
high a thousand starry particles Of
fire.
There was an interval Of unearthly
stiffness then, but it was terrifcally
broken. A massive though transitory
column Of fire blazed upon the hill,
with brilliancy that hghtened the
surrounding scenery, and rendered the
barges Of the enemy distinctly visible !;
then the loud and successive roar OF six
cannon rang upon the startled night,
destruction and confusion
among the terror-struck Britons.
Too we'll that sound told the enemy
they were anticipated, and too well,
for the cause of humanity, the iron
bolts Of death did their duty; scarcely
had the artillery ceased, when the
sharp and desultory report Of hun
bred rifles broke from the shore, hurl-
ing death and dismay to those who sur
vived the fire Of the battery. Then
the loud appeals for mercy, mingled
with yells Of despair, and the groans
and imprecatiobs Of the wounded and
dying, broke horribly upon the breeze,
and to add darkness to the terrific
chaos,thc blaze upon the hill expired,
and nights mantle again fell drearily
upon the CLASSY PataPsco.
cease, men, they sue for quarterg''
the soldier, and a hundred RI
flemen sprang from the surrounding
bushes, and hurried with one impulse
to the shore, that they might, ii posi-
bic, render assistance to their van
pushed enemies.
Both barges had heen shattered to
by the cannon Of the bate.
~, and the unfortunate Britons, who
had escaped the deadly rifle and fatal
artillery, we're now obliged to contest
the silent and fearful waters for the
preservation Of their dear loved exis-
tence. TIE extreme darkness OF the
night, prevented objects from being
discerned at the smallest distance, but
the Americans could plainly hear the
splashing Of the water, and the implo-
ring cries for assistance, which the poor
fellows poured forth as they endeavor-
ed with the energy Of despair, to save
themselves from being swallowed up
BY the remorseless element. It was a
painful moment to those on the beach :,
not boat could be obtained to aid in
rescuing them, and they were compell-
ed to stand silent and inactive at the
Of the Bri;ons; but when
the gurgiiDg murmur Of the drowning,
AID the fearful an6 breathless cry Of
the exhausted rose on their hearing
tears trickled down the furrowedI