Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-05-22
aHvoGUr1oNAaY SCENES.
BATTLE OF TIE BRANDYwINE.

BATTLE OF THE BRASDYWlNE.
We had been in the saddle about an
hour, under the intrepid Pulaski, who,
with his own hands, examined our
swords, pistols, and other equipments,
as il assured that the struggle would be
q deadly aud long continued one
The day was one OF the most beautiful
that ever broke over the earth. We
were about half mile from the main
body, ranged along . green slope, fac
ing the west, our horses, about four
hundred in number, standing rs pa
tiently as so many marble statues, un-
iii just as the eastern sky began 20 red
den and updulate, and cloud after
cloud to roll up, and heave like great
curtain upon the wind; and the whole
heaven seemed diseharging all its beau
~ and Brightness upon one spot.
happened 20 turn about, and saw
the tall Pole Pulaski) re.headed.
fitting his horse, like some warlikc pre-.
senee come up out Of the solid earth,
to worship spon the very summit Of
The hill behind Ne, it might be, (for the
noble carriage Of the man, the martial
bearing OF the soldier, would permit
either interpsetation) it might be, in
the awful employment Of devotion, or
IN the more earthly one, Of martial OBJ
servation. But suddenly he refined
up his charger, shook the heavy dew
from his horseman's cap, replaced it,
aud leaPed headlong down the hill, Just
as bright flash passed away on the
horizon, followed by q loud report;
and the next instant part Of our ranks
we're covered with dust and turf,
thrown up by q cannon ball that struck
near the spot he had just left.
Our horses Pricked up their ears at
the sound, and all at once, as if hun
dred trumPets were playing in the
wind, came the enemy in his advance.
Pulaski unsheathed his sword, called
out select body, and set OF At full
galIop, to a more distant elevation,
where he saw the enemy advancing In
two columns; enc under Knyphalsen,
which moved IN tremendous steadiness,
IN dark soli'l mass, towards the spot
occupied by General Maxwell; the o.
ther, under Cornwallis, which seemed
TO threaten the right flank OF our main
body. Intelligence was Immediately
sent TO Washington, and reinforce.
ments called IN, from the post we had
left.
We Kept our position, awaiting for
whole hour, the sound Of conflict; u,
last, heavy volley ratified along the
sky, few moments passed, and then
another followed, like a storm Of iron
upon drum heads. The whole air rung
with IL; another, and other follow ed |;
then, gradually increasing IN loudness
came peal after peal, ill u resembled
a continual clap Of thunder, rolling a.
bout under an illuminated vapor. But
Pulaski, with ell his impetuosity, was
General, and knew his duty too we'll,
TO hazard any movement till he should
be able TO see, with certainty, the ope.
rAt,ons OF the enemy 10 the vApor below.
Mean~hiie, several lit;le parties that
had been sent out, came 10, one after the
other, with the intelligence that kny-
phausen had broken down upon Max.
wen N magnificent style,-been beat.
en- batk again; but that he had finally
Prefsued, add that Maxwell had re.
treated across tie river. A thin vansr
had no" Tissn from the greece earth be.
low Us, aud completely covered the
enemy from our view. Il was NO ION.
ser possible 20 follow h,n. except BY
nc sound Of his tresd, which ve could
..el IN the solid earth, jarring Ourselves
md our horses; aud nov aud then. a
ggiek glimmeripg IN the mist a. some
''indard was raised above u; some
eaPon hOurishei, OF some musket
.4o: through It like a rocket,
About an hour after, a horseman
.4'hed through the smoke on the very
&c 0! The horizon, aud after securing