Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-11-06
| a, the sight Of ruyine which separa-


ted us from the place. The Major was
riding behind us and compossdly smo.
king MS pipe, merely said, children,
DO honor 20 your regimentp when we,
20 man jumped or slid down into the
hollow, and climbing up on the other
side. broke wherever we could, through.
the hedges, out Of which discharge
of musketry received us. Separated
by the Plantation with which each OF
the houses was surrounded, every one
bad now to fight by his own guidance.
" The village was interseeied by a
deep brook, in which, however, there
was at that time, but little water; and
| the communication between the two
sides was kept up by means Of single
panks laid across the stream. Ut was
lnurderous fight. Shots fell from
every aperture of the houses, between
aud behind which the French kept up
a constant fire in columns, while can
non balls were pouring down on US
from a neighboring eminencc, and Sc
veral houses were on fire. This hail.
storm Of balls, which every moment
|scattered brick. bats, tiles, and branch.
les of trees about US, startled even the
Oldest warriors. fell in a. the gap OIL
La hedge with four soldiers, none Of
whom seemed willing 10 pass first.----
their snees Mt the 'young wager made
me take the lead, and | stepped over
the corpse ofan enemy whom our shots
had just killed. | cast melancholy
look at the pale face Of the dead sol
ldier, who was Immediately riffed of
his watch by the man who followed
me. We got near house, which was
attacked on all sides, and, expelled by
fire and smoke, six grcnaders rushed
ell out it, offering close front and
presenting their bayonets to us. More
than twenty-five shots were fired, aud
they sank, one after another, to rise no
more. | was stalking aim, whom a fell
low soldier who was loading, called my
attention to a Frenchman who was
quietly kneelng in an open shed strap
ping his knapsack as il he was prepar-
ing for parade. Take off that one
said soldier. Il will not, replied
but at the same moment some shots
from another quarter stretched the de-
ienccless man on the ground. The
battle continued. Without hope Of
coming out alive, / continued firing d
myself behind trees for three
hours, which passed to me like SO many
mifban+ ny, haiprr auoro III,
IN both sides Of me, our troops had
been twice driven back by the furious
'nsets and the superior numbers Of the
nemy. 1t might be about seven in
he evening when comrade called
ut to me, wager, look to your left,
quickly turned in that direction, and
erceived party Of Frenchmen rush.
lg down towards US, and at the same
me saw our MAJOR giving the signal
fretreat, which was repeated by the
ugIe. The narrow bridge over which
re had to pass was choked with people,
nd we stopped for some time exchan-
ing shots with the enemy, At last
We were compelled to think ofour own
afety ; one Of our officers boldly leap
81 into the ditch, and was wounded !;
followed him and got safely up the
opposite bank and behind some trees, |
when was sheltered. Perhaps might
have got off unhurt, but at this mo-
ment, wounded friend called for my
and while | was Fastening
towards him, three shots We're fred at
me, the first missed, the second sepa-
rated both my bandoleers across nv
chest, and the third hit me under the
knee, and tore tie muscles ofthe leg"