Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-06-05

cred by an American hand. And u our
bird had possessed consciousness Of what
from its erial height il had Witnessed,
and could declare it here, to what his
tory Of daring achievement and patriot
ic devotion upon the part Of both officers
and men, might we not listen And It,
instead OF the margin OF Lake Ere,
and the banks of its Mama, his LOT had
cast his haunts in the blood d-satutatcd
fields Of Belgium-a story more prolific
of events, calculated to elevate the
courage and devotion Of the youthful
aspiranl for military glory, he could not
disclose. In this relation, your own pa
trio,ic squadron, with its accomplished
commander, could not be forgotton.-
The gallant sorie Of the left would be
presented in bold relief. There was
native, untutored Kentucky and Ohio
valor, directed by Boswell and Nesr-
ing,) displayed AS il was wont to be, aud
there was that lovely band Of youths,
the pride OF the cities which sent them
forth.
Then would follow the moro irpor-
tant operations of the right, in which
my valued friend near you rendered
himself SO conspicuous. l have always
thought and often said, that neither the
annals Of our own country, nor the an
nails Of any county could present u
more glorious achievement than that of
the successful sortie on The right, led
by Col Miller, a favorite son oi Ohio,
then the commander Of the 18th reg,-
ment OF the line. AS no history OF tho
war has done Justice 10 The merits OF
these gallant troops, you will pardon me
for mentioning the facts upon which
ground my opinion i have given oi their
claims to the gratitude Of their country.
You, sir, aud your friend near you,
know that the object Of the sorlie Was
TO destroy two batteries Of the enemy,
hich had been erected OIL our right
flank, which in some measure eniiladed
our position. The force that could be
spared for this important object consist
ed Of $50 regulars Of the i7th aud 18Th
regiments, the battalion OF volunteers
from Petersburg, Va. and Pitisburg and
Greensburg, Pa. amounting to somc-
thing upwards Of 100, and small com
pany of volunteer rihemen from Boone
country, Ky. will describe the scene
as our bird might have seen it, A,o
o'clock the detachment is drawn oul,
and to prevent the enemy from knowing
the des, ign, it is placed ~ the deep ia.
vino, ssiriing the east curtain OF the
fort. The advance is delayed to wait
for the attack OH the batteries OF tho
enemy on the left bank OF the river, by
the detachment of the keniuckiahs unA
der tho command Of Col. Dudley, IN
the hope and expectation that part of
the large force which protected the bat
ieries and the right bank, might be with
drawn to the ASSISTANCE Of their friends
Oh the left bank.
This expectation was at length real
lied. Dudley appeared,-the batteries
were attacked and easily carried. A
messenger was discovered 10 cross the
river from the camp OF Proctor, below,
and in short time all the boats were
SET n passing from the right to the lett
bank, loaded with British troops and In
dians. The landing Of these, was the
moment designated Tor the advance Of
Miller. Every thing had been previous
ly prepared, with the exception OF the
conc c alment Of the intended attack from
the enemy. The army in the ravine
had been seen by the Indians OF tho
enemy, from the tops OF trees, MS plain
ly by The eagle, and although they had
reduced their force by considerable
detachment to the left bank OF the Mi
ami they had still retained for the defence
of the batteries, 2I0 British grenadI.rs
and light infantry, upwards OF 200 Can
adian militia and nearly 1000 Indians,
under the command of Tecumseh.-
These were IN position, waiting 10 re-
ceive the expected attack. The aggrs-
gate force under Miller did not exceed
500. In the arrangement of this force,
the regular troops ha0 been placed on
the lett, with the inte ntion oi opposing
them directly 10 the British regulars aud
the batteries. Next them were the gal-
lant youths OF Pntsburg, Petersburg
/ aud Greensburg, and sll! further to the
right, the corps Of rIflemen. The s'y-
nal Tor marching is given.
|, The regulars and volunteers move
lorwar at right angles TO their iorma-
iion,-the ritiemen on dIverging line,
,ha, they may gain the ielt flank oi the
enemy. The bill in front al the rcgu-
lars forming The side OF The ravne IL
somewhat abrupt, and they gain the plain
above, u moment before the volunteers,
who are longer masked by the sioping
rise which they ascend. Fortunate M
deed, for the gallant youths. Who
knows but by the bchest Of Providence,
in answer TO the prayers oi the PiouS
n,utrons who gave them birth, whether
or not many a fathers hope, many q
mothers Joy" are saved b, the long.
7. CT distance oi their march TO the level
Of the plain. For the regulars, hls'
presenting themselves ~ the view Of ths
enemy, receive not only the hie oi The
British line, 10 which they are directly
opposed, bu, that (obliquely) OF the ga
nadians, and large portion oi the In
, d,ans also, which, bot Tor the clrcub'
stances above mentioned, would have
directed on the volunteers.
Dreadful are the effects OF this flrs
upon the regulars their ranks are dis
-.