The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-03-31

iiotiOu w llC bottiO 5iooho VI OifuS5StWo
ter and the height at the head of Lundy's
Lane. Presuming that sketch of an
incident in that gallant action would not
be uninteresting to your readers at the
present time, j have taken the liberty to
enclose you the following, which / trust
you will publish. ''' 80. >. s@.'i ~ ,"rl
.e'r Yours, very respectfully, 49, D. I"
Washington, March S. ~ - az
alb "' "1LL TRY, SIR" 80 = .e;.
AN INCIDENT, OF THE BATTLE OF BRIDGE
H.. -, 49,; WATER. 49,
On the 25th, Of July, 1914, the bloody
battle Of Bridgewater and Lundys Lane
took place near the banks Of the Niagara.
1t was 6 o'clock, and sultry evening,
when the British forces under General
Drummond advanced to meet the Ameri-
can. columns; and more deadly contest
never ragged on the soil of our beloved
country than that whchthen commenced;
the roar of the neighboring cataract lost
itself in the booming aof cannon-the
voices of many waters, and the voices of
battle sang bass together--and the dead
sleptin sweet forgetfuiness uponthe moon.
lit hill. The first brigade, under General
Scott, with Towson's artillery and body
of cavalry, sustained the attack of the
British army for an hour unaided. Gen.
Ripley with fresh troops now arrived, and
relieved General Scott, while the latter,
with his exhausted brigade, formed a re-
serve in the rear. The British artillery
had taken. post on an eminence at the
head of Lundy's Lane, and were pouring
forth most deadly fire on the Americans.
General Brown, the commander of the
American forces, feeling the terrible havoc
made by the enemy's cannon, concluded
that it was necessary to disiodge them or
retreat, It was. a dreadful duty. The
troops that were to march up Lundy's
Lane might well say their prayers and
make their will before moving: 1t was
certain death to every second man Of the
forlorn hope. As the commanding Gen
,eral rode along the foot Of the hill, in
thoughtful mood, he saw the brave Col.
Miller advancing at the head of his new
ly raised regiment for further orders. He
rode up to him. "Will you advance and
capture that battery" said the General.
81 will try, sir" said the modest Colonel.
The General rode on, and the regiment
gallanhy wheeled and moved up Lundy's
Lane; n 49,. s.r..s-. "a. stts:.v.
AT everv rod the artillery on the height
sent its messengers of death through the
dense column; but still there was no
finching. .Thevoice Of the noble Miller,
as he waved his sword before the bloody
gap, was heard uttering the short and ex-
prcssive orders, STEADY men-close ranks
-marchT' Around him, the flower Of
his regiment. r fell like the withered leaves
of autumn; but he needed not his loss; he
was ordered to take the battery n the
hill, and he intended to do it. He. advanc-
ed, therefore,. coolly and steadlly to his
object. Amidst a tremendous blaze of
artillery, and at the point of the bayonet
he carried the heig ght. 1t was a gallant
deed. | have never heard of its equal
except at the seige of San Sebastian. 1t
was superior in temerity to Bonaparte's
attack upon Little Gibralter, at Toulon,
because Miller had no covering for his
,rroons in case of retreat. 1t was a.dead
march to glory!-yea, at every step the
rear rank tTod upon the dead and the dy-
ina: and the groans of suffering humanity
rn;noIed in with the hoarse rattle of the
drn1 When the conqueror, with his
rounant of regiment, trod upon the
he;ahts at the head of Lundy's Lane, and
.nrged ,v, the cannon upon the astonished
cnemv. u a. death struggle ensued between;