The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-18
ton led by the gallant Colonel Leavenworth.

and they alone sustained it for some lime,
fighting with undiDching bravery. unit their
numbers were reduced to one-half by the fire
OF the enemy. At this junciure General Scott
galloped up with the intention of charging up
The hill but finding them so much weakened,
altered his intention, entieaing them 10 hold
their ground until the reinforceme1ts which
were fastening up. should come 10 their as
sistance. A momentary cessation of the &C.
! lion ensured, while additional forces hurried up
TO the aid of each army-Ripley brigade.
Hindman's artillery and Porler's volunteers,
on The pari of The Americans. and strong re-
enforcement under General Drummond on that
of The British. Hindman's artillery were at
tached TO that Of Towson, and soon made Them
selves heard. Porier's brigade displayed on
the left. while Ripley formed on the skirts of
the wood 10 The RICH, Of SCOTS brigade. The
engagement was soon renewed, with augment
ed vigor, General DrummonJ taking command
in person, with his fresh troops in the front line
of the enemy. Colonel Jesup. who had at The
commencement of the action been posted on
the right succeeded. after gallant contest, in
turning The left flank of The enemy, and came
in upon his reserve. 'burdened with prisoners.
making himself visible 10 his own army. amid
The darkness. in blaze of fire, completely
destroying all before him.
The fight ragged for some time with great
fury, but. it bccamei apparently useless TO the
Americans il The enemy retained possession of
the battery, manifes,y the key OF their position.
| was standing at The side of Colonel Miller,
said the Major, when General Ripley rode up
and enquired. whether he could storm the bat.
terry with his regiment, while he supported him
with the younger regiment. the t,centy-third.
Miller, amid The uproar and confusion. de-
liberaey surveye the position, then quietly
turning with Infinite GOODNESS, replied RI try
SIR think | see him now. said the Major.
as drawing up his gigantic figure 10 its full
height he turned 10 his regiment, drilled 10 the
precision of piece of mechanism. hear his
deep iones-Iwenty,frst attention Form into
coums-you will advance up the hill TO The
storm of The battery. At the word Hail. YOU
deliver your fire at the portlights of the Aril.
ierymen, and Immediately carry The guns at
The point of The bavonet. Support arms
forward-march Machinery could not have
moved with more compactness than that gal |
liant regiment followed the fearless stride of
their leader. Supported by The Tipenty-ihird |
the dark mass moved up the hill like one body, |
the lurid light gitterng and Pickering on
their bayonets, MS the combined fire of the enc
my's artillery and infantry opened murderously |
upon Them. They finched not--,hey fatercd
not-ihe stern deep voice of the officers, as
the deudly cannon shot cut yawning chasms |
through them, alone was heard. Close up
steady. men-sieady.' Within a hundred !
yards of the summit. the loud Hail. was fol-
lowed by volley-sharp and instantaneous. as
ole pofsh ttn L. IL.
under The white smoke, short furious strug. |
gle with the bayonet, and the artillery men
were swept like chaff from their guns. Another
fierce siruggle--the enemy's line was forced
down the side of The hill aud victory was ours
the position entirely in our hands their
own pieces turned and playing upon them in
their retreat. II was bought at cruel price
# W Of the officers remained that were not
killed or wounded. The whole tide Of the
battle now turned To this point. The result OF
the conflict depended entirely upon The ability
Of the victorious party TO retain it. Major
Hindman was ordered up aud posted his force
at the side of the captured cannon, while the
American line CORRESPONDENCE advanced.
Stung with notification. the brave general
Drummond concentrated his forces, to reiakc
by desperate charge, the position. The in
terva amid The darkness was alone filled by
the roar Of the cataract and the groans of the
wounded. He advanced with strong reinforce.
ments. oul1anking each side of the American
line. We were only able, in the murkv dark
ness. 10 ascertain their approach by their heavy
tread. They halted within twenty PAGES. and
prepared for the rush. Directed by the blaze
our men returned it with deadly effect, and
after desperate struggle. The dense column
recoied. Another interval of darkness. and
silence. and again most furious and desperate
charge was made by the British, throwing the
whole weight ofthcir attack upon the Ameri.
cen centre.--The gallant 1uenty.frst. which
composed it, received them with undaunied
6rmness-while the fire fiom our lines was
'drcadfuy effective Hindman's artillery
served with The most perfect GOODNESS ard eff.
feet. Staggering. they again recoiled. During
this second attack, Gen. Scott in person, his
brigade now consolidated into
single battalion, made two determined charges
upon the right and lett flank ofihe enemy. and
in these he reccived The scars which his count
rymen now see on his manly front. Our men
were now almost worn down with fatigue,
diving with thirst, for which they could obtain
no relief. The British with fresh reinforce
men recruited and resied-afier
an interval of another hour, made their third
and final effort TO regain the position.-They
advanced their fire as beforehand
although it was returned with the same deadly
effect, they steadily pressed forward. The
Twenty first again sustained the shock. and
both lines we're soon engaged in conflict. OBJ
stina,e and dreadful beyond description. The
right and left of the American line fell back
for moment but were Immediately rallied by
their officers. $50 desperate did the battle
haconno Int haffalione hoih