The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
Correspondence Of The NJ Y. american.
STORMING OF FORT ERIE.

deeply stained its soil. Observe the works
the old stone fort facing the ruin-the remains
of ramparts and trenches stretching along
here bastion-and there further on redoubt
there again lines and earth works, forming
a continuous circle of Defence but now fast
crumbling to ITS original level. These are, or
rather were, the Fort and defences of "FoRT
ERIE" Some years since | rode over the
ground with our kind and excellent friend the
Major. With great interest listened to his
narration of the part of the campaign acted
upon this spot and the adjoining country. L
will repeat it to you as we ride over it. Jump
your horse up this crumbling mound-it was
bastion. Standing on this bastion, here,
said the Major, we had thrown up our lines,
making the work as strong as practicable.-
The British had erected very formidable works
about half mile in front, the forest interven-
ing, composed ola large stone battery on their
left. and two strong redoubts, from which they
kept up an incessant discharge of shot and
shells for several successive days, which was
returned by us with equal vigor. A shell
from their batteries having fallen upon it,blew
Up one of our small magazines-but with tri-
fling injury TO Tie rest of our dcfences. Mis-
calculating the damage, and elated with Their
success, Gen. Gaines received secret lnforma-
ton that they intended to endeavor to carry
the works by storm ON the following night
That night, said the Major, | shall not soon
forget. Ii set in intensely dark, and very
cloudy, very favorable to the design of the en-
cmy. Every thing was put in the fullest state
of preparation to receive them. The men
enthusiastically awaiting the attack, were or
dered to lie on their arms. Extended along
the lines, and manning the bastion and fort,
our little army, in perfect silence, awaited
their coming.
The forest had been cleared about three
hundred yards in front of our works-beyond
that were, as you see, the woods. As the
night wore On, we listened with earnestness to
every sound. A little after midnight, we heard
on The dry leaves :he stealthy sound of foot
steps-pat- patter-patter. We listened they
came nearer. A short sharp challenge, "who
goes there?" issued from the farther redoubt.
The footsteps ceased, as if irressolute to ad-
vance or recede, and all was still. Another
quick Challenged rattle of the musket, as it
fell into the hollow of the hand, followed the
reply, "Picquet guard forced in by the ene-
my's advance, back guaro; back to your
posts instantly, or we will fire upon you" rung
the stern voice of our commanding officer
The footsteps of the slragglers slowly receded,
and again entire stiffness was obtained. 1t
was as profound as the darkness-not even
the hum of an insect rose upon the ear. We
laid our heads upon the ramparts, and listened
with all our faculties. We listened. Per-
haps half an hour elapsed, when we imagined
we heard the dead heavy sound of large
body of n-tramp-tramp--tra advanc-
ing through the pitchy darkness. A few mo-
ments pascal brisk scattering fire, and the
piquets came in in beautiful order, under the
brave subaltern in command. The measured
tread of disciplined troops became apparent.
Every sense was stretched to the utmost in
expectancy-every eye endeavored to fathom
the darkness In front, when from Towson's
battery, that towards the river, glanced a VOL
lev of musketry, and in another instant, the
whole line of the works, bastion, redouht, and
rampant, streamed forth one living sheet of
fame. Two eighteens, mounted where we
stand, were filled 70 the muzzle with grape,
canister AID bags of musket bullets-imagine
the!; havoc. The enemy came on with loud
shouts and undaunted bravery. By the con.
tinued glare of our discharges, we could see
dense dark masses of men, moving in columns
to three separate points of attack upon our
works. Our artillery and muskety poured on
them continual stream of fire, rolling and
glancing from angles, bastions, and redoubts
Repulsed - they were reformed by their off.
GERS, and brought again to the charge-to be
again repulsed: at such times, hours fly like
moments. life appears concentrated to
moment. We had been engaged perhaps an
hour-perhaps three, when heard in the bas-
ton of the fort, hundred feet from ME, above
the uproar, a quick, furious struggle, as if of
men engaged in fierce death fight, clash
ing of beyonets, and sharp pistol shots, mixed
with heavy blows, and short quick breathing,
such as you may have heard men make in vi
client exertion-in cutting wood with axes, or
other severe manual labor. The conflict tho
ferce,was short-the assalants were repealed.
Those who gained footing were bayonetted
or thrown back over the parapet. In few
moments heard the same fierce struggle
and again followed the like result and stiffness
If stiffness could be said to exist under a
contiual rnaf of musketry and artillery. A
third time it arose, sudden & desperate, it ceas-
ed-and presently a clear loud voice rose high
above the bhtte from the bastion, "Stop firing
In front there, you are firing on your friends"
An instant cessation followed. We were de-
ceived. In another moment, the voice of an
officer with startling energy replied, save, ave.
we'll stop: give il them, men, give it them,'-
and the firing was renewed with redoubled flu.
~. The head of the centre column, compos.
ed of eight hundred picked men, the veterans
of Egypt led by Lieut.. Cob Drummond in
person, after three several assaults, had gained
possession of the bastion, and by that ruse,
endeavored to cause cessation of the fire
a result that might have been fatal 10 us, had
not the deception been so soon decerned. But
L. L.