The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-24
From the N. Y. Plcbian.
TIKI LAST HALL;
OR, THE SIEGE OF FORT MoULTRrE.


completing the fort which they had been
erecting on Sullivan'sisland. near the en-.
trance Of Charleston's harbor, an officer
on the island. wearing the American uni
form, appeared to be intently scanning the
distant horizon With his dark piercing
eyes, as if 'endeavorng 10 scrutinize the
form of some object that doomed like a
fog bank, on the very verge of the vast ex-
panse Of waves which rolled at his feet.
ever and anon curling their ripping surf
unheeded over his military boots, so deep
ly was his attention absorbed in the con-
Temptation of the distant and obscure OBJ
ject. Shading his eye with his right
hand, he darted searching glance toward
that point of the horizon, but SO great was
the distance that the naked eye could, as
yet, discern nothing distinctly-dazzled
as it was with the light sunbeains dancing
on the crests of the blue waves, created
thousand mimic rainbows.
Malvern, my glass;" exclaimed he to
an orderly near him, who entering tent,
returned almost Immediately with tele-
scope. The officer impatiently snatched
it from him, and adjusting the focus, d.
rectng it towards the evidently approach
ing object. Scarcely, however, had he
done so. ere joyous " Hurra - burst
from his lips, and the glass fell upon the
sand. Sail, no sail. no ~ shouted the
officer, and as the echo died away some
three or four others, all bearing the Ameri-
can uniform, sprang to his side with the
simultaneous exclamation "where -
Hastily directing the attention of his com
panions, the drums Immediately beat to
quarters /; silently each soldier took his
post, and the heavy guns of For, Moul-
trie doomed black and grim from their
palmetto embrasures.
+" Ha! Mouuie, Ills as | thought"
said an officer addressing one who stood
near him, with the familiarity Of an old
soldier, "yonder come the British fleet,
commanded by Parker and Clinton. Our
palmetto fort will have It's tougness well
tried to-day, for by the number and size
oftheir vessels, this will be no boys play
Eyes, Marion. lis as you say" ans
wered Moutre, lowering his glass, " the
banner of ST. George waves proudly to
the breeze. and count near forty vessels
IN all. Heaven grant our stars and stripes
may float as proudly from our little fort,
at the end of the contest as they do now
it will be hard days work, and many a
brave fellow will sleep his last sleep ere
lis over. What say you, Sergeant JAS
per You're an old hand at these thing!"
"Aye, SIR. that twill" replied Jasper,
touching his cap with true military preci-
sion. " and, Colonel, if might ask Ia
vor, would be to command gun near
where the flag stands, for some of our
green hands may be scared out O. their
senses by the noise and crashing, nor ever
think Of sticking the flag up again if it's
shot down; and if there's panic among
our recruits, the days gone"
He says well, Marion," said Moul-
trie, "my brave fellow, your request is
granted, and in delivering our banner to
your care, need not fear it will ever be
sullied by hostile touch"
No! Colonel, have no, served under
you so long to turn coward at last. Your
flag must float in victory from Fort Moul-
trie, or serve as winding sheet for JAS
per; SAID The veteran, looking affection
ately at the flag and wipng tear from
his eye with the corner Of the bunting.
Nobly said, my brave Jasper, and a
more glorious winding sheet you Couldn't
have, replied Marion, while his dark eye
flashed fire as he cast glance to the
parapet where the stars and stripes were
floating proudly to the same gale, which
was bearing the Red Cross of st. George
swiftly towards the shore.
Galantly came on the hostile feet, and
as one vessel after another loomed into
sight, their clouds of snow white canvass,
lofty tapering stars. and the huge black
engines of destruction tina. lined their
ports. surmounlcd by the naughty flag
which had braved thousand years the
battle and the breeze" raised even in the
breast of that band of devoted heroes, a
feeling Of alarm, not for themselves, bu.
for Charleston, whose beauty and wealtl,
were now committed to their charge. On.
ward came the hostile vessels. the sea foam
dashing from their bows, and every sail
set to catch the breeze, till, as ifby magic,
gracefully and silently they fell into posi-
ton; their sails were quickly furled. and
their gloomy broadside, brought to bear
ro'n. blank on the fort. The heavy guns
Of the fort at that moment launched forth