The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-21

who fell here. The engagement at this place
IS so graphically described by Gen. Skinner,
who with Captain Martin, J. Aiken, Azariah
&. Flagg, our present Comptroller, Jas.
Trowbridge, Frederick Allen, Hazen Mooers,
Ira Wood, H. X. Averill, Hiram WaTorth.
NJ. w. Travis aud others formed the gallant
corps known as Aiken's Volunteers, that beg
leave to quotei it.
AT this point says Gen. Skinner, zone OF
the finest specimens of discipline ever exhib-
tied, was shown by the British troops on the
occasion Of the opening of Captain Leonard's
battery upon them. The company to which
| was attached formed part of the left of our
/ little army, and was on the rise of ground
west Of the road leading from Halsey's corner
TO Isaac c. Platt's, about midway between
the Artillery and the head of the British col
ums, and the whole scene was open to our
view. Here lat Halsey's corner) was bat
terry of two field pieces so perfectly masked
by party of the infantry that the enemy were
probably not aware of it until it opened upon
them.
! There, dense column of men, with front
equal to the width of the road and extending
nearly half a mile in length, pressing on with
buoyancy and determination of spirit be-
tokening an expectation that they would be
enabled to walk into our works against al OPP
position.
Suddenly, with the noise of thunder, the
sound of cannon came booming through the
air. 1t sent forth round shot which took ei-
feet near the centre Of the front platoon about
breast high, and ploughed its way through
sweeping all before it the whole length of the
column, open space APPARENTLY several feet
wide, which, however was Immediately closed
as if by magic and the column pressed on as
if nothing had happened. A second shot
was fired with like effect and similar conse-
quences, but when the third discharge came
with shower of grape shot there was a mo-
mentary confusion. Immediately, however,
the charge was sounded by some dozen Brit
ish bugles, which through the clear and
bland atmosphere Of bright September NOR
hing was the most thrilling and spirit stirring
sound that could greet soldiers ear. In an
instant Of time the men forming the advance
of the column had thrown their knapsacks on
either side of the road and bringing their
pieces to a charge advanced in double quick
time upon our miniature battery
If as Gen. Skinner remarks, the disciplined
advance Of the British was so admirable, the
skillful and systematic retreat of corps under
the gallant Wool and portion of the militia
was no less admirable. In front Of an over
whelming force, platoon after platoon deliv-
cred their fire and fell back to load and form
in regular succession contested every inch of
ground and seizing every favorable point TO
unlimber their artillery and pour deadly
shower Of grape upon the advancing enc
my. After repeated contests they were driv-
en- across the river, the bridges were taken up
in the retreat, a final stand was made on the
Southern bank of the Saranac and the enemy
driven back beyond the reach of our guns
1t was near the upper bridge that John Pc
tiers fell by the side Of our townSman Benz. G.
Wood, and near the lower, Stephenson of the
Essex militia was killed, and Zcpheniah Pitt
Plat severely wounded while calamity aiding
Maj. Wool in the repulse Of the enemy. In
all some 45 Of our men were killed or wound
ed in the retreat, while the loss of the British
was far more considerable. Lieut.. Colonel,
2 Captains, Lieutenants, and more than
200 men killed or wounded, attested the seri-
Gus nature of the opposition they encounter
ed. The next morning the British led by
Captain Noodle in attempting to cross the
river few miles west of the village were
DidfCiy lCpulSCu ny SdPt. duSHdH COHi-
pany Of Col. Aliller's Regiment, and for the
four succeeding days while the enemy were
erecting batteries, 10 play upon the forts, fire.
quent skirnshes along the river accustomed
our militia TO the smell of powder, and the
gallant Green Mountain boys under the pat
riotic Gen. Strong were waited to our aid By
every eastern breeze until our force amoun-
ted TO upwards of 1900 men. Lieut.. Runk
of the 9th Regiment was shot by the enc
my on the 9Th instant near the preseut res
idence of A. C. Moore, and the chvareus
McGlasson on the evening of the 9th with
$50 men crossed the Saranac and stormed,
and took at the point of the bayonet a bate
ny defended by four hundred of the enemy,
and having spiked the guns made good his
retreat without the loss of single man. The
battle of Beekmantown, the spirited resist
ance to the advance of the enemy, and the
burning of the Court House and other build
ings north of the River by the hot shot from
our batteries, undoubtedly prevented an i'm
mediate attack upon the forts which at that
time in the unfinished state of the defences
could not have been successfully resisted.