Litchfield enquirer., 1846-06-25

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by British ship of war, and the count was
carried to New York. Here his acquaint-
ance with the British officers made him a
great favorite, and being young, he was
persuaded 10 join the British service: for he
was told that the rebellion was nearly ended
that the Americans were returning to the
kings allegiance-and he entered into Sir
Henry Clinton'S staff as a volunteer aid
Poor fellow his dream of glory was soon
ended.
"You may have higher mountains in Po-
land, Grabouski; but no harder ones 10 trav-
ell " and Sir Henry laughed outright at his
own running.
"Ah! your exec lenza is vara fungy
about Poland, but All, whit is dat?'
Thegrape shot from the field pieces which
the commander of Fort Montgomery had
sent out under the charge of a body of ar
| tillerymen, as before related came whis-
Ting by, for the advanced troops had reached
the Orangetown road. Half dozen men
fell, as the shot scattered partially along the
advancing columns.
"These rebels can fight, Grabouski," said
Sir Henry, as he looked around Horses
here! Mount gentlemen, mount!-we are
coming now to hard knocks. Bullets will
be bi.ets, fear, for some Of US before
night"
The horses were led forward, and the Off
GERS mounted at once. The six pounier Of
the Americans blazed away with much eff
feet, as the British troops advanced up the
pass with fixed bayonets. OF sudden
there was an explosion, not like that of
cannon when fired, but sound similar to
the heavy booming when a quarry is BIAS
ted.
"Ah your excellenza, dat cannon is what
you call him-burSi, broken good for moth
ing. In de first campaign serve under the
great FrN-Frederick you call him-I
hear that sound before"
The Pole was right, the cannon, so tradi.
ton relates, did burst, and the artillerymen
retreated precipitately towards the fort.
"Now, Colonel Campbell" said Sir Henry
to his second in command, "You will push
for Fort Clinton at once; the route is clear.
shall file off by this path with my column
under the direction of my guide, and reach
Fort Montgomery with all possible haste.
Let us strike our blows at the same time if
possible. Success to you, my brave fell
low" He never again saw Campbell alive.
In the meantime Governor Clinton and
his brother James made all possible prepa r.
aIionS for tie defence OF the two forts, and
were ina measure connected by a wooden
bridge that crossed the creek. Anxiously
expecting the arrival cftroops to their aid,
Through the information sent by the treach-
erou> messenger we have mentioned,) the
two commanders endeavored to place both
forts in the best possible condition 10 sustain
an attack.
Both advancing columns, after toiIing
over the hills, came in sight of the two
forts, and stopped to take IL soldiers dir
ner before commencing the assault. The
English sol Tiers, Napo' con used to say,
fight best on full stomachs, while n
Frenchman grows more desperate the
hungrirr he gets.
Taking n meal before going into ba tile
is certainly cool piece of business, hut
vet the act is reasonable. II II man has
to die for glory, he may as we'll die full
Between two and three o'clock in the
afternoon, the two columns moved for
wald sinuitaneously-the one CRUISING
the creek to Fort Montgomery, and the
other moving directly upon Fort Clinton.
! 1t may be we'll TO state that th"se forts
were bull, more for defence on the riv.
er side, it never having been expected
| that an attack would be made in the
rear, where the works were comparative
ly open.
When the British columns advanced to
the forts, the ships Ct war: which had
cumc up with the tide, commenced firing
from the river, This being The signal for
assault. The British troops advanced
| h,,s n.l
with q terrible fire of grapn-shot and
musketry. which was SO effective, par
ticularly from Fort Montgomery, that
thew wavercd and tell back. Their field
artillery, which had been landed froHs
the sh ps little below the fort, was now
brought up, aud, under the cover OF the
fire from All eminencc, they advanced II
secoud time. but with no better success.
The works in the rear ut Fort Clmtoa
were not equal to those OF Fort Montgom-
ery, and ut the second assault Sir Henry
succeeded in making ii lodgnnnt, and
after fight of an hour. carried the TORT
He Immediately dispall he'd his aid, Count
GraboIski, over the Creek 10 Col Camp.
bell. commanding the column of attack,
with orders to summon the fort, and say
that if he d d not surrender in fre mn
utes, it should be slorned and ali the gar
rison put 10 the sword. The officer who
bore The fig was told in reply, that " Sir
Henry Clinton might ormand be-
but we will not mention the word, sol
diers sometimes use harsh terms.
A heavy cannonade was then com
mrnced from the ships. the field pieces,
and from the cap,u ed place upon Fort
Mont omery. About dusk, general as
sauIt was ordered. the officers advancing
at the head of their men TO cheer them
on, and the fort was carried. Lieut.. MIX
of the artillery, as he was about I" apply
the limS-stock 10 IA twelve pounder load.
ed with grape shot aud muske' balls, up
o. the advancing column. had his r!aht
hand carried off by Il bali from one "f Inc
ships. STOPPING instantly with presence
Of mind rarely known. he seized me p ri
fire with his left hand. and touched on
the cannon, which killed Col. Campbell
Count Grabouski, NJ .jor Grant and Maj
Sill. and about forty privatrs.* ,
! BY the time the fort was taken, night nad
gathered round, and the two American Zen
erals, with Col. Livingston and large