The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-06-22

remainder retreated with great precipitancy.
We had little rest. our determined enemy
soon sent strong body TO attack our north
ern boundary.
A few bold men led the way and thought
| 10 gain the interior inirenchment by lesping
the breasrwork, but unexpectedly coming in
contact with our rows ofpickets and The deep
ditch, they were foiled 10 the attempt also
and the roaring thunders Of Townsend's bat
tery laid them in heaps at the bottom of our
ditch. On the east side however. party
succeeded by means ofscaling ladders in gain
ing an entrance into the old Fort. There was
work enough now to be done. the contest
was dreadful. One detachment was called
after another to supply the place of their fal
len comrads. The arena Of our Fort was so
small that but few of our men could be
brought into action at once.
In this contest poor Abel Chandler fell 4
victim, in stepping from the stone building in
The fort. he was shot through the heart by a
British soldier, aud fell dead on .ne spot
There was no immediate attack made on the
part Of the bresstwork at which was station
ed. As was looking towards The Fort wait
ing in anxious suspense the issue OF the srrug
gle, it forcibly occurred TO my mind that
musket ball might strike me in my exposed
situation. Involuntary leaned over when
at that instant ball came whizzing by my
head so near that felt the pressure Of air il
produced. Had l been standing erect, il
would have PROFESSIONALLY passed directly
through my head! This viewed as a mar
row escape, and would greatfully hold in re-
membrance that invisible agency that through
hidden dangers, snares and death, so gently
clears our way.
The enemy had now succeeded 10 advancing
into the Fort, and our men slowly retreaied,
inch by inch-when a circumstance took
place which brought this remarkable conflict
to an instantaneous termination. In the Fort
was magazine Of powder over which was
platform on which was placed an eighteen
FOUNDER The British had obtained possess
ION Of this and were in the act Of wheeling
it round in order to rake our line. when a
Corporal Of the Artillery who was the last
American soldier to leave the Fort, at the
risk ofhis own life, caught fire brand and
whirled it into the Magazine II Instantly
exploded with tremendous noise, and car
ried scores of the poor beings hundred feet
into the air, aud strewine the ground with the
slIiu, carried horI or and devastation over that
band who were just elated with victory. The
soldier who performed this heroic and peril
Gus deed escaped death by stepping round
the parapet of stone which screamed him
from the explosion. Government has since
rev arded his bravery with handsome COM
pensaton. All this occurred before day
ish: had appeared in the east and the Pitliu
fragment of the enemy's forces drew of as
as best they might. Thus ended this long
and dreadful night battle which cost the
British twelve hundred killed while ON our
side only seven killed and sixty wounded
On returning 10 their works, the enemy
recommended firing with their heavy cannon
and we threw up bastions in addition to our
Turner defences. For this purpose we went
on the out side of our breastwOrks to get ma
terals. While thus engaged the two young
men who accompanied Philo Blanchard and
his son in law to the wars, were standing IA
cling each other, in cOnversation-whena
cannon ball from the enemy took off the
right leg Of one and the left leg oil The other
They fell at once. Amputation was soon re-
sorted to but they could not live. Latham
expired almost Immediately but kimball was
conveyed across the lake TO the hospital.
For the greater security OF our baggage and
tents against the effects Of the enemy's balls
which often came blowing their way into our
camp and found lodging place in the bot
tom of the Lake, we had removed them near
the breast work and our men lighted their
fires in the rear Of the tents, and in open
range ofihe enemy's guns, there TO perform
the necessary operations Of cooking and
washing.
In the twilight of one evening | was
standing by my fire, when a soldier
took off his kettle ip which he had been
preparing our supper, l lifted another to
its place-just as my arm were extended
i'll the act of placing the kettle on the fire.
twenty four FOUNDER came booming over
the rampant, and as it glanced by it struck
off both my arms above the elbows. For
a few seconds didn't know what had ia
ken place. as the wind produced by the
motion of the ball blew the dust into my
face. But when looked at my bleeding
stumps where my healthy and muscular
arms had been an instent before, l exclai-
ed."OhGod are both gone!' Every earth
ly hope vanished. saw myself stranger
in starng land, without near connec-
ton, who could sympathize in my sad iatel
A thousand thoughts came rushing thro'
my brain. l tainted and was carried to
the same hospital where so many Of my
comrads had been sent before Inc there to
suffer the pains Of the amputating knife,
my left arm, las was afterwards in
formed. twas carried from my body to
the distance Of two rods, and striking a
man on the back nearly brought him to
the ground. The same shot by which /
was wounded struck another poor young
fellow who stood near me and took off his
left arm, and two Of the fingers from his
right hand. 1t then passed on to the other
end of the encampment and killed four
men! This was the most destructive mes
senger Of death that visited our little camp
during the siege which lasted more than
thirty days.
After my wounds were dressed I remain
ed on the Canada side, in large wooden
building used for the accommodations OF