The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-30


lows paused il moment, us this new and un-
expected obstacle crossed their path, but at
the stern forward of their leaders, they
boldly plunged i'll, and without drum or
buglc note to cheer lhcir steady courage.
moved in dead silence straight on the paIl-
sadcs. The noise had now ularmed the
Scntincls. and the rapid discharge of their
muskcts through the gloom, was followed
by lights, moving swiftly upon the rampartS,
and hurried shouts, of To arms IL u,ms -
and the fierce roll of drums rousiny up the
garrison from lis dream Of security. The
next moln"n; that dark rock wa, one mass
OF flame, lis the artillery and mus kerry open
cd along lis sides shedding il luil Iight on
the cnuntcnanccs Of men below, and
-1drance! alra"ce!n rung in startling
accents along the ranks.
"Thr ramlmrts were alive with soldiers.
and amid shout and hurried words OF Gem
mnnd, the fiery torrent from the summit kept
rolling on those devoted men. The water
around them was driven into spray by the
grape shot and balls that fell in an inccrs-
SAINT shower. while the Kissing, bursting
shells; travcrSinw the air in every direction.
added inconccvaEic terror to the scenc.-
rttllnSr iorlurn hopes ,ollcd vigorously on,
and hcavrd away at the nbbuilis TO opcn Il
gap for the column, that, without returning
Il shot, stood and crumbl,d under the fire.
waiting with fixed bayonc,, to rush to the
assault. AT the head of one these was
Wayne: chatting like Il lion in tho tolls, at
tn" obstacle that arrested his progress
The lorlorn hope in front Of him worked
steadily on in the very blaze Of the batteries,
and the rapid blows OF their axes were heard
in the intervals of the thunder Of artillery
that shook the midnight air. while one after
another dropped dead in his Footsteps, till
out OF the twenty that started only three
stood unharmcd. Yet still their axes fell
>lcndily and strong until an opening was
made, through which the columns could
pass. and then the shouts of Wayne was
heard above the din anal lrnuit. summoninr
his followers IN. With fixed bayonr,s they
marched SicrnIv through the portals made
nj such IL sacrifice: and pressed fiuriousIv
Iorward-tlrou~h the ncrlss-ovcr every
"h<lnclc-up |" the very mouths of the
cann"n. aud up the rocky acclivi,v, they
ctorlnrd on. crushing everything in their
paS*agr. Towering at the head ofhis shat
tered column, pointing still onward and
upward with his gilcring blade, and send
ing his thrilling shouts back over his follow
"r<, Wayne strobe steadily up the height,
till at length struck i'll the head hy a
mnSkct ball, he fell backward
amid the ranks. Instantly rising on his
knee, he cried out March on! Carry
me into The fort, for J. will die at the cad of
my columnr And those heroes put their
brave arms around him and bore HIM on
ward. Nota shot was fired, but taking the
rapid volleys on their unsllrinlliug breasts.
their bayoncts gliltcrn~ IN the flash of the
cncmvS guns, they kept on over the living
and dead; smiling down the veteran ranks
that threw themselves in vain vnIor before
them: Till they reached the centre OF the fort,
where they met the other column, which.
over the same obstacle, had achieved the
same triumph.
''At the sight Of each other, one lond
shout shook the hci "his and rolled down
the bleeding linc-was again sent bacl, till
the Heavens rung with the wild h,zzas,
and then the flag Of freedom went up and
llaun'ed proudly away on the mi,lniy Ii, air.
The thick volumes Of smoke that lay around
that rock, slowly liiicd and rolled up the
Hudson, the stars appeared once more in
the sky, and all was over The Iorllv river
went sweeping by as it had done during
the deadly strife that cast such bailuI
light on its bosom, and darkness and death.
like silence shroudcd the shores. Mourn
fully and slow those forIorn hopes an their
brave companions who had fallen in the
assault, were brought up from their CORY
beds and conveyed to the grave.
"Wayncs wound proved not to be Sc
vere,-lhe ball having only grazcd the
skull for tw inches, and he lived to wear
the laurcls grateful nation placed on his
brow. The country rung with his name,
and Congress present him with IL gold medal
The whole plan of the assault was most
skilliuIly laid; and the bearing of Wayne
throughout was gallant in the extrcme.-
He chose the post of danger at the head of
his column, AMI led his men where even
the bravest might shrink to follow, and
when struck and apparently dying, heroi-
cally demanded to be. carried forward,
he might die in the arms Of victor
left where the stand was