The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-08-10
ARNOLD AT BEMIS' HEIGHTS.
Ely J. 7. HEADLEY.

Gates took Anold's division away from him &
gave it 10 General Lincoln so that WHEN the sec
ond battle of tie 18th of October occurred. he the
best and bravest, and most successful General III
the Army, was without a command. This out
rage was enough TO madden IL less stormy nature
than his and lie Immediately demanded a passport
10 Washington. Ii was granted hut on second
thought he concluded it would have an ugly look
o leave the army on the cave of an important en-
gagement, and resolved TO remain. He was in the
amp when the cannonading CT the 9TH October
commenced, and lstned, one may guess with
what feelings, 10 the of the battle, which was
ever music 10 his stormy nature. As the thunder
IF artillery shook the ground on which he stood,
f. lowed by the sharp rattle Of musketry. his I'M
patience and excitement could no longer be re-
strained. He walked about in the greatest a2lta-
tion-now pausing 10 listen TO the din OF war, ana
now watching the fiercely ascending volumes OF
smoke that told where the fight was raging. All
who can tell what gloomy thoughts and fierce pur-
pose of revenge were then and there born III his
maddened soul-it is terrible 10 drive the brave 10
despair. The hero of Quebec, Champlain and
Ridgetield. TO whom the head.ong charge and per-
ous march were delight who painted like war
horse for the conflict, was here doomed by an in
efficient commander 10 remain inactive. His brave
followers were rushing on TO death without him
and sudden resolves and overwhelming emotions
kept up SUCH II Ill Ills DO>Olii, ms ~
ement at length amounted almost TO madness.
Unable longer to restrain his impulses, he call
ed like the helpless Augerean Tor his horse
Vaul ing TO the saddle, he rode for while around
the camp in tempest Of passion. AT length a
heavy explosion of artillery, making the earth
tromble beneath him, burst on his car. He paused
Il moment and leaned over the saddle-tow, then
plunging his rowels up to the gahs in his horse.
launched like thunderbolt away. He was noun
L 4.
Warren, after the hero of Bunker Hill, worthy
such a rider, and which bore him like the wind
into the battle
1t was told 10 Gates that Arnold had gone to
the field, and he Immediately sent Colonel Arm
strong after him. But Arnold expecting this. and
determining not to call back rs had been done
before, spurred furiousy amid the ranks, and Us
the former approaching him gal!oped into the vol
les and thus the chase was kept up for half an
hour until at length Armstrong gave it up and
the fierce cheftain had it all his own way. Goad-
cd by rage and disappointment almost into insan-
itv. he evidently was resolved TO throw away his
life and end al once his troubles and his career
Where the shot fell the thickcst, there the black
steed was soen plunging through the smoke, and
where death reaped down the brave fastest, there
iis shout was heard, ringing over the din and tu-
mutt lie was no longer the cool and ski.ful of
fcer but the headong warrior, reckless of life
Ills splendid horse was fecked with foam, and IL
seemed impossible that his rider could long sur
yve amid the fire through which he so wildly gal
loped- Some OF The onccrs thought him n;oxi-
catcd, so furious and vehement were his move
mcn,s and 80 thrilling his shout as with his sword
,weel ing in fiery circles about Ills head he sum
lnoned his followers 10 the charge. Once, wish
my 10 90 from one extremity of the line TO tho
other inst ad of passing ben nd his troops, hc
wheeled in font and galioped the whole distance
rough the cross fire Of the com5atanis. while {.
ong huzza followed him. Holding the highesi
rlnk OH the field. his orders were o.eytd. eXcep.
when TOO desperate for the lravest 10 fultl-aht.
rcciving no orders himself, he conducted TIT
whole battle His frenzied manner, exciting APP
,eals and fearless daring infused new spiiiI init
he troops, and they charged after him. shoutin.
ike maumen. SO perfectly beside himself Wa
h. with excitement that he dashed up 10 all Off
-cr WHO did not lead on his men as he wished ant
opened his head with his sword. He was every
xnere present and pushed the first line of the
INV so vigorously, that It at length gave way.
l5urgoyne moving up his right wing 10 cover its
rJtrcat he hurled three regiments with such ter
,lbe impctuoSity upon it, that it also broke and
He'd While the British officers were making des-
Jcrlte efforts in other parts of the field to stay the
-eversed tide of battle, he pressed on after Bur
CORRESPONDING over the batteries, and clearing
every obstacle, til at length he forced him and his
Whole army Dack mo tilelT lump NOt ssitlSleu
With this, lie prepared 10 storm the camp also But
once behind their entertainments, the British raj
re l. and fought with the fury Of men struggling
for If. The grapcshot and balls SWEPT every
.nch of the ground, and it rained an iron tcmpes.
on the American ranks, but nothing could resist
their fiery valor. On, OH they swept III the track
of their leader carrying every thing before them
The sun had now sunk in the VI est, and nighI
was drawing its mantle over the scene Arnold,
cnraged at the obstinacy of the enemy, and resoiv-
ed TO make one more effort for complete victory,
rallied few of his bravest troops about him, and
rousing them by his enthusiastic appeals, led them
% last charge upon the camp itself. You. said
ne 10 one, was with me at Quebec, yon i'll the
wilderness, and you on Champlain-Fo.low me y
His sword was seen CHANGING like beam of light
Long their serried array-the next moment he
galloped in 'front.' and riding right calamity at
their head through the devouring fire, broke with
l clatter and crash into the very sally-port OF
the enemy, where horse and rider sunk together
10 the earth-the good steed dead and Arnold be-
Meath him, with his leg shattered to pieces, the
same leg that was broken at the storming of Que
hec.
Thus ended the fight, and the wounded hero
was borne pale and bleeding from the field of his
fame, only 10 awaken TO chagrin and disappoint-
nent. There is but little doubt, that when he vio-
atej his orders and galloped to the field, he had
made up his mind TO bury his sorrows and disap-
ointment in bloody grave Woul thath he had
succeeded. and saved himself from the curse Of
lis countrymen and the scorn of the world