The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-09-02
[From Hoadlcy's Life ofCromwell. ]
BATTLE OF DUNBAR.

The spot on which Oliver drew up his lit
tie army, was Il small, narrow tongue ofland
running out into the Firth Of Forh--high
aud bleak near where il joined the main land,
and overlooking, on either side, the restless
ocean. The town of Dunbar was behind
him--a single mansion, Brocksmouth House,
faced his extreme lcit,-else there was not
covering Oh the desoate eXpanse, save one,
but, into which cannon were carried TO shell
ter them from the rain which fell in torrents.
On this bleak and narrow peninsula, only
II mile and half wide at its base, behold the
white tents of CrOmwel's army In front of
him, landward,i is desolatc ,uupassable moor,
with low ridge of hills beyond on which
stands the Scotch army, twenty-three thou
sand strong. At the base of these runs
small streamlet, forty feet wide and almost
as many deep; furnishing only two passes ov-
or which troops can march. CromwelFs
ships are in the otI'ng, his now last remain
ing resource, the lion is at length caught, and
the prey deemed secure.
On the second of September, Oliver looks
forth from the desolate heath, on which his
army is drawn up in order of battle; and 10 |!
what sight meets his gaze. Behind him is
the sea swept by II strong wind; and before
him, blocking bin in from shore TO shore, Il
chosen army outnumbering his own two TO
one. The white tents, that are sprnkled ov-
or this low peninsula. rock to and fro in the
storm of sleet and hail: and darkness aud
gloom hang over the Puritan host. This strip
OF land is all that he has left in Scotland,
while powerful army stands ready 10 sweep
him into the sea. But it is in circumstances
like these that his character shines forth with
greatest splcndor. Though his overthrow
seems certain. he exhibits no discouragemeut
or fear, for, che iraS 4 strong man IN The dark
perts Of ,ray; in The high places PRIZE .feia, hope
Shone in him like piiT Of fire. trhen IL had
gone out in all Others"
Al O'Clock that cvening,as he was watch
ing the cncmy's movements through his glass
he saw that the Scotch commander was
bringing down the whole army from the hill
TO the brook at its base. to be ready the next
day to commence the assault. In this move
mcnt his quicl, eye detected an error which,
like Eonaparte, he determined to avail him
self Of
Lcsly, in executing his mau0uvre, had
packed his body into marrow space, where
ii could not easily dcploy; while the entire
right wing stretched into the plain. CronI-
we'll saw that if lie could rout this wing,
aud roll it back in disorder on tho um-
wieldly mass before it could draw up in Or
der of battle in the open ground, victory would
be sire. That night therefore, his twelve
thousand men were placed in battle array,
spicuously in the dusky twilight, and with or
ders. us soon as the morning dawned to fall
on the enemy. All night long, the drenched
army stood, without tent to cover them, i'll
the cold storm; while the moan of the sea, ms
it rolled heavily on the beach, seemed Chant
ing Il requiem before hand, for the dead that
should cumber tho ticld-But, amid the
shrek ofthe blast, and the steady roar OF the
waves, the voice of prayer was heard along
81, L VI,nN
fore another night should beat no norC,pour
ed forth its earnest suppiications TO the God
Of battles.
Towards morning the clouds broke away,
and the moon shoue dinlly down upon the
silent host. Cronwel,w who had been intcut-
ly watching tEe ememy's motions, ROW saw n
column moving down the southern pass; and
lifting up his arm, exclaimed, "The Lord
hath deliver ed them into our hands," The
trumpets then sounded the charge--the ar
tl!ery opened their fire while louder than all
rang the shouts-"IHe Lord Of Hosts the
Lord Of H0SiSr' an infantry and cavalry pour
ed in one wild torrent together on the enemy.
The first division oftbe foot rccoiled when
Cromwell ordered up his own regiment, which
with level!Cd pixies, pressed sternly forward
amid the carnage, bearing down all opposi-
ton. At that moment, the cavalry came
laundering on; the Scotch paused in terror;
the next moment the Gathering tempest was
upon them. Over the brook aud over the
hostile ranks they went, tramplng down the
steady buttaons like grass beneath their feet
and bearing three thousand souls to the next
world, in their fierce passage. In the midst
Of this terrible charge, on which CromweIfs
eye rested with the deepest anxiety, the sun
rose over the naked hills, and, struggling
through the mist that was gently moving IL
way from the battlefield, sent his level beams
athwart the commingled hosts.
So did the sun rise on Napoleon at Roro-
dino, as he stood and surveyed the field on
which two hundred and sixty thousand men
were moving TO battle, and The sublime GX-
preston burst from his lips, "Bchuld the Sun
of Austeri!tz!" But Cromwell, carried away
by higher sentiment than glory, gave vent
to his emotions IN suhlimcr language. AS the
blazing tire-hall rolled slowly into view and
poured its light over the scene, lie burst, forth
let GoD ARISE, and let has enemies be scatter
ed" Ay, and they were scattered. The
right wing broken and disordercd, was rolled
in confused mass upon the main body of
the army; and the panic spreading, these
twenty thousand men became Il cloud of flu
gitives, sweeping hilher and thlher over the
field. At the base of Doom Hill, on which
the enemy had been encanpcd, Cromwell
ordered general halt; and while the horse
could be rallied FOR the chase, babe the army
sing the hundred and sevcnteeth Psalm at
the foot OF Doom Hill; there we uplift it TO the
tune of Bangor, or some still higher score,
and roll it strong and great against the sky"
AS the mighty anthem died away on the field
the shout ofbattle was again heard; and the
fierce cavalry drove amid the broken ranks,
riding down the fugitives and sabring them
without mercy, till the ground was covered
with the dead,
Three thousand were slain and ten thou