Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-01-06

the two columns beaded by their
'oriorn hopes, came In sight Of the fortress
hong whose dark ramparts the sentinel was
AMY trcsding his accustomed round, while
he deep ANS well - fell family on the
listening car. Grim and still the huge rock
oomcd up against the sky, noon to shake
with its own thunder, aud stand blazing
volcano in the midnight heavens Noiscless
and swift the patriots kept on their way,
when 10 ~ they came " tue marsh, they
saw only n smooth sheet Of water the tide
was flooding the whole ground. The brave
fellows paused . moment As this new and
upcx pccted obstacle crossed their PATH but
nj the Stern forward Of their leaders, they
boldly plunged in. and without drum or
buglc note 10 cheer their steady courage
moved in dead silence straight on the pail
sadcs. The noise had now alarmed the
scntinels, and the rapid discharge Of their
nuskets through the gloom, was followed by
lights. moving swiftly about tho ramparts,
and hurried shouts Of 40 arms To
arms p aud the fierce roll Of drums, rous-
ing up the garrison from its dream of secur-
ity. The next moment, that dark rock was
one mass Of fame, as the artillery and mus
kerry opened along its sides, shedding lu'
nd light on the couutcnances Of the men be
low, and advance, Advance y rung 10
startling accents along the ranks
The rsmpars wore alive with soldiers, and
amid shout aud buried words of command,
the fiery torrent from the summit kept roll
ling on those devoted men. The water a.
round them was driven into spray by the
grape shot and balls that fell in an ince.sant
shower, whilo the Kissing, bursting shells,
traversing tho air in every directian, added
uncomfortable terror to the soene. Yet
those forlorn hopes toilcd vigorously on aud
heaved away at the abattis to open gap
for the columns, that without returning a
shot. stood and crumbled under the fire,
whiting with fixed bayoncts to rush to the
assault. At the head of one of these was
Wayne, chatting like lion in the tolls. at
the obstacles that arrested his progress. -
The forlorn 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 ar
tillcry that shook the midnight air, while
one after another dropped dead in his foot
steps. till out OF the twenty that started on
ly three stood up unframed. Yet still their
axes fell steadily and strong. until an open
Ing was made through which the columns
could pass, and then the shout of Wayne
was heard above the din and tumult,
summoning his followers on. With fixed
bayouet, they marched stcrnly through the
portals made at such noble sacrifice, aud
pressed furiously forward Through the
morass--over every obstaolo-up to the
mouths Of the cannon, and the rocky acclv-
ity, they stormed OH, crushing every thing
in their passage Towering at the head o
Of his shattered column, pointing still on
ward and upward with his ghtteriug blade
and sending his thrilling shout back owe
his followers, Wayne strobe steadily up th,
height till at length struck in the head b,
muskct ball, he fell back amid the ranks
Instantly rising on one knee he cried out
March onl Garry me to the fort for
will die at the head of my column :" An
these heroes put their brave arms aroun
him aud bore him onward, Not shot wa
fired, but taking the rapid yollcys oil thei
unshrinking breasts their bayonets glitter
ing in the flash of the cnemy's guns, the
kept on over the living and dead, smith
down the yetran ranks that threw thcmsely.
in vain valor before them, till they reache
the centre of the fort. where they met tn
othor column, which over the same Ubfta
cles, had achieved the same triumph. \
the sight of each other, one loud shout shool
the heights and rolled down the blcedin
line was again sent back. till the heaven
rung with the wild hurzas, and then the fla
of freedom went up and Haunted proudly a
way on the midnight air. The thick vo
unes Of smoke that lay around that roc
slowly lifted and rolled up the Hudson, Il
stars appeared once more in the sky, an
: all was over. The lordly river went swce
ing by as it had done during the dead
strife that cast such baleiul light upon /
bosom. and darkness aud dcathlike sileI
u shrouded the shores. Mourufully aud sic
those forlorn hopes and their brave compa
. ions who had fallen in the assault were brC
up from their CORY beds and conveyed
: tue grave"
c Wayne wound proved not to be severe
= the ball having only grazcd the skull
, two inches, and he lived TO wear the la
y rels a grateful nation placed on bis brow
Tue country rung with bis name, aud Co
ie eress presented him with gold medal
is The whole plan Of he assault was most II
"a fully laid. and the bearing Of WAync thr,
K out gallant in tho extreme. He troc
a were worthy such leader, and more gall.
he officers never led men into battle tn
humanity was equal 10 their bravery;
is notwithstanding the barbarou1 masacI
10 prepetrated by the English, they did I
D. kin single man after he asked for quart
,s sLieut Gibbous commanded one Of The fori
, hopri Ald kno1 the other.
tN
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