The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-07-25

still the battle continued. The heat was ex-
cessive ;but casting aside their coats, the men
breathed themselves minute, and returned
to the fight. The city was now hidden from
view, by low banks of smoke, which extend
ing right and left along The water, bounded the
horizon on two sides Yet the defenders of
the fort still thought of the thousands anxious
ly watching them from Charleston. or Of the
wives and mothers, trembling at every explo-
sion for the lives of those they loved. One of
their number soon fell MORALLY wounded
Gasping and in agony, he was carried by
DO not give up" he had still strength to say;
"you are fighting for liberty and country
Who that heard these words could think of
surrender?
Noon came and went, yet still the awful
struggle continued. Suddenly shot struck
the flagstaff, and the banner, which had wav
ed in that lurid atmosphere all day, fell on the
beach outside the fort. For moment there
was pause, as if at presage of disaster
Then a grenadier, the brave and immortal
SERGEANT Jasper, sprang upon the parapet,
leaped down to the beach, and passing along
nearly the whole front of the fort, exposed TO
the full fire of the enemy, deliberately cut off
the bunting from the shattered mast, called
for sponge staff to be thrown to him, and ty
ing the flag to this, clambered up the ramparts
and replaced the banner, amid the cheers Of
his companions. Far away, in the city, there
those who saw, through their telescopes, the
fall of that flag ; and, as the news went around.
a chill of horror froze every heart, for it was
thought the place had surrendered. But soon
a slight staff was seen uplifted at one of the
angles it bore, clinging to it, something like
bunting: the breeze struck it, the bundle I'M
rolled, it was the flag of Americal Hope
danced again through every heart. Some
burst into tears; some laughed historically /;
some gave way to outcries and huzzas of de-
light As the hours wore on, however, new
causes for apprehension arose. The fire Of
the fort was perceived to slacken. Could it
be that its brave defenders, after such a glori
Gus struggle, had at last given in? Again
hope yielded to doubt, almost to despair; the
feeling was the more terrible from the late ex-
hilaration. Already, in fancy, the enemy was
seen approaching the city. Wives began
trembling for their husbands, who had render
ed themselves conspicuous on the patriotic
side: mothers clasped their infants, whose sires,
they thought, had persisted in the fight, and, in
silent agony, prayed God to protect the faith
erless Thus passed an hour of the widest
anxiety and alarm. At last intelligence was
brought that the fire had slackened only for
want of powder that supply had since been
secured; and that the cannonade would soon
be resumed. In short time these predictions
were verified, and the air again shook with
distant conclusions. Thus the afternoon pass
ed. Sunset approached, yet the fight ragged.
Slowly the great luminary of day sank in the
west, and twilight, cold and calm, threw its
shadows across the waters vet still the fight
ragged. The stars came out, twinkling sharp
and clear, in that half tropical sky: yet still
the fight ragged. The hum of the day had
now subsidized, and the cicada was heard trill-
ing its note on the night-air, ali was quiet
and serene in the city yet still the fight ragged
The dull, heavy reports of the distant artil-
lery doomed louder across the water, and the
dark curtain of smoke that nearly concealed
the ships and fort, grew luminous with inces-
SAINT flashes. The fight still ragged. AT last
frequency of discharges percepibly lessened,
and gradually, toward ten o'clock, ceased al
together. The ships of the enemy were how
seen moving from their position, and making
their way slowly, as if crippled and weary, out
of the harbor and, at that sight, most Of the
population, losing their anxiety, returned TO
their dwellings though crowds still lined some
of the wharves, waiting for authentic messen-
gers from the fight, and peering into the gath
ering gloom, to detect the approach Of the first
boat.
The loss of the enemy had been excessive.
The ag-ship, the Bristol. had forty-four men
killed, and thirty wounded: the Experiment,
another fifty gun ship,fty seven killed, and
thirty wounded. All the ships were much
cut up: the two-deckers terribly so; and one
of the frigates, the Action, running aground,
was burnt The last shot fired from the fort
entered the cabin of Sir Peter Parkers ship,
cut down two young officers who were drink
ing there, and passing forward, killed three
sailors on the main-deck, then passed out and
buried itself in the sea- The loss on the A
merican side was irconsiderable twelve killed.
and about twenty-five wounded. During the
battle, the earnest zeal of the men was occa-
sonally relieved by moments OF merriment.-
A coat, having been thrown on the top OF one
of the merions, was caught by a shot, and
lodged in tree, at which sight general peal
of laughter was heard. Moultrie sat coolly
smoking his pipe during the conflict, occasion
ally taking it from his mouth to issue an order.
Once, while the battle was in progress, Gener-
al Lee came off to the island, but, finding ev-
cry thing so prosperous, soon returned to his
camp. The supply of powder which was OBJ
/ l'ilileu uurlhS thc pdA[e, an "iNH N'AN
the patriots to resume the fight, was procured
part from a schooner in the harbor, part from
| the city. Unbounded enthusiasm, on the side
of the inhabitants, hailed the gallant defend
ers of the fort after the victory Moultrie re-
ceived the thanks of Congress, was elevated
to the rank of brigadier-general, and was hon
ored by having the post he had defended call
ed after his name. A stand of colors was pre-
scented by Mrs. Elliot, to the men of his regi-
ment, with the belief, she said, that they
would stand by them, as long as they could
wave in the air of liberty 1t was in guard
ing these colors, and perhaps in the recollec
ton of her words, that the brave SERGEANT Jas
per lost his life, subsequently, at the siege o.
Savannah.
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IJc- NRIIEs-SOcIFTY-A meeting o