Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-07-28

they advanced continual stream of fire, rolling
and glancng from angles, bnstions and redoubts.
Repulsed-they were reformed by their officers,
and brought again TO the charge. to be again re.
pulsed. AT such times, hours fly like minutes.
"A life appears concentrated TO moment. We
nag been engaged perhaps an hour-perhaps three
when heard in that bastion of the fort, q hun.
dred feet from me, above the uproar, q quick,
furious struggle, es if of men engaged in fierce
dead hight; clashing of bayonets and sharp pistol
shots, mixed with heavy blows, and short, quick
breathing, such as you may have heard men make
In violent exertion-in cutting wood with axes,
or other severe manual abor. The conflict, though
fierce, short-the assailants were repolled.
Those that gained footing were bayonetied. or
thrown back over the parapet. In a few moments
heard again the same fierce struggle, and again
followed the like result and stillness-if stillnes
could be said to exist under continual roar of mus
kerry and artillery. A third time it rose, sudden
and desperate; it ceased. and presently a cloar,
loud voice rose high above the battle from the bas
tion "Stop firing in front there, you firing on
your friends" An instant cessation followed
We were deceived. In another moment the voice
OF an ohcer, with startling energy, replied "Aye,
aye, we'll stop; give it them, men, give it them -
and the firing, renewed was continued with re-
doubled fury. The head Of the centre column,
composed of eight hundred picked men. led by 1t.
Col. Drummond in person, after three several as
6y that ruse endeavored 10 cessation of the
hre-a result that might have been fatal to us had
not the deception been so soon dscerned. But The
prize was of but little value, as the basiion was
commanded by the interior OF the works, and the
men, under cover of the walls Of adjoining bar
rack, poured into the gorge that led from it con-
tinua storm of musketry. The firing continued
with unabated fury. The enemy, repulsed with
great loss in every attack, was unsuccessful on
every point save that baston, the possession of
which they still retained-when heard a groaning
roll and shake Of the earth, and instantly the bas-
lion, bodies Of men, TIMBER guns earth, and stones,
were blown up in the air like Volcano making
every thing in the glare clear as noon day. A
descending timber dashed one of my artillerymen
TO pieces within foot of my shoulder. Profound
darkness and silence followed. Naught but the
groans ofthe wounded and dying were heard. As
If by mutual consent the fighting ceased, and the
enemy withdrew, repulsed on every side, save
from the parapet which they purchased for their
grave. A large quantity Of fixed ammunition had
been placed In the lower part, and a stray wad
falling upon it, had b,own them all up together.
My duty required that should Immediately repair
the baston, and most horrible was the sight--bo-
dies burnt and mutIated, some of them Still, pul.
s1ting with life, among them Lieut.. Col. Drum
mond, the leader of the attack. There he lay in
the morning light, stark and stiff, extended ON the
rampant, ball having passed through his breast.
History mourns that his courage assumed the
character Of ferocitv. His war-cry of "No quar-.
ter to the damned Yankees" his own death war
rant, was long remembered against his country
men. The enemy did not resume the attack but
retiring to their entrenched camp, strengthened
their works and prepared to make their approach
by regular advances.