Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-07-25
EFo,n t4e ~ Y. Commercial Adreri,ser.
THE NIGHT ATTACK ON FORT
ERIE.

The brief obituary notices Of the late
Gen Gaines, that have appeared IN the
newspapers, all speak Of his defence OF Fort
Erie as ono Of bis most gallant acts IN his
long career The following spirited de-
scription Of the achievement Is taken from /
Mr. Snliman's clever little volume, A Gall /
Top among American Scenery published
some Eve or six years ago,
Here" said tho major, we have thrown
up our lines, making the defence as strong
as practicable. The British had also c.
rected formidable works about half a mile in
front the forest interyenng,) composed OF
a large stone battery on their left, and two
strong redoubts, from which they kept an
luccssaut discharge Of shot aud shells for
several successive days, which was returned
by US with equal vigor. At length she'll
from their batteries blew up one Of our small
magazines but with trinng injury TO the
rest Of our dcfcncos. They were elevated
with their successes and Gen Gaines re-
ccIyed secret information that they intended
to carry tho works by storm ON the follow
ing night. That night said the major !
shall not soon forget 1t set in intensely
dark and cloudy, extremely favorable to the
design Of the enemy Every thing was
put into the fullest state Of preparation to
receive them The men enthusiastically n
waiting the attack, were ordered to lio on
their arms Extending along the lines
and manning the Fort and baston our little
army, in perfect silence. awaiting their com
ing
The forest had been cleared about three
hundred yards in front of our works-beyond
that were, as you sec, the woods. AS the
night wore on, VIC listened with carncstnoss
TO every sound A little after midnight We
heard on the dry leaves the stcalthy sound
Of footsteps We listened aud they came
nearer. A short, sharp challenge WHO
goes there ~ issued from the farther re-
doubt. The footsteps ceased as il irreso,
Lutte to advance or reccdc, and all was still
Another quick challcngo--a rattle of the
muskct as it fell into the hollow Of the hand
followed the reply: 'Picquet guard fore
ed in by the cncmy's advance" Back,
guard back to your posts instantly or we
will fire upon YOU" said the stern voice Of
our commanding officer The footsteps Of
stragplcrs slowly reccde, and entire stiffness
% -..t T. -. =, 49,, c,,,,,J os a.,
again oota''c'' ~ was 10 Pto'oG''u - ~,
darkness no. orU,' ','G 5''"i y. az 80, a.
upon 'n' car '1.u o"' m0'a' o' ~,
r RAJ" 10, anu "S' e"'" W. 81 VI
agined We heard the dead, heavy sound o
large body of men tramp tramp
; tramp advancing through the pitchy dark
II ness A few moments passed. brisk
s01''o'l"s ~ ""' Wv
d o0'u'''u' " ''0' ~, ~ ,..I ~ a.
e ~ Co'''' I -" ,',o''r' ~ ,,esO Eu 49,,
b. ''P'''C' "ooTs "PI1'o
N Sc"So was s''''0N0u ~ guy ~. ~
= ancy-oVe'y eye ',u'' c'''u d, w '''"U"' VI
lt darkness ~ i'o"I' " '''" "'' w. 'l'''
r. tC'y 'I0I 'o""',' W., ~ 49,. -i
~ VI ''u,No'I anu -, 49,.
10 ""o VI "ocNa ''s''''', 49,. 50 f.u
l- ~ ., ,''"'''eu ~ VI '.'. 49,, o sta,.
,y WV -;.L - o.,
"e,o N.'o9 ~ '"I ,,1 ~, L,lio,s maj,
MISTER "Hu o"EI VI - ''.le 80, ..;,I f.
'u1'' navy a.. -
s"ou's '," U''N' -.
coh'inueu gar VI ou' ''o.'.'''
see ucuso' '''A 'i''''01 W
= coluus 70 'uIco IPuIa'I 80 ID
SO upon our "or"S ou' Al ','''. M n,'" ,' ao
rs ry poured on 'ueHi d nv? 'u'u,' S }.n ~
VI HnuaI stream .. hIc, ,o' I gj d"J r.
OF from angles UAs''o"S Slu '9I'uo'9 -
at PuIsed--'ncy To'o c.', ''. ~ y .-or "
ly GERS and prouso' ag',n 10 , Inc Ca Nam.
in again rePu'cu ~ a. auvn '.''e@ -, r,,r,
e. IKE minutes 1r I'o 80 e so,..a,,' -,
&c, 70 moment " n11 - , 80 nj,
he maps an Iour- perhaps t ~, bnaJro5 ' f.
~. IN 'ha' "Ast'ou 81 81 ',V .o.. - l - C,ri'
mt from me "Ooro 'uo "a, - ~ 60 ia
nc s"usS'' a. II " M S-'H'e' .,,l r.,
M nE''' ensuing ~ NJ .nI III,
lis 'ol Sn'I'' "lAeu VIZ" I'". '-S" 49, \,
~. quick breathing SUI" -; ~ -,
~ hearu men 'naAc !" l'''"' - ~ '', -.
''', cutting Woou WIN ,t AA's5 " Isue'
W." manual 'aooI' Inc ','"'.' ''o'e'
oe was sho!tf inc aSs'', ,. WV ~ ~,