The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-07-26
MISCELLANY.
The Night Attack On Fort Erie.

The Night Attack On Fort Erie.
The brief obituary notices Of the late
General Gaines, that have appeared in the
newspapers, all speak of his defence at Fort
Erie, as one of the most gallant acts IN his
career. The following description of the
achievement is taken from MIR. StilIman's
clever little volume, GA Gallop among
American scenery" published some five or
six years ago:
Here" said the Major, ''we had thrown
up our lines, making the defence as strong
as practicable. The British had also erect
ed formidable works about a half mile in
front, (the forest intervening) composed of
large stone battery on their left, and two
strong redoubts, from which they kept up
an incessant discharge Of shot and shell for
several successive days, which was returned
by US with equal yigor. 1t length shelf
from their batteries blew up one Of our
small magazines, but with trltling injury to
the rest of our defences. They were elated
with their success, and Gen. Gaines receiv-
ed secret infora.atio Jon that they intended to
carry the works by storm on the following
night. That night" said the Ma or, 81
shall not soon forget. 1t set in intensely
dark and cloudy, extremely favorable to the
design of the enemy. Everything WAS pat
in the fullest state of preparation 10 receive
them =, The men, enthusiastically awaiting
the attack, were ordered to lie on their arms.
Extending along the line, and mauning the
fort aud bastion, our li,ie army in pesiect
silence awaited their coming.
ssThe forest had been cleared about three
hundred yards in front Of our works--be-
You'd that were, Is you see, the woods. As
the night wore on, we listened with earnest
ness to every sound. A little after mid
night we heard on the dry leaves the steallhy
sound of footsteps. We lstened--they
came nearer. A short sharp challenger
s'WhO goes therc?" issued from the farther
redoubt-the footstep ceased, As if irresoute
to advance or recede, and all was still. An
other quick challenged rattle Of the mus
ket as it fell into the hollow of the hand
followed the reply: "Picquet guard forced
in by the enemy's advance" "Back, guard !!
back to your post instantly, or we vii! fire
upon you," said the stern voice of our COM
manding officer. The footsteps of the stray
glers slowly receded, anal entire stiffness
again Obtuned. 1t was profound as the
darkness, not even the hum of an insect
rose upon the ear. We laid our heads upon
the ramparts, and listened with all our fac
ulties. Perhaps half an hour elapsed, when
we imagined we heard The dead heavy
sound Of a large body of men-tramp--
tramp - tramp advancing through the
pitchy darkness. Il few moments passed
a brisk, scattering fire, aud the pcquet came
in in beautiful order, under the brave sub.
altern in command. The measured tread
Of disciplined troops became apparent.-
Every sense was stretched to the utmost in
expee,ancy-every eye endeavored to faith
ON the darkness in front, when, from Tow
sons battery, Chat towards the river) CLAN
ced a voliey of musketry, and in another
instant the whole line Of works, bastion,
redoa6t, and rampant, streamed forth one
living sheet of flame. Two eighteens,
mounted where we stand, were filed 10 the
muzzle with grape, canister, and musket
bails--imagine their havoc.
"The enemy came on with loud shouts
and undoubted bravery. BY the continued
glare of our discharges we could see dense,
dark masses of men moving in columns to
three separate points Of attack upon our
works. Our artillery and musketry poured
on them as they advanced, Il continual
stream of fire, rolling and giancing from an
giles, bastions and redouhts Repulsed-
they were reformed by their officers, aud
brought again to the charge, to be again re-
pulsed. At such times hours fly like min
utes. A life appears concentrated TO a mo-
ment. We had been engaged perhaps an
hour-perhaps three-wheu heard III that
bastion Of the fort, hundred feet from me,
above the uproar, quick, furious struggle.
as if of men engaged in fierce, dead fight; a
csashing of bayonets and sharp pistol shots
mixed with heavy blows, and short, quick
breathing, such as you may have heard mer
make in violent exerton--In cutting wood
with axes, or other severe manual labor
The conflict, though fierce, was shot-the
assailants We're repealed. Those that gain
ed q footing were bayonetted, or thrown
back over the parapet. In few moment:
heard again the same fierce struggle, an,
again followed the like result and stillnes
IF Stiffness could be said to exist undei
continual roar of Inusketry and artillery
A third time il rose, sudden and desperate
il ceased, and presently clear, loud voice
rose high above the battle from the bastion
''Stop firing in front, there, you are firing OF
yosr friends" An instant cessation follow
ed.v We were deceived. In another mo
ment the voice Of aa officer with stertlin.