Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-08-11
Rev SerIeS-yOi. 3-No. -.

parts, end listened with all our iaculties-
Perhaps hall an hour elapsed, when we in
agincd we heard the dead, heavy sound Of
a large body Of -lramp--lramp-
-tramp-advancing through the pitchv
darkness. A few moments passed. brisk
scattering fire, and the picquets came in in
beaniifu order, under the brave subaltern
in command. The measured Tread OF dis
cplined troops became apparent. Every
sense was stretched 10 the utmost IN eZpcc-
tancy-eyery eye endeavored 10 iaihom
the darkness in front, when, from Tow
sons battery, that toward the river, giared
u v0lley of musketrv, and in an other IN
slant the whole lire Of works hastiOn, re-
doubt and rampant, streamed forth one nv
ing sheet of f1ame-Two eighteens, where
We stand, were filed to the muZZle wlth
grape, canister and bags Of musket bullets
Imagine their havoc. The enemy came
on wits loud shouts and undaunled bravery.
Bv 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 wcrkS. Our artillery
and musketry poured on them as they ad-
yanced a continual stre&m Of fire, rolling
and gIancinc from angles ,bastions redoub's.
Repuised-lhey were reformed by their
officers, and brought again to the charge.
/ TO be again repul=ed. Atsuch times, hours
fly like minutes. 4 life appears concen.
trated 10 a moment. We had been engaged
ptrhaps thrcc-when | | card ir that has
ton Of the fort, 4 hundred feet from ne
/ above the uproar, a quick, furious struggle
/ as If of men engaged in fierce, deadly fight,
Il clashine of b4yonets. and sharp pistol
/ shots, mixed with heavy blows. and short
quick breathing, such as you NAV have
/ heard men make in violent eXertiOns-iH
cutting wood with axes. or other severe
manual labor. The confict, though fierce
was short-the assaianls we're repeied.-
Those that gained footing were bayonet-
ted. or thrown back over the parapet. In
few moments | heard again the same
fierce struggle, and again followed the like
result and slilness--if stiffness could be
said 10 exist under continual roar Of mus.
kerry and artillery. A third time it rose
sudden and desperate il ceased, and pres
emily clear loud voice rose high above
the battle from the bastion: Stop firing
in front therr;you are firing on yonr friends.
An instant cessation followed. We were
deceived. IN another moment the voice
of an officer, with startling energy, replied
AYE, aye, Wen stop; give il to them,
men give it to them r-and the firing re-
rewed, was continued with redoubIed fury.
The head of the centre columns, compos-
ed Of eight hundred picked men, led by
Lieut.. Col. Drummond in person. after three
( several assaults, had gained possession orthe
bastion, and by that ruse endeavored 10
cause cessation of the fire-a result that
might have been fatal 10 us had not the de-
ception been So soon discerned. But the
prize was Of bu, little value, as the bastion
was commanded by the interior of the works
and the men, under cover Of the walls OF
an adjoining bsrrack, poured into the gorge
that led from il continual storm of mus
kerry. The firing continued with unaba-
ted fury. he enemy, repulsed with great
loss in every attack, was unsuccessful on
every point save that bast!on, the pos
session Of which thev Still retaHed-whcn
| heard a gr0aning roll and shake of the
earth, and Instantly the bastIon, bodies Of
men, timber, guns, earth and stones were
blown up in the air like volcano, ma
king every thing in the glare as clear as
at MONDAY. descending timber DASH
ed one Of my arrIlerymen 10 pieces with
in foot of nv shoulder. Profound dark
ness and silence followed. Naught but
the groans of the wounded and dying were
heard. As if BY mutual consent the firing
ceased, and the enemy withdrew, repulsed
on every side, save from the parapet which
they purchased for their grave. large
quantity Of fixed ammunition had been pla-
ced in the lower part, and stray wad fall
ing upon il, had blown them all up togeth-
er. My duty required that should I'M
mediaelv repair the bastion and most hor-
rble was the sIght-bodics burnt anC mu.
tilated, come oC them still pulsaling with
life, among them Lieut.. Col. Drummond,
the leader Of the attack. There he lay ia
the morning light, stark and stiff, extended
on the rampart,a "a ball having passed through
his breast. History mourns that his cour-
age assumed the character of fetocity.-
His war cry Of NO quarter to the damn
ed Yankees his own death warrant, was
long remembered agaiGSI his caun.rymen.
The enemy did not resume the attack, but
retiring to their cnrrcnched camp. strength
ened their works and prepared to make Their
approach by regular advances.
NoToUTETY.-There is nothing like no.
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