The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-08-08
NJ I CE IL "A n z 0 . S
THE BATTLE OF DUNBAR.
by J. T. HEADLBY.

The spot on which OllVef CromWeh
drew up his little army, was small mar
row tongue Of land, running out INTO the
Firth or Forth; high ard bleak where II
ioined the main land and overlooking on
either side the restless ocean. The town
of Dunbar was behind him; single man
sion, Brocksmouth house, faced his eX-
treme left; else there was not single
covering on the desolate expansion, save
one hut, into which the cannons were car
ried. TO shelter them from the rain which
fell in torrents.
On this bleak and narrow peninsula,
only mile at its base, behold the white
tents of Cromwelfs army. In front OF
him, Iandward, is desolate, unsurpassa-
BILE moor, with low ridge of hills be-
yond, on which stands the Scotch army,
twentv-three thousand strong. At the
base of these runs small sireamlet, iorty
feet wide and almost as many deep; lur-
nishing only two passes over which troops
can march. CromwelPs ships are IN the
offing, his now last resource; the lion Is at
length caught, and the prey deemed secure
On the I'd of September, Oliver looks
forth upon the desolate heath, on which
his army is drawn up i'll order of battle,
Il
hind him is the sea, swept By strong
wind; and before him blocking him from
shore TO shore, chosen army, outnum-
bering his own, two TO one. The white
tents that are sprinkled over this low Pc
ninsula, rock TO and fro III the storm OF
sleet and hail; and darkness and gloom
hang over the Puritan host. This strip
of land is all that he had left in Scotland,
while powerful army stands ready to
sweep him into the sea. But II is IN CIR
cumstances like these that his character
shines forth with the greatest splendor.
Though his overthrow seems certain, he
exhibits no Encouragement or fear, ior
she was strong man IN the dark perllS
of war; in the high places of the field hope
shone in him like pillar of fire, when 1t
had gone out i'll all others" AT four O.
clock that evening as he was watching the
cnemy's movements through his glass, he
saw that the Scotch commander was
bringing down the whole army from the
hill TO the brook at its base 10 be ready
next day 10 commence the assault. In this
movement his quick eye detected an err
ror, which like Bonaparte, he determined
TO avail himself of.
Leslie, in executing this manGuvre, had
hacked his main body into narrow space,
where it could not easily deplOy: while
tbe entire right wing stretched into the
plain. Cromwell saw that if he could
rout this wing, and roll ii back in disorder
on the unwieldy mass, before 1t could
draw up in battle order in the open
Ground. victory would be sure. That
niobt. therefore, his twelve thousand men
nnthInu
white about them TO show conspicuous III
the dusky twilight, and with orders as
soon as the morning dawned, to iall on
the enemy. All night long the drenched
army stood, without tent TO cover them III
the cold storm; while the moan OF the sea
as it rolled heavily on the beach, seemed
chanting Il requiem beforehand, for the
dead that should cucumber the field. But
amid the shrek Of the blast, and the stca-
DIV roll of the waves, the voice OF prayer
was heard along the lines; and many
brave heart, that before night, should beat
no more, poured forth lis earnest suppl
cations to the God of Battles.
Toward morning the clouds broke
awav, and the moon shone dimly down
on the silent host. Cromwell. who had
been intently watching the cncmy's mo-
tions, now saw column moving down
the South pass; and lifting up his arm,
exclaimed, 'fhe Lord has delivered them
into our handsv' The trumpet then sound
ed the charge-the artillery opened their
fire, while louder than all rang the shouts.
" The Lord of Hosts! The Lord of
Hosts!'' and infantry and cavalry poured
in one wild torrent together on the one-
my. The first division of the foot recoileG,
when Cromwell ordering up his own re-
giment, with levelled pike, pressed sternly
forward amid the carnage, bearing down
all opposition At that moment the cavalry
came laundering on; the Scotch paused IN
terror, the next moment the Gathering
tempest came upon them. Over ;he brook
and over the hostile ranks they went,
tramping down the steady battalions like
grass beneath their feet, and bearing three
thousand souls TO the next world IN their
fierce passage. In the midst of this terri
bic charge, on which Cromwell's eye res
ted with the deepest anxiety, the sun rose
over the naked hills, and struggled through
the mist that was gently moving away
from the battle field, sending his level
beams athwart the comminglod host.