The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-07-24


with great fury, but it became apparent, use a
lesslv to the Americans. if the enemy retained T
possession of the battery, manittstlv the KEY h
of the position. r
was standing at the side of Colonel Mil a
Ter, said the Major when General Brown c
rode up and inquired whether he could storm c
the battery with his regiment, while Gen
Ripley supported him with tie Younger rcci- l
ment the Tweniy-third. Milcs, amid the {
uproar and confusion, deliberately surveyed
the position, then quietly turning with infinite
coolncs, replied, = I'll hy, Sir" think | l
see him now, as drawing up his giant figure l
to its full heig he turned to his regiment. 5
drilled to the precision Of piece of mechan- !
ism; hear his deep tones 21st-aften-
ton for ir,to co'umn. Adra,re M he
hW to the storm Of The ba'tery-'lcFrgr yo'1,
J fire at the p"yt-'iq1's Of The ort7le,qmen, o"d
carry the g'u,S m The JoiW Of hc hrVonef.-
Support a'ms-doub'e q'G"l-mdrch" Ma
chincrv could not have moved with more
compactncSS than that gallant regiment fol
lowed the fearless stride Of its leader. Sup
ported bv the Twentv-tlird. the dark mass
moved up the hill like one body, the lurid
light glittering and ilickcrng on their bavo-
nets As the combined fire of the snemys ar
tillery and infantry opened mur,crously V upon
them. They tlinched not-hrv tatrrcd not
the stern voices of the officers. rs the dead
ly cannon shot cut vawmng cha>m>, Close
up steady. mrn->tra'lv." Within "A hun
dred wards of the summit vollcv sharp. in
stantaneous. as a clap Of thunder another
moment. ru>hin" under the white smoke. a
short, furious STRUGGLE with the bavonet. and
the artillery men We're swept like chaii from
their guns. Another fierce >trurge-thc
cnemv's line was forced down the side Of the
hill and the victory WAS ourS-thr position
entirely in our han'lS-their own pieces turn
ed and PLAYING upon them in their retreat
II was hougit at a cruel price. most of the
officers being either killed or wounded. The
whole tide Of battle now turned TO this point.
,fhc result of the conflict dcpcndcd entirely
upon the ability of til" -virtorious amy to
retain it Major Hindman was ordered M.
and posted his forces at the SIDE of tn, cap
turcd cannon while the American line CORES
ton. General Drnmmond concentrated his
, f.~.."o ,etoho l., Ill e-~-~ ~ha~.a ,h.
position. The interval amid the dlrkne>S
was alone filled with the roar of the caarartS
and the croanS of the wounded. He a1vanr-
cd with strong rcinforcrmrntS, out.lankiur
= each side of the American hnc.
We were only able in the nIurkv darkness
to ascertain their approach bv their heavy
tread. "'Thev halted within twenty PAGES
poured in a rapid fire, and prepared for the
rush" Directed bv the blaze our men re
turned with deadly effect and after despcr-
, ate struggle, the dense column rccoilrd. An
other interval of darkness and silence, and a
= cain most furions and desperate charcc was
made by the British. throwing the whole
weight of their attack upon the American
centre. The gallant 7rDofv-frSt. which
composed il, receiving them Will, undauntcd
trmne>S while the fire from our lines wa>
.dreadfullv effective" IIndman's artillery
served with the most perfect coolnc>> and eff
feet Staggering they again reroicl Dur
in, this second attack General Scott in per
son, his shattered brigade now consolidated
into simg'c hattalion made two determined
charges upo;. the right and left flank of III,
enemy. and in these he received the scar.
he "'''''' '''> '"'''''' ''''" INV "i'' ''' ''
" front Our men We're now almost worl
down with fatigue. diving with thirst, tol
which they could gain no relief. The British
with fresh rcintorccmcnt>. thcir men recruit
ed and rested. after the interval of anothc
hour. made their third and final effort To re
cain their position. They advanced. deliver
ed their fire as before; and, although it wa
80 returned with the same deadly effect. steadil
pressed forward. The Twentv-frst agai
ENGAGED in ''conflict, obstinate and drcarlfil
- bpyond description.' The right and left OF
-" tIe American line fell back for moment bu
were immediately rallied by their officers
$50 desperate now did the battle become tha
'oh many battalions on both sides were force
me back" :" the men engaged i'll indi>crminat
l'Il melee, fought hand to hand. and with muskct
u! dubbed: and 80 terrific was the confic
en-. .Loro .Lo c,nro, ,oro S+,,;,noJ ,bot M,;o
r9 IIindman had to engage them over his gun
an and g,ln-carriagc>. and finally to spike Nv
EN- of his pieces under the apprehension tha
MS they would fall into the hands Of the enemy.
ell 1T length a most desperate and determine
zee. charge was made upon both of the enemy
e"' fank> they wavered recoilcd, gave wa,
OF and the center soon following, they rclinGuisf
ar e,l the fight and made final retreat. Th
art annals of warfare on this Continent have ne,
ce- err shown more desperate fighting. Bavonc
ol were repeatedly crossed. and after the actio
len many of the men were found mutually tran
YES fixed. The British force engaged was abol
the five thousand men the American, thlrty-fy
the l1uJ. ,bo oo,,Ii,ad IoSs IN killed an
ne wounded, seventeen hundred and twentytw
ug- officers and men, The battle commenced
/ 1