The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-09-11

PauhJ 0S duOTQS an eXtrem
proof OF the conqneror's military skill
and would fairly, did it even stan
alone, hand down his name as a re
; markable one in the annals of warfare
SECOND BATTLE OF THE CATARACT. OR O
LUNDY's LANE.
On the 7th July Browns armv Scott
brigade leading) forced the passage q
the Chippewa, Riall retreating upo,
Forts George and Messasauga below
alter reinforcing which he took refug,
win ms remaining force on Burlinoto.
Heights, there to await succors. Befor
attacking him there, Gen. Brown hel,
1t advisable to take the fortified place
boiosv hIlu OH tue Insninsnia Ger. like
Scott afterwards, he did not admire
marching when he was to have " fire
in his rear" But these British works
were now such as feId-artillery coulc
not hurt; a battering-train was neces
sary; and this must be brought up from
Sackett's Harbor by our fleet. 1t was
accordingly waited for; but meantime
Chauncey had fallen sick, and we tenn
porarily lost the command ofthe Lake
so that the heavy guns could not come.
Upon this Brown determined 10 leave
the tortresses behind him and attack
Rail upon Burlington Heights. But
first he endeayored to draw him down
from them by feigned retreat up the
Niagara and across the Chippewa, be-
yond which he encamped The strata
gem succeeded, but not until We sud
denly met the enemy was its success
known: On the afternoon of the 25th
.(Sunday) positive but false advice was
received from a commandant on the
American side of the Niagara, that
Rail had thrown across at Lewiston
corps OF one thousand men. Brown at
once decided to compel their return, by
threatening their rear and the forts
below. For this purpose, Scott's brig
ade, now about 1900 men, was dis
patched down the river, at twenty
minutes notice. Within Two miles it
suddenly came upon a reconnoilering
party Of the enemy. A considerable
body was speedily ascertained to be
beyond the wood, lat Forsythe's house.
Just above the Falls,) which we were
then approaching. 1t seemed certain
that they could at most be only the
other half OF Riall;s force, and that his
was merely meant to protect
the rear of the body he had sent across
the Niagara. Pausing, therefore, only
long enough to report the fact by an
ald-de-campt to Gen. Brown, Scott push
ed right on. He had no sooner passed
the Wood than he found himself IN the
under the severe fire
Of force full five hundred stronger
than hrs own, and more advantageously
posted. For they had chosen their |
position, aud stood on it ready drawn |
up In order of battle, occupying with |
.belr artillery mine pieces) an elevation |
which commanded the whole ground.
The British line lay stretched along
.unday's Lane, a little beyond lnorth
IF it: It's right, near which were its
lrilllery: reaching to a wood; It's left
estlng on the road parallel with the
liver, by which Scott was approaching.
md from which diverged at right
lngles the lane. From their rear were
matching TO Join them, up this same
iver road, endorsements, while ours
we're tocouie along it from above. We
iced, hardly say that this was RIAL,
nd that instead, of having according
. the positive information Brown was
citing onl sent off one thousand of his
1en across the river, he had not sent
ne; but, on the contrary, was in the
CT Of uniting with large force which
ad arrived by the Lake at Fort George
'om Kingston and Prescott, the night
efore, by a concerted movement,
nder Lieutenant-General Sir Gordon
Strange 10 tell, informa- ,
on had been sent to Brown of move j,
lent OF the enemy, as occurring only
few hours before, which had not hap I
ened at all. while they had left him {
/ complete Ignorance Of this most i'm ;
ortant event in the same quarter, t
the night before! Such t
as the situation in which, at a glance, S
colt saw himself TO be placed if he {
ught, 1t must be at disadvantages; |
nd it was too late to draw off, except +
Y a retreat which could hardly help a
sing presently turned into a flight. a
ow, flight was thing he had never a
ZEN, and was not born to see. So he1 Y
,cided Instantly TO engage, as if Gen.
rown's whole force was present, and
fight it out, at whatever odds, until
e latter could come TO his assistance;
which end he sent him, by second Q
d-de-camp, an account of the whole Il
ate of things. a
1t was now nearly sunset. Scott had h
en- that on the enemy's left flank lay "
space of some two hundred yards, e
vered with brushwood, under con- Ii
alment Of which that flank might be n
rned. He instantly took advantage b
il, and sent upon theservice Jesup's s.
ttalion. They performed the duty u
ely; for they not only turned but h
oke their way back through the b
emy's left wing, and, after thus cut j
g II of, returned to their own place al
our line, bringing with them Major th
'neral Rail and some other British m
lcers as prisoners. While we thus til
moiished their left wing, they at ell
npted to return us the compliment G
en- ours, which their right considera- "