New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-07-22
BATTLE OF LUNDY's LANE.

Far different music has resounded through
these continuous woods than the wild birds
carol, the hum of insects, and the waving OF the
| breeze that now so gently greets our ear. Al
yonder white house, said the Major, as General
Scott making a forward movement with his bri-
gade in the afternoon of the 25th of July, 1914
came in view Of it, we saw the court yard filled
with British officers, their horses held by order
lies and servants in attendance. AS soon as we
became visible to them, their bugles sounded to
saddle, and in few moments they were mounted,
and disappeared through the woods at full gal
terent parts Of the forest. All vanished as if
swallowed by the earth, save an elegant veteran
officer, who reined up just out Of musket shot,
and took a leisurely survey of our numbers
Having apparently satisfied himself of our force,
he raised the plumed hat from his head, and
bowling gracefully to. our cortege, put spurs to
his horse, and disappeared with the rest. From
the occupants we gathered that we were about
mile distant from strong body of the enemy,
posted in the rising ground just beyond the
woods in our front General Scott, turning to
me, said, '' Be kind enough sir, to return to
Major General Brown; inform him that have
fallen in with the enemy's advance, posted in
force at Lundy's Lane and that in one half
hour l shall have joined battle -ss Order up
Ripley ,cih the second 6,igade-direct Porte,
to get ms rolunteers Immediately under
eral to my message, and the aids were Instantly
in their saddles, conveying the orders.
AS galloped through the woods, the cannon
shot, screaming by me, tearing the trees, and
sending the rail fences in the air in their course,
warned me that the contest had begun But
We are on the battle-ground. There, upon that
sloping hill, parallel with the road, and through
the graveyard towards the Niagara, was drawn
up the British line under General Rail, in
tIr,1ns tort f1uu hrir I., l.
right covered with q powerful battery of nine
pieces of artillery, two of them brass twenty
fours, The Eleventh and Twenty second regi-
ments first leaving the wood, deployed upon the
open ground with the coolness and regularity
Of review, and were soon engaged furiously in
action-the fire from the enemy's line and from
the batteries, which completely commanded the
position, opening upon them with tremendous
effect. Towson, having hurried up with his
guns on the left, in win endeavored to attain
sufficient elevation to return the fire of their
battery. The destruction on our sid /, was very
great The two regiments fought with con-
summate bravery. Severely cut up, their am
munition exhausted, and their officers nearly all
of them killed and wounded, they were with
drawn from action, the few officers unhurt
throwing themselves into the Ninth, which now
came into action, led by the gallant Colonel
Leavcnworth.
The brunt Of the battle now came upon them,
and they alone sustained it for some time, fight
ing with unhinching bravery, until their num-
bers were reduced to one-haf by the fire of the
enemy. At this juncture, General Scott gollop-
ed up with the intention of charging the hill but
finding them so much Weakened altered his in
tention, entreating them to hold their ground
until the reinforcements, which were Fastening
under Major General Brown, should come tc
| their assistance. A momentary cessation of the
action ensucd, while additional forces hurried
to the aid of each army Ripley's brigade, Hind
mans artillery, and Porter's volunteers, on til,
part of the Americans; and strong reinforce
ment under General Drummond, to that of tn
British. Hindman's artillery were attached t.
that Of the Towson, and soon made thcmselve
heard: Porter's brigade displayed on the left
while Ripley formed on the skirts of the wood t
the right of Scott's brigade. The engagement
was soon renewed, with augmented yigor; Gen
Drummond taking command in person, with hi
fresh troops in the front line Of the enemy. Colt
mel Jesup, who had at the commencement Of til
action been posted on the right, succeeded aft,
a falnnt contest, in turning the left flank Of IL
enemy, and came in uponhis reserve, +" Burdel
ed with prisoners, making himself visible to Ii
own army. amid the darkness, in a blaze Of fire
completely destroying all before him. The fig
ragged for some time with great fury, but it b
came apparent, nselessly to the Americans,
the enemy retained possession of the batter
manifestly the key Of the position.
r ! was standing by the side of Colonel Mile
said the Major, when General Brown rode up a
Q inquired, whether he could storm the bate
s with his regiment, while General Ripley su
lported him with the younger regiment, t