New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-10
BATTLE OFLUNDY,s LANE.

account of the memorable BATTLE OF
LuNDr's LANE, Upper Canada thirty
eight years ago, wherein our countrymen
assailed on their own ground far superior
force of British regulars, and proved, both
in giving and receiving succession OF
desperate bayonet- charges, that the Amer
lean blood of Bunker Hill and Bennington
flowed through the veins of no degenerate
sons. A thousand battles have been fought
with far superior forces; but we hesitate
not to say that in dauntless courage and
heroic steadiness none of them surpassed
that of Lundy's Lane, wherein WINFIELD
SCOTT freshly endeared himself to his coun-
trvmen and received wounds whereof he
will carry the scars to his grave.-But let
us hear Mr.. Silliman's narrative, mainly
founded on the personal account of an actor
in the fray, Major since deceased:
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 grets our ear. AT yonder white
house, said the Major, as Gen. Scott, making for
ward movement with his brigade IN the afternoon
Of the 18th Of July, 1914, came in view of it, we
saw the court yard filled with British officers their
horses held by Orderlies and servants in attend
ance. As soon as We became visible to them,
their bugles sounded TO saddle, and in few mo-
ments they were mounted and disappeared through
the woods at full gullOp, twenty bugles ringing the
alarm fom different parts of the forest. All van
ished as il swallowed by the earth, save an ele-
CANT veteran officer, who refined up Just out OF mus
ket shot and took eisurely survey of our num-
bcrs. Having apparently satisfied himself OF our
force he rails, d The plumed hat from his head, and
bowling gracefully to our cOrtege, put spurs to his
horse and disappeared with the rest. From the
occupant Ofthe house we gathered that we were
about mile distant from strong body Of the
enemy, posted on the rising ground just beyond
the woods in our front. General Scott, turning
to me- said, d" Be kind enough, sir, to return to
Major General Brown; inform him that | have
fallen in with the enemy advance, posted IN force
at 'LaHdp'S L0Re and that in one half hour, |
shall have Joined bait =" Orderup Ripley with
the second brigade, direct Porter to get his vol
unteers Immediately under arms was the bnei
reply of the Major General to my message, and
the aids were instantly IN their saddles, convey
ng the orders. As galloped back through the
woots, continued the Major the cannot-shot
screaming by me, tearing the trees and sending
the rail fences into the air in their course warned
ne that the contest had begun. But we are on
slopng hill and through the graveyard, was
drawn UP the British line under General Rail, in
forcp three times greater than our brigade, his
risht covered by powerful battery of nine pieces
of artillery, two of them brass twenty -tours.
The Ehrentk and Tsenty- second regiments first
leaving the wood, depOyed upon the open ground
with the GOODNESS and regularity OF Il review, and
were soon engaged furiOusly in, action; the fire
from the enemy's line and from the batteries, winch
completely commanded the position, opening
upon them with tremendous effect. Towson, hay-
ing hurried up with his guns OH the left, III VAIN
ende avored to attain sufficient elevation to return
the fire of their battery The destruction on our
side was very great. The two regiments fought
with cOnsummate bravery. Severely cut up,
their ammunition exhaus ed, and their officers
nearly all of them killed or wounded, they were
Withdrawn from action, the few officers remain
ing unhurt throwing themselves into the -Ntnh,
which now came into action, led by the gallant
Colonel LeayenwOrth.
The brunt Of the battle now came upon them,
and they alone sustained it for some time, fighting
with unhnching bravery, until their numbers were
reduced to one. half by the fire of the enemy. AT
this junctuTe, General Scott galOped mp with the
intention of charging the hill bat hndlng them
so much weaker, altered his Intention entreating
them TO hold their ground until the achievements,
which were Fastening on, should come to their
assistance. mOmentary cessation OF the ac-
| ton ensued, while additional forces hurried up to
| mans artillery and Porter's volunteers, on the
part of the Americans, under Major General
| Brown; and a strong reinforcement under Gen-
| e1al Drummond to that of the British. Hindmans
| artillery was attached to that of Towson, and
soon made itself heard. POrter's brigade deplOyed
| on the left, while Ripley formed on the skirts OF
| the wood to the right Of SCOTS brigade. The
engagement was soon renewed, with augmented
vigor General Drummond taking command in
pers on with his fresh troops in the front line of
the enemy. Colonel Jesup, who had at the
| commencement of the action been posted on the
right succeeded, after gallant contest, IN turn
| ing the left flank of the enemy, and came IN upon
his reserve, "burdened with prisoners, making
| himself visible to his own army, amid the dark
ness. in blaze of fire. completely destroying all
before him. The fight ragged for some time with
great fury but, it became apparent, uselessy to
| the Americans, if the enemy retained possession
of the battery manifesly the key of the position.
| was standing at the side of Colonel Miller,
| said the Major when General Brown rode up and
| incurred whether he could storm the battery Nth
his regiment, while General Ripley supported him
with the younger regiment the Ipenty-hTc.
| Miller amid the uprOar and confusion, deliberately
| surveyed the position then quietly turning, with
infinite GOODNESS, replied, 'FHry, Sir" think
see him now as drawing up his gigantic figure to
its full hight, he turned to'his regiment drilled to
| the precision Of a piece of mechanism, hear ms
deep tones IWenty. frSt-atteHtioR!- form into
column; GdrdRce mp the hill 10 storm the battery
delirer your fire at The port-hghtS ofhe artillery
men, and carry the guns at the point Of tie bayo-
Support arms-dOubie qaick--mdreh!" Ma
chnery could not have moved with more COM
pactness than that gallant regiment followed the
fearless stride of its leader. Supported by the
TWeRty-third, the dark mass moved up the hill
like one body, the lurd light glitterng and flick
ering on their bayonets, the combined fire OF the
enemy's artillery and infantry opened murderously
upon them. They hinched nOt-they fatered not
the stern voices of the officers, as the deadly can
non shot cut yawning chasms through them, alone
was heard: "Close up-steady, men-steady.
| Within hundred yards of the summit, vODey
sharp. instantaneous as a clap of thunder; an
other moment, rushing under the white smoke, q
short, furious struggle with the bayonet, and the
.I.NE L 4 49, ~