, 1852-09-11

we extract from an article from the fen
of VIM. w utt, in the November nuu.b.,
OF Whin!y's Republic, the following auec
dote of the Battle ofPlatsburg -
Ihenight preceding the battle was stormy
and dark, The enemy, taking ADVANTAGE
ol the weather, advanced in body, and bu,n
battery on prominent point near the
bank ol The Sarlnac, and within close mns.
Ret shotto all the American works-so near
indeed, was it, that their picks Could be dis.
tlnlly heard as they labured uduslriouslv
through the night and storm. A vouny
officer, named McGlassen, proceeded to th.
head quarters Of Gen. McComb. and stated
the case TO him, asking the privilege of
lakIng the work. The General replied that
II was dangerous undertaking, and that the
men could not be spared, as they would be
wanted on4he next day. MIR. McGlassen
acknowledged all TO be true that the Gen.
eral had stalled, but represented the greater
danger oil the enemy occupying such point,
ana within musket shot Of the Generals
own quarters. Gen. McComb then asked
how men he wanted, end ire repliedthat bo
woald go with what he could get. but hs
would like one hundred and fifty. Gen. Nc
Comb said that one hunderd and fly could
not be spared. out that he might hyae sixty,
and McGlaSsen said that he would take the
battery with that number. General McComb
then wrote him an order for the sixty men.
McGlassen went 10 his post, showed the
order 10 the commander, and called Tor vol,
unl1ers. Hundreds sprang forward, eager
to so but he would take no more than the
sixty, and from the whole selected that
number. lie orderd them, every man, 10
take the flint from his muskel, and fix the
bayonet. They advanced, crossed the river
nolselessly, and proceeded quietly throuh
the small wood towards the work. Alta
certain distance he ordered halt, and pro-
ceeded cautiously alone to secure the senti.
mel, after succeeding in which he returned,
divided his little party into two divisions,
one Of which he ordered to take circuit
Gus route, SO as TO attack on the opposite
side the other he led himself, aud calling
out in a laundering voice TO "eharge on
the front aud rear" they rushed, with all
the noise possible for the few number 10
make, upon The enemy. They were alto
gelher taken by surprise, and suppoSing
themselves surrounded by Overwhelming
numbers, took TO their heels and fed like
sheep. In vain the officers tried TO rally
them-panic-stricken, there was no stop
ping them; and even the officers themselves
were borne along with the frightened mass.
With out continuing the pursuit, McGlassen
| spiked the cannon and returned to the camp,
having accomplished his object Thoroughly,
and without losing a man.
AgenIleman Of Plalisburg, some years ago,
when wishing in Canada, was introducedld
au elderly English officer, and on the off,
GERS learning that he was from Plattsburg,
he inquired il he lived there at the time OF
battle, and if he knew the name Of the oil.
icer who led the party that stormed the bat
terry on the night ofthe 10Th. The gentle
man replied that he was OF Plattsburg at tho
Time OF the battle, and that the officer who
led the tn" slormiag party he had mentioned,
was named McGlassen.
win you be so good as to tell me-" said
the officer, "whal number Of men be had
with him."
"About sixty, believe" replied the
gentleman.
The officer looked astonished, and at last
said;
"Well, sir, was the officer in command
Of that battery, and would give more to
see MIR. McGlsssen than any other man in
the world. 1t was the most complete
thing" continued he, 81 ever saw or heard
Of; for we were quietly at our positions,
when the words, "Charge on the front and
.esr!" broke the dealh.like stiffness, as if a
voice from the air had screamed the words.
My men ran like mad men. tried my utmost,
10 bring them to some order, but without
success for some rime-bul at last found a
body charging in fine style, placed myself
at their head, and, anxious TO repulse the al
tack, urged them forward with all the ener-
gy possessed when taking an anxious look
al them, to see what ones had firmness in the
surprise, behold they were a lot of ID
Yankees, who had charged up another way,
and | was leading them Them" said he,
"was my turn to run. But rushed, pell-
nell into the woods, over logs into the mud
and waterj then a-straddle Of some siumps
then brought up against tree over stones
and into holes; up and down; sometimes
on one end and sometimes on the other. |
arrived in camp about the worst scrached,
the >orest and most frightened individual
you ever saw. 'll you ever, said he, shak
ing the gentleman from Plattsburg by the
hand, "meet Mr.. McGlassen, give him my
compliments, and tell him that that was the
most gallant thing ever saw achieved by
any man"
CoNcEIT.-COnceit is the most conlemp-
tible, and one of tho most odious qualities