Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-21
MISCELL A N Y.
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 gertly greets our
ear. AT yondcr white house, said the Ma
ior, as General Scott, making a forward
movement with his brigade in the afternoon
of the 25th Of July, 1914, came in view Of
it, we saw the courtyard filled with Brit
ish officers, their horses held by orderlies
and servants in attendance. AS soon we
became visible to them, their bugles sound
ed to saddle, and IN few moments they
were mounted, and disappeared through
the woods at full gallop, twenty buges ring
ing the alarm from different parts of the
forest. All vanished as if swallowed by
the earth, save an elegant veteran officer,
who relned up Just out OF musket shot, and
took leasurely survey of our numbers
Having apparently satisfied himself of our
force, he raised the plumed hat from his
head, and bowing gracefully to our cortege,
put spurs to bis horse, land disappeared with
the rest. From the occupants ofthe house
we gathered that we were about a mile dis
tant from a strong body of the enemy post
ed in the rising ground just beyond the
woods in our front. Gen. Scott, turning TO
me, said, "Be kind enough Sir, to return
to Major General Brown inform him that
| have fallen in with the enemys advance
posted in force at Iundy's Lane and that
in one half hour shall have joined battle"
"Ordcr up Ripley trith the second brigadc-
direct Porter 10 get his polun'eerS Immediate
iy mdpr arms, WAS the brief reply of the
Maior.General to my message, and the aids
were instantly in their saddles, conveying
the orders. As / salloped back 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 slop-
ing hill. parallel with the road, and through
the graveyard towards the Niagara, was
drawn up the British line under General
Rail, IN force three times greater than our
brigade, his right covered with powerful
battery of nine pieces of artillery, two of
them brass twenty-fours. The Elepenih
and 1tceniy-second regiments 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 command
ed the position, opening upon them with
tremendous effect. Towson, having hur-
ried up with his guns on the left, in vain
endeavored to attain sufficient elevation to
return the fire of their battery. The de-
struction on our side was very great. The
two regiments fought with consummate brav-
cry. Severely cut up, their ammunition ex-
hausted, and their officers nearly all of !hem
killed and wounded, they were withdrawn
from acton, the few officers remaining un-
hurt thlowing themselves into the .Nimh,
which now came into action, led by the gal
liant Colonel Leavenworth.
The brunt Of the battle now came upon
them, and they alone sustained it for some
time, fighting with unliuching bravery, ,un-
til their numbers were reduced to one-half
by the fire Of the enemy. AT this juncture,
Gen. Scott galloped up with the intention
Of charging the hill but finding them so
much weakened, altered his intention, en-
treating them to hold their ground until the
renforcements, which were fastening up,
under Major General Brown, should come
to their assistance. A momentary cessation
of the action ensued, while additional forces
hurried to the aid ef each army; Ripley S
brigade, Hindman's artillery. and Porter's
volunteers, on the part of the Americans !;
and a strong reinforcement under General
Drummond, to that of the British. Hind