The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-07-31
THE MINNESOTIAN.
Lundy's Lane.

miring fellow citizens and soldiers expect
to meet Gen. Scott on Tuesday of this
week at the Falls of Niagara, within
sight ofthe sanguinary scenes Of the 25th
of July, 1914, upon the night of which
day, amid gloom and darkness, he and
his command, to use the language of his
tory, made their position visibl to the
enemies Of their country literally in a
blazing sheet of fire! 1t is not inap-
propriate, at this time, to afford our older
readers an opportunity of refreshing their
memories concerning the heroic events Of
that day, and to display to the sight of
many of our younger ones the first glow
ing picture, perhaps, they have ever had
Of an event not exceeded, in the exhibi-
lion Of courage, military science and abili-
ty on both sides, in the annals of modern
warfare. We therefore quote from " II
gallop among american Scenery" by
Augustus E. Silliman; published by APP
pleton s. Co., in ls43, the following
graphic and thrilling account of the me-
morable battle of Lundy'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 a succession of desperate bayo-
net charges, that the American blood of
Bunker Hill and Bennington flowed
through the veins Of no degenerate sons.
A thousand bates have been fought with
far superior forces but we hesitate not
to say that in dauntless courage and hero
ic steadiness none of them surpassed that
of Lundy's Lane, wherein Winfield
Scott freshly endeared himself to his
countrymen, and received wounds where
of 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 de-
ceased -
Far different music has rcsounded
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. At yonder white
house, said the Major, as General Scott.
making forward movement with his
brigade in the afternoon Of the 25th Of
July, 1914, came in view of it, we saw
the court yard filled with British aficers,
their horses held by orderlies and servants
in attendance. As soon as we became
visible to them, their bugles sounded to
saddle, and in few minutes they were
mounted and disappeared through the
woods at full gallop, twenty bugles ring
ing the alarm from different parts of the
forest. All vanished as if swallowed by
the earth, save an elegant veteran officer,
who reigned up just out of musket shot,
and took a leisurely survey of our num-
5ers. Having apparently satisfied him
self of our force, he raised the plumed
hat from his head, and bowling graceful
ly to our cortege, put spurs TO his horse
and disappeared with the rest. From
the occupant of the house we gathered
that we were about a mile distant from a
strong body Of the enemy, posted on the
rising ground just beyond the woods in
our front.
Gen. Scott, turning to me, said, BE
kind enough, sir, to return to Major
Gen. Brown; inform him that I have fall
len in with the enemy's advance, posted
in force at Lundy's Lane and that in
one-half hour, l shall have Joined battle"
-" Order up Ripley with the second brig
ade, direct Porter 10 get his volunteers
Immediately under arms" was the brief
reply Of the Major General to my mess
sage, and the aids were instantly in sad
dies, conveying the orders. As / gallop-
ed back through the woods, continued the
Major, the cannon shot screaming by me,
tearing the trees, and sending the rail
fences into the air in their course, warned
me that the contest had begun. But we
are on the battle ground. There, upon
the verge of that sloping hill, and through
the grave yard, was drawn up the British
line under General Riall, in force three
times greater than our brigade, his right
covered by 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 GOODNESS
and regularity of a 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 ef-
efect-Towson, having hurried up with
his guns on the left, in vain endeavored
to attain sufficient elevation to return the
fire of their battery. The destruction on
our side was very great. The two regi-
ments fought with consumate bravery
Severely cut up, their ammunition exhaust
ed, and their officers nearly all of them
killed or wounded, they were withdrawn
f~or, <1, fo,,, ~ G,oor.