The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-07-23

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could nesr g'e qu'ck-marcht" Machinery
tbon ~ nave moved with more compactness
,oss s+r; eliant regiment followed the fear
,Is,o,,,,, =. It's leader. Supported by the
hill lle -, 'ne dark mass moved up the
nnd l llh aia1 e body, the lurid light glittering
l:.n ,a l lng on their bayonets, as the com.
ono1aa olSa ~ The enemy's artillery and infantry
opened Fderously upon them. They finch
Gu no' faltered not-the stern voices
" 1:.t Syysfs, as the deadly cannon-shot cut
y''"l'r7 wv ..ss sssms through them, alone were
'1vs'. 1W;4s;n sset up-steady men-steady.n
w ,'llAi S'aiofared yards. of the summit,
voltsii; stan taIieous, as clap Of
moment, rlsiIing under I.,
white smoke, short furious struggle with
the bayoret and the artillery-men were swept
like chaff from their guns. Another fierce
struggd the enemy's line was forced down
the sidd IF the hill, and the victory was ours
the POSITION entirely in our hands-their
own pieces turned and playing upon them in
their retreat. 1t was bought at cruel price,
most ofthe officers being either killed or
wounded The whole tide of the battle now
turned to this point. The result of the con-
flict depended entirely upon the ability of the
victorious army to retain it. Major Hindman
was ordered up, and posted his forces at the
side of the captured cannon, while the Ameri-
can line correspondingly advanced. Stung
with notification, General Drummond con-
centrated his forces, to retake by a desperate
charge the position. The interval amid the
darkness was alone filled by the roar of the
cataracts, and the groans of the wounded.
He advanced with strong reinforcements, out
fanking each side of the American line. We
were only able, in the murky darkness, to
ascertain their approach by their heavy tread.
"They halted within twenty PAGES, poured in
a rapid fire, and prepared for the rush.
Directed by the blaze, our men returned with
deadly effect, and, after desperate struggle,
the dense column recoiled Another interval
of darkness and silence, and again a most
furious and desperate charge was made by
the British, throwing the whole weight of
their attack upon the American centre. The
gallant Twenty.frst, which composed it, re-
ceiving them with undaunted frmness, while
'''e' 1~srnsaz lines was sdreadfully effec-
i,'o'' P'ii0o' cooness and effect. Staggering 3,
they again recolled. During this second at
tae a 1issseott in person, his sha1tered
brigaasySW consolidated into a sinole bat
TALON, made two determined charges upon the
right and left flank of the enemy, and in these
he received the scars which his countrymen
now see upon his manly front. Our men
were now almost worn down with fatigue,
dying with thirst, for which they could gain
no relief. The British, with fresh reinforce
ments, their men recruited and rested, after
the interval of another hour, made their third
and final effort to regain their position. They
advanced, delivered their fire as before; and,
although it was returned with the same
deadly effect, steadily pressed forward. The
Twenty, first again sustained the shock, and
both lines were soon engaged in "confict,
obstinate and dreadful beyond description" :"
The right and left Of the American line fell
back for moment, but were Immediately
rallied by their officers. $50 desperate did
the battle now become, that many battalions
on both sides were forced back;" the men
engaged in indiscriminate melee, fought hand
to hand, and with muskets dubbed; and $50
terrific was the conflict where the cannon
were stationed, that Major Hindman had to
engage them over his guns and gun-carriages,
and finally to spike two of his pieces, under
the apprehension that they would fall into
the hands of the enemy" At length most
despente and determined charge was made
upon 10Th of the enemy's fanks; they waver-
ed, reeiled, gave way, and the centre soon
following, they relinquished the fight, and
made fral retreat. The annals of warfare
on this Continent have never shown more
desperatehghting. Bayonets were repeatedly
crossed and after the action, many of the
men were found mutually transfxed. The
British 1orceengaged was about five thousand
men; the American thirty-fve hundred; the
combined loss in killed and wounded, seven
teen hundred and twenty-five, officers and
men. Inc battle commenced at half-pas
four O'CLOCK In the afternoon, and did no
terminate TILL midnight. We were so min
gled' salo The Major, and so great the con
fusion IN the darkness, that as l was sitting
with group of officers in the earlier part O
the nlgh'' on horseback, British soldier cam
up to U.s. and recovering his musket, unde
the supposltlon that he was addressing one G
his own olhcers, said, "Colonel Gorden vii
be much Obliged, Sir, if you will march up tn
: three hundred men in the road to his assis
tance immediately, as he is very hard pressed
2 l called nim nearer, and pressing his muskt
e down over my holsters, made him prisone
$ "What have Idone, Sir" said the astonisbe
/ man, ''what have doneg' and to convin,