Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-08-17

| ing demonstration against the Tort below, IN
order 10 compel Rail to return Scott. at the
head of his brigade, now reduced by his losses
to about 600 men, Immediately set forth on
this errand. But he roon found himself with
hotter work on hand. He had proceeded bur
about two miles when he fell upon a reconnoi.
terlng party Of the enemy, and then for the
first time ascertaIned that a large body of their
troops were posted in the immediate neighbor.
hood. Pressing on. he came into the presence
OF IA well-stationcd force under General Riall,
about l,S00 strong. who at once opened upon
Scotia destructive fire of musketry and of nine
pieces of artillery. The cntiro body of the
enemy were drawn up on ridge in order of
battle. His right rested on n wood. and his left
on road running parallel with the river. Di.
rcctly in front, and between tho combatauts.
lay Lundy's Lane. Scott discovered soon
after hs arrival tha, General Rail was being
reinforced by three battalions under General
Drummond and that his numbers had been
swelled to about 5000 men.
Finding himself thus surprised into battlo
against such immense Odds he might well have
determined TO retire and await the arrival Of
reniorcements under General Brown before
going into action. But with undaunted pur.
pose he resolves to stand his ground. He how
ever Immediately dispatched an aid to General
brown requesting lin TO hasten TO his assis.
tance. IL was now six o'clock in the afternoon.
The quick eye Of Scott discovering the oppor.
tunty, he immediately ordered General Jes-
snp's battalion 10 turn the enemy's left flank
Under cover of about 200 yards of under
growth, which concealed the operation, Jes-
sup accomplished his object in brilliant man.
nor and not only cut off the left wing of the
enemy, but triumphuntly broke through their
rnnks and returned into line, bearing off Major
General Rail and some other British officers
prisoners. The enemy, outilanking our troops
on the right, made powerful attempt, backed
by murderous discharges of cannon, and ia
vored by superior numbers TO turn our posi-
ton. General Scott perceiving the attempt,
and intent upon foiling so threatening move
ment, dispatched McNeil's battalion to repulse
the enemy. A most obstinate conflict, con.
Quoted upon both sides with great vehemence,
followed. The ossailants recoiled, and were
punished with dreadful severity. Meantime
the main battle Of the two centres had Joined
and fonght with great ierceness. The Amer
lean line sustained with unshaken valor the
whole weight frhe enemys superior numbers.
now precpitnted upon them with fiery impet-
uosity. Our gallant band, though suffering
prodgiousIy; displayed uncon9uerable resolu-
lion. The commanding presence and heroic
example of their intrepid commander, who re-
gardless of all peril, with unwearied vigor.
was foremost in every post Of danger, nerved
them to unparalleled efforts The battalions of
Scott on this occasion, before he was succored
by Gen. Brown, were dreadfuly cut up
Night came on, and beneath the uncertain light
Of the moon, wadng deep through the broken
clouds, the desperate strife was continued
General Scott had had two horses killed under
him, en1 been wounded in the side by bull
let. Bnt in novice subdued, he rushed into
the contest on foot, and continued to the end
in the thckest of the fight.
The British infantry continued to pour their
deadly fire upon our weakened ranks, and
their artillery, posted in a commanding posi-
ton, on the crest of a neghboring height,which
commanded tho whole field of battle, at every
discharge, Numbered death upon our devoted
columns. AT length, at nine o'clock at night.
after three hours Of this deadly struggle on
tho part Of General Scott, General Brown ar
rived upon the ground with his reinforcement.
The enemy which, with vastly superior num-
bers, had barely withstood the determined
bravery of General SCOTS little army. and on-
ly maintained itself in the centre under tho
guns of the artillery was now obliged to yield.
The regiment Of the heroic Miller was deputed
to the perilous service Of silencing the British
battery on the heights. General Scott voun-
teered to lead the way, and did so, through
the darkness, up to the point Of attack. He
then returned to favor Miller's movement, and
made another onset upon the British line, in
which his battallian suffered even more than
before. After series of desperate hand-to-
hand encounters, Miller was successful, and
the batteries were silenced
Under the renewed furious charges of our
troops the enemy were now forced to retire,
and abandon the field TO the Americans. In
one of the last Of those charges, just at the
close of the action, amid terrible fighting, Scott
was severely wounded, and had to be borne
from the field. The engagement ncontestably
established the bravery of our troops, and the
reputation of General Scott as an officer
The battle was fought with desperate energy
on both sides, and the losses, considering the
numbers engaged, were prodigious. General
SCOTS brigade. upon which fell the brunt of