Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-21

ment was soon renewed, with augmented
vigor: Gen, Drummond taking comman'
in person with his fresh troops in the from
line of the enemy. Col. Jesup, who had a
the commencement of the action been post
ed on the right, succeeded, after gallan
contest,in turning the left flank of the en-
emy,& & came II. upon his reserve. "Burden
ed.with prisoners: making himself visible t
his own army, amid the darkness, in blaze
of fire." completely destroying all before
him. The fight ragged for some time with
great fury, but it became apparent, useless
ly to the Americans, If the enemy retained
possession of the battery, manifestly the key
of the position.
| was standing at the side of Colonel Mil.
ler said the Major, when General Brown
rode up and inquired, whether he could
storm the battery with his regiment, while
General Ripley supported him with the
younger reg giment, the T'tOenty-third. Mil.
ler amid the uproar and confusion, delib-
eratcly surveyed the position, then quietly
turning with infinite GOODNESS replied, "FH
try Sir" | think see him now, as draw
ing up his giant figure to its full height, he
turned to his regiment, drilled to The pre-
cision of piece of mechanism; hear his
deep tones" Iwenty. .frSt-atteation !-..tornl
into column. Advance up the hill 10 the
storm of The 6alte1y-deliUer your fire al The
port-hgMs of The artillery-men, and carry the
guns at The point Of the bayonet. Support
arms-double quick-march" Machinery
could not have moved with more compact
ness than that gallant regiment followed
the fearless stride ofits leader. Supported
by the Trenty-third, the dark mass moved
up the hill like one body, the lurid light
glittering and fllckering on their bayonets,
as the combined fire OF the enemy's artille-
ry and infantry opened murderously upon
them. They flinched not-they faltered not
the stern voices of the officers, as the
deadly cannon-shot cut yawning chasms
throug gh them, alone were heard-"Close
up-steady, men-steady." Within hun
dred yards of the summit, volley sharp,
instantaneous, MS clap Of thunder-anoth.
er moment, rushing under the white smoke,
short, furious struggle with the bayonet,
and the artillery men were swept like chaff
from their guns. Another fierce struggle
the enemy's line was forced down the side
Of 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 of the officers being either killed or
wounded. TIE whole tide of the battle
now turned to this point. The result ofthe
conflict 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 American line correspondingly adj
vanced. Stung with notification, General
Drummond concentrated his forces, to re-
take by 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-hanking 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 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. An
other interval Of darkness and silence, and
again most furious and desperate charge
was made by the British, throwing the whole
weight of thel attack upon the American
centre. The gallant Iwenty.frst, which
composed it receiving them with undaunt-
ed frmness, while the fire from our lines
was 'dreadfully efective.n Hindman's ar
tillery served with the most perfect cool
ness and effect. Staggering, they again re-
coiled. During this second attack, General
Scott in person, his shattered brigade now
consolidated into single battalion made
two determined charges upon the right and
left flank of the enemy, and in these he re-
ceived 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, af
ter the Interval of another hour, made their
third and final effort to regain their position.
They advanced, delivered their fire as be-
fore ; and, although it was returned with
the same deadly effect, steadily pressed for
ward. The 1,centy-frst again sustained
the shock, and both lines were soon engag-
ed in conflict, obstinate and dreadful
beyond description" The right and left
of the American line fell back for mo-
ment, 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 clubbed and $50 terrific
was the conflict where the cannon were
stationed, that Major Hindman had to en-
gage them over his guns and gun-carriages,
and finally to spike two of his pieces, I'M
der tine apprehension that they would fall
into the hands of the enemy" At length
most desperate and determined charge
was made upon both of the enemy's tanks;
they wavered, recoiled, gave way, and the
centre soon following they rehnquished the
fight, and made final retreat. The an
nals of warfare on this Continent have new
or shown more desperate fighting. Bayo-
nets were repeatedly crossed, and, after the
action, many of the men were found mutu.
ally transfXed. The British force engaged
was about five thousand men; the Ameri-
can thirty-fve hundred; the combined loss
in killed and wounded, seventeen hundred
and twenty-five, officers and men. The
battle commenced at half-past four o'clock
in the afternoon, and did not terminate till
midnight. We were so mingled, said the
Major, and so great the confusion in the
darkness, that as was sitting with group
of officers in the earlier part of the night,