Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-03-31


IN a torrent Of FIRE, which spreading with vivid
brightness among the combnstible rigging, aud
running with amazing rapidiiy to the tops Of
The several masis, which all around was thun-
der and lightning from ogr numerous cannon
and mortars, and in the darkness of nigh, pre-
senied one Of the most sublime and magnificent
spcctacles which can be imagined Some Of
our shells overreacbing the town were seen to
fall into the river, and bursting, threw np col
umns of waller, like the spouting monsters Of
the deep"
The firing continued all the next day, 1.-THE
llth) and at night second parallel was com
meneed within three hundred yards Of the enc
myis works, and in two days was nearly com
pleted.
CORVALLIS still held iwo redoubts. which
stood in advance Of bis works on the len. and
from which he could en6lade this second par
ailel. Afler brief consultation il was re-
solved, therefore, 10 storm them. To incite
the rivalry Of the troops, the siorming Of one
was intrusied to the French, under Baron dc
Viomenil, and the other 10 the Americans, un-
der Lafayette. The French baron. while pre-
pairing for the assault, hiuied to lafayette that
be was rather unfortunate in his command. as
the American troops were not SO reliable as
French in work Of this kind. lafayette. who
had come to look on the Americans as peculiar
ly belonging TO him, was stung BY the remark
mark, but quietly replied, "tcc shall see -
Toward evening the siorming columns were
drawn up and marched to their respective posi-
tions. Two shells were to be the signal to ad-
vance. The shell from the American battery
rose first, but il had scarcely reached the zenith
10 It's blazing track before, in another direction.
that Of the French mounted the heavens. The
next moment the loud shout "ronwAnpr rang
along the ranks. Colonel Hamilton led the van
OF the Americans, and carried away by his
boiling courage strobe in advance Of his men,
and scorning to wal, till the abatis was remoy-
ed, mounted over 1t, and on the parapet be-
yond, with but three men at his side. WAY
ing his sword to his brave followers erowdinp
fercely after him, with evelled bayonets. he
shouted "Oni On - and lcaped into the ditch.
A thrilling "hn:ss" replied, and soon the en-
einy were flying in every direction. Not a
shot had been fired--iho cold steel had finish
ed the work, and in nine MINUTES time. As
the loud aud ringing cheer rose on the evening
air, the delighted lafayette turned TO the other
redoubi, and knowing by the sharp firing tha,
i was not yet carried, and remembering tho
sneer Of Niornenil, dispatched messenger 10
that officer, saying that his own rcdoab, was
carried, and asking if he needed any help
"Tell Lafayette" proudly replied the Baron.
shat my redoubt will be carried in FIVE min
uies." He made good his word, and soon
cheer answered cheer, and the French and
American flags waved saluia,ioh to each 9th
er across the intervening space The loss Of
the Americans was only sixty-fvc killed and
wounded, while that Of the French was over a
hundred. The latter stopped to remove the
obatis tn' nd 'n'la ~ Bio
The possession Of these redoubis were Of the
utmost importance, for besides being relieved
from their flank FIRE, Washington with batteries
erected there could enilade the whole English
line. ff
The girdle OF fire was now narrowing 10 n
fatal interval, and even desperate measures
must be rssorted TO or the tragedy would cluse.
Cornwallis therefore determined, it is said, 10
leave his sick and baggage behind, and cross
ing over to Gloucester, cut up by an unexpect-
ed, impeInous assault, the French and Arneri-
ran troops stationed ihere--mount what he could
Of his infantry on the horses of the Dukes Le-
gion and others which he might be able to
seize, and fleeing through Maryland, Pennsyl-
vania and New Jersey, gain New York This
absurd attempt, il ever really intended, was
cut shori by sudden storm Of wind and rain,
which rendered the passage of the river inprac-
iicable.
Toward morning Of this same nipht. Corn
wallis made sortie with 500 men ON the in
complete French batteries, and carried them,
but the Due de Chastellux advancing 10 their
support, drove the assailants back. The latter
succeeded in spiking four cannon, but having
time 20 do il only by ramming The points of
their bayonets into the iouch-holes and then
breaking them of, the pieces were soon render
ed serriceablo again At dayligh, new bate
ries in the second parallel were opened, when
there was not spot within the town unexpos-
ed 10 the desolating fire of the besieaers -
The buildings were pierced like honcy-conb
the earth rose in burrows aud mounds on cv-
cry side MS the heavy shot and shells plouehed
through, while carcasses of men and horses
were strewn amid the broken artillery carria-
ges and wrecks Of the works. In short, the
camp was completely uncovered, and cannon
balls searched every part of it, The English
troops stood in still despair and let the iron
storm beat on them. Cornwalls had hoped for
succor to the last, but this usuIess sacrifice OF
his men was too dreadful 10 be longer endnr-
ed, and at 10 o'clock, the loud beat Of the
chGndde was heard ia the intervals of the ex-
plosiohs Of cannon, and fhe firing ceased
'Cornwalls then sent a flag Of truce requesting
a cessation Of hosiilities for twenty-iour hohrs
20 arrange the terms Of capiiulaiion To this
Washington would not consent, fearing that
the arrival of the English fleet in The meantime
might alter the aspect Of affairs, and allowed
him but two hours in which to transmit his pro-
posals. A rough drait was sent, and The next
day the terms of capilulalion were agreed upon
On the 18th the garrison, with colnrs cased and
playing melancholy march, moved slowly out
Of their dilapidated works The French and
American armies were drawn up on opposite
sides Of the road, with Rochambeau and WASH
ef.la.lfIl.. - 7 - IL