The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-28
BATTLE or SACKE7TS HARBOR, JANUARY 20.
1873

Miss Harrictte Tanning Read sends this communca-
tion the events of the Battle Of Saketts Harbor and
requests its publication 1t will certainly be read with
great interest
The last number of Baous Pictorial states that when
the New York militia fled before the British at Sackets
Harbor General Brown shouted, f You will run, take
the righthand road. This carried them to the lake
shore, whence the enemy supposed it intended to
cut off their to the boats and therefore retreaed
General Browns cond official despatch dated June ls
says that his 500 militia and volunteers fired and fed
that gathered about 100 of them and attacked the
of the enemy left flank that then the regulars
under Colonel Bacus engaged the British and de-
feated them and calls the result of the action $50 glo
rious for the officers and soldiers of the regular army.
The Pattsburg Republican of that day quotes from the
letter of officer Of the army at SacSett's Harbor
'sMajor Aspinwal arrived the preceding evening with
handful of Yankees He met the enemy advancing from
Horse Island thc dismounted dragons under Major Le
val assistng and fought gallant battle, but retired
gradually from immense superiority Of numbers
Two of the gun-boats ranged up the shore and covered
the field with showers of grape Major Aspinwa forced
back directed his to occupy the intervals between
the barracks General Gray (quartcrmastcr gcneaD ad
vanced to the barracks, calling to his men. Come
on, my boys-remember York-cut the id rascals
throats 7" drummer of Aspinwalrs l6 years DID, ad
vanced and shot him dead At that moment the brave
Lieut. Tanning, (of the artillery, who severely
wounded ut York; crawling along and leaning his
their faces, cooy telling his men, as he could not run,
it would be well to fight At this time Aspinwall
he hero of the day. got three cheers from his men, and
the eneIny's buges sounded retreat.
Lieutenant Tanning lay four hours the field at York,
the blood from his bruised lungs oozng from his lips
with the other wounded he conveyed to Sacketts
Harbor hopeless of living to arrive On the
pected approach of the British he urged to permit
himself to be taken for safety to Brownsville but refused
sshe would lief die where he was. During the action
he continually sent messengers to inform him of its prog
he learned that the enemy had actually carried the
place. aud that there field piece to oppose to them
He had himself dressed called around him few
lescing soldiers and boys procured tenpounder and
aided by soldier each side of him, was crawling
along when no encountered captain Of Infantry, Maj
Baboock think who, few years since, told mutual
friend that he thus met Lieutenant Tanning, who
treated him. for Gods sake to let him have ten sound
men to help him. The major hssening to another
point and felt that he had scarce the right weaken his
company but, as he said, looking at that pale, sick
young officer under such circumstances he had not the
heart to refuse him. and detached the ten asked for
Thus the field piece reached the point desired Leuten
enemy towards the barracks and seated the ground
he loaded and fired musket six times, notwithstanding
the want of his left hand The ground was literally
ploughed up around him, while to his own amazement
he remained unhurt The Americans raised shouts of
encouragement at this unexpected relief and the British
startled by the equally unexpected cleck and cheers,
supposed that renforcements had arrived from Grena
diers island and rereaed with considerable loss de-
spatch Of Sir George Provost is thus worded Seeing
object to be attained compensate for the loss
sustaining from the onys cyllry ordered retreat.
HARRIEITE TANNING READ