Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-08-20
lFrom Headiey's Life ofCumweu.l
BATTLE OF DUNBAR.

a
Forth---high and bleak near where it
joined the main land, and overlooking,
on either side, the restless ocean. The
town of Dunbar was behind him--a sin
gle mansion, Brocksmouth House, faced
his extreme left,-else there was net a
covering on the desolate expause, save
one, but, into which the cannon were
carried TO shelter them from the rain
which fell in torrents.
On this bleak and narrow peninsula,
only mile and half wide at its base
behold the white tents Of Cromwclrs ar
my. In front of him, landward, is a des-
olate, impossible moor, with low ridge
of hills beyond, ON which stands the
Scotch army, twenty three thousand in
number. At the base of these runs d
small s;reamlet, forty feet wide and al
most as many deep; furnishing only two
passes over which troops can march
Cromwelps ships are in the ofing, his
now last remaining resource, the lion is
at length caught, and the prey deemed
secure.
On the second of September, Oliver
looks forth from the desola.e heath. on
which his army is drawn up in order Of
battle; and 10 what a sight meets his
gaze. Behind him is the sea swept by
strong wind and before him, blocking
him in from shore to shore, a chosen ar
my outnumbering his own two to one
The white tents that are sprinkled over
this low peninsula, rock to and fro in the
storm Of sleet and hail ; and darkness
and gloom hang over the Puritan host.
This strip of land is all that he has left
in Scotland, while powerful army stands
ready to sweep him into the sea. But
( it is in circumstances like these that his
character shines forth with greatest splen-
dor. Though his overthrow seems Ger
tain, he exhibits no Encouragement Of
; fear, for, he a0as strong man IN ht
darb periEs ot arar; sn tfe nigh piaees q
The field, hope sHone in him like a piHa
E Of fire, ,chsn IL had gone out IN all 9th
ers.'
2 At o'clock that evening, as he wa
watching the enemy's movements through
= his glass, he saw that the Scotch comman
der was bringing down the whole arm,
9 from the Hill to the brook at its base, f,
be ready the next day to commence th
u assault. In this movement his quick ey,
detected an error, which, like BonapartC
d he determined to avail himself Of.
Lesly, in executing his man@vre, ha
packed his body into narrow space
where it could not easily deploy Will
the entire right wing stretched into tn
u plain. Cromwell saw that If he coul
rout this wing, aud roll it back in disoi
At der on the unwieldly mass before it coul
ID draw up in order of battle in the ope
It, ground, victory would be sure. Til,
! night, therefore, his twelve thousand me
- were placed in battle array, with nothin
n white about them to show c0nspicuoasl
in the dusky twilight, and with orders, ,
T. soon Is the morning dawned to fall @
u the enemy. AL night long, the DR. mel
ed army stood, without tent to COW
rs them, in the cold storm while the moa
e. of the sea, as it rolled heavily on q
beach, seemed chanting a requiem b
forehand, for the dead thar should cur
m Der the field. But, amid the shrek
Of the blast, and the steady roar Of the "
ly ter, the voice Of prayer was heard aIof
at the lines, and many q brave heart, III
before another night should beat no NOR
he poured forth its earnest supplications
the God Of battles.
Towards morning the clouds broI
away, ana the moon shone dimly dog
upon the silent host Cromwell Vi
/, had been iutently watching the enemj
motions, now saw a column moving dos
the southern pass and lifting up bis Ar
exclaimed, The Lord hath deliver
them iato our hands The trumpl
then sounded the ehafge--the artilIe
= opened their fire while louder than
" rang the shouts-'7He L0rd of Hosf
=" the Lord Of Hosts 2 and the infantry a
cavalry poured in one Wild torrent
y gether on the enemy. The first digisi
Of the foot recoiled when Cromwell
dered up his own regiment. which "
levelled pixies, pressed aernly forwt
amid the carnaFge, bearing down alt
position. Al that moment, t5e cava
came laundering on the Scotch pau
in terror the next moment the elatgefi
ing tempest wa upon them. 0ger tise iFs
ON and over the hostile ranks they ws
ely irafnpliag down the steady batialions ]