Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-10-25
[From the Cerm ant0wn Telegraph. ]
Historical Epitomes.

THE ATTACKS on FORTS MiFFLIN AND MERCER.
The battle Of Braudywinc, with its many
disastrous incidents was over, and that Of Ger
mantown. almost equally unfortunate, had ueen
similarly drawn 20 a close Washington fore
saw that means must be Immediately rcSorted
to orcmbarrassing and rendering less dec dcd
,ao already too Tenacious fO0tholi Of Sir
William Howe and in order fo. the accom-
a,hmant Of such design. he resolved upon erec-
Ting iJr,ifcatiOnS along the Delaware river aud
also ohsrructiug its cha&ucl, for the purpose Of
r9iinr any British yeSSeS,aS might attempt
a n.ammauc.ie with the cnemyS army. then
II 10 pNNadrIphia. The feet which had anchor
0m Chesapeake Bay, previous to the Ameri-
. can defeat at Brandywiue, had already depart
N VI from rs mOOrirgS, and vas in full sail for
b Hnrrd. llOHr's headquarters at the city, when
e JHdiug of the varions redoubts commeu-
cd to preye',t the advance Of these during
e progress OF their works the Americans
der the direction OF Captain Dupes>is-
rung French engineer Of great talent and
military skIl.-coustrurled large frames Of
heavy timber armed and sustained by wooden
spikes. pointed with iron, which stood directly
perpendicular when il their required positions.
These massive st0ckddcs if they may I've 80
,cmed-were sunk directly in the rivcrchanneI
uea7 the month of the Scauy Kill, aud their
aa-e and dangerous proportions presented an
30 obstacle Of considerable magnitude TO the
qnadrou's approach. At Eliiug-Port, .some
niles below Red Bank similar defenccS we're
submerged, and the cherau- dc trl@ at this
out defended by garrison Of AmericanS,
who occupied a rrdoubt a!cns the river shore,
and 50 situated, as to be able, if necessary to
N sweep the stream with their cannon, if the
fee: venture TO disregard the barriers, and
'~2g passage in another pOgticn.
/ va, this fertilization which especially de-
NY 1a.led the British Admiral's attention, as it
C-sl the first serious impedment to his
q n'.lent Captain Hammond, of the Royal
Aa7', in command of a small vessel felt the
a0N'lnce of this garris0ns reduction, and he
'aHe'oTe represented to General Howe, the
necessity for its removal, at the same time
"leiag to guarantee the destruction Of any
"tln. De trle as might obstruct their path
va! or delay their advance In accordance
via thiS officers suggestions, two British vcgi-
menus were instantly dispatched to the Jersey
lloft AMI orders given them to attack the re-
0oa1,s at BHijngspOrt The American out
'oitS were unfinished, aud totally inadequate
" resist the violent assault made upon them
=! "'a majesty troops unsuSpectiug a land
"''a'A, ,ihe inmates were Of course without any
PREPARATION to resist !; they therefore, after
PAnS Their cannon and firing their barracks,
p.u pFecmtateIy, leaving the fort in the encmys
n'uUs' Inc British compan es destroyed each
.'op''' ieye'ilUg them to the ground and de-
r'"au'nS a,S the works they then retarued to
III" "ud Their commander hastened to Gen.
N Cio"gS quarters with tidings of his success
Gaplain Hammond now immediately began
n,L "OEK oil opening through the invulnerable
tr il5ouS barrIcades, and after great difficult
s,.. =, -""Ii! succeeded in etfecting a breach of
,n.. nv seven ieet in width, through which aper-
.r., J ue sailed with twelve vessels. and come to
NJ luO' az Hog Island about mile and half
IYou, aud within the same distance from the .
~ r5,-s'.ean Fedoubts at Red Bankin the Jersey
nS,. fUEt Mercer was situated at this latter
jssT5i slo ai.ec.!y opposite, upon a low reedy
M Penn, Aoaio rev llQnGreG yards from the
j, !''ania shore, stood Fort Minlin, a rud. !
r:,S O,-o'fected citadel, yet bu. With great re-
S,so, 'Os strength aud durability. The pro,
H. VI our narrative leads US to FIRST consider
IN, .'acA on Fort Mercer, with it's accompav-
~ I'eu's previous to an account Of that which
co,smS. NO distinguished its gallantly defended
''''n COMMANDED the garrison at For.