Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-06-14

| 10 QlSpeFSe the intense nulniulty, ana Tor an
instant shone out, as the Americans led by
Gen. Wayne advanced upon the infantry, but
the luminary soon disappeared and all was
again dim with thickening vapor.
Wayne's men dashed forward with resistless
violence and scattered the enemy with great
slaughter; thirSting to be revenged for the
horrible massacre at Paoli, on the September
preceding, they refused quarter to the flying
enemies Remember Paoli," burst in wild
and fearful accents upon the murky air, as sol.
dier after soldier fell beneath their swinging
strokes cries for mercy, pitying pleas, suppli-
catory prayers were addressed alike to deaf
or llStieSS ears vengeance was now the ap-
peal, and what men under the power of such
mighty influences could withstand its force
The officers endeavored to stay this indiscrimi-
nate slaughter, but their efforts were useless.
and so great was the confusion that many of
! our own troops were struck down by the hands
! of their companions Colonel MuSgrave, OBJ
serving the general route of the advance
| haStened to ChewS house, where, enSconSihg
himself with six companies he awaited an at
tack from the approaching Americans and
here we observe one of those occurrences, ap-
! parently trivial, but which in the present in
stance completely turned the tide of victory
| Musgraye from the windows of the house.
opened a heavy fire Upon the advancing troops
which induced their officers to order temper
ary halt, many insisted upon moving on,
hopes that the panic, caused by the defeat of
Mount-Airy, would have been communicated
TO the main body ot the British, and thus
render their combined attack more readily ex-
ecuted. To this suggestion, however, Gen.
! Knox strenuouSly demurred, positively refus-
ing to violate an important code of military
law, which insists that no "garriSoned castle
should De left in the rear.
! Generals Sullivan and Wayne, marched for
ward with their corps, attacked the enemy'S
centre some distance below Chcw's mansion.
and after q fierce engagement, in which many
/ fell on both sides, finally drove them towards
/ School House lane, where their line was re-
/ formed. Victory had already settled upon
/ our banners, the enemy were driven in at every
point, and expected reinfOrcemeuts would
shortly arrive, their assistance thus cOmmuu-
eating The fortune of the day. In the mean
I time, however, the attack upon ChewS house
was being continued, under the immediate
command of Washington himself. \ gallant
officer, Lieut. Smith, of Virginia, in charge of
a flag Of truce, advanced directly IN front of
the eucmy'S FIRE, in order to summon the gar
rison TO surrender a volley of bullets was
the sole response, and the brave soldier fell -
Many from the ranks now rushed forward in a
vain attempt to beat down the door or FIRE the
house but the former being strongly barri-
caded, resisted their efforts. while deadly shots
from the windows above, effcctually prevented
( the success of the latter The building itself.
constructed of solid masonry, presented an IN
wayering front against the artillery which was
now brought TO bear the siX-pouuderS in use
proved entirely inadequate to the task, aud
our troops had the modification of observing
only q lamentable consumption of powder,
without those effects which should follow its
use. The most heroic bravery sgualized the
attack upon this obstinate fortress officers
and men dashed "peIl neil into the contest
with utter disregard for their lives, in the fruit
less attempt to effect a breach of their un-
yielding walls apparently aHimated-not de-
/ preSsed-by the fall of their comrades others
filed mp the vast vacated places and maintain
cd q scattering but uncertain fire upon the
garrison within.
The fog, at this time, had so increased in
density that objects could not be discerned
within the distance of q few feet. The troops
Of Sullivan and Wayne, having forced the
enemy upon their cantonments," suddenly
heard for the first time, sharp firing in the
rear. the cause Of which they were unable TO
divine being entirely unaware at that tiae OF
the attack upon Chew's House; halting in
confusion, still maintaining a desnltory Ere into
the thick mist ahead, what was their c0ns.eruG-
ton on observing a regiment, advancing upon
their left flank no means whereby uniform,
colors, or other appearances By which could
be ascertained the approach of friend or foe,
presented themselves, and the troops, suppos-
ing that the enemy, by q circuitouS route had
surrounded and would finally annihilate them,
became infected with the most fearful panic
and turning, fed in utter confusion.
Colonel Matthews, EirgiDian, had advanc-
ed considerably beyond the main body, with a
portion of Gen. Green's division. and at this
time, unconscious Of the enemy'S so close Wei
nifty, was approaching the narketh0use, when
becoming completely surrounded by the foe, he
was obliged TO surrender, after cOnteSting eve
~ inch Of ground with the greatest bravery
Meanwhile, Waue's troops fed and communi-
eating, strangely enough, their fright TO the
division Of Greene Whose advance, concealed
by the fog, had occaSioned their own terror
the whole body retreated, forming themselves,
under the latter'S commands, into some degree
Of regularity, and thus keeping up q running
fire in order 20 cover their fight.
The fortune Of war was now entirely adverse
to the Americans, and hotIy pursued by Gen
erals Grey and Cornwallis, the rout was con-
tinued until nightfall, when the defeated army
halted at Perkiomen creek, distance OF about
10 miles from the morning battlefield. Many
anecdotes are narrated of the hospitality dis
played BY farmers to the unfortunate, defeated
soIdiery one in particular illustrates forcibly
the spirit infused even into the woman Of that
glorious. vet irving periOd An elderly lady