Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-10-25

! During the contest OF THIS day, en- unfortunate
occurrence deprived the garrison of their
commanders presence he had entered the
barracks, and was preparing to write for as
sistence TO General Varnum, at Red Bank
| when a shot struck the chimney, Shattering
brickwork, and covering him with stones and
rubbish. Such was the violence of the con-
cusSiCn, as for q time to leave him insensble
and its effects rendered it necessary to convey
him across the river where surgical attendance
could be administered The command now
devolYed upon Lieut.. Col Russell, who re.
placed the former, and continued the attack :;
exhaustion and i'll health finally prevailed over
this officer and his place was occupied by Ma
jor Thayer of the Rhode Island line, by whose
courage and ability the daily warfare was pro.
/ tracted, and a faint hope of ultimate success
/ invoked. This latter gentleman was person
of the most desperate bravery he would
rather die within his fortress then surrender
while drop of life blood remained
EelntCrcements for the enemy in the shape
of numerous armed beats, now arrived and
their firing added to the constantly increasing
tumut. On the morning Of the fourth day,
a terrific cannonade burst upon the fort from
a huge floating battery bat fearful as must
have been lis powers, yet that heroic garrison
were enabled to silence IFS guns before the APP
proach of evening indicated the happening Of
renewed horrars The enemy became dis
cOuraged unaware Of the snail number with
which they had been so uueGnuIly contcnding
it was supposed that some preponderating
force occupied the little citadel and they
were on the point of again relinquishing the
contest whcn scouudreI, who had deserted
fr, Ia \ fAn por nd pal
them with hope, from his accounts of the gar
rison's mferority in strength and total nabili-
" to withstand, for a much longer period, the
pcrils of thc fight.
On the 18th q combined attack from the
shipping aud land batteries was mcditated, and
accordingly every arrangement f.r the perfect.
ing Of this design was Immediately set in mo-
ton. All the ships and gnaboats in the liy-
er were drawn up round the fort, leaving a
space free for the missiles from Province Is.
land to hurl their iron storm against its para
pets Early in the morning of the day we
have mentioned, a sudden silence pervaded the
bcseging forces but 1t was that ominous cain
which precedes a tempes:, when the thunder
is for q moment huSheo and the lightning with.
holds its power Ten o'clock approached,
when a solitary bngIe note rang over the wa
tcrs in Wild vet mellow harmony in an in
staut the air was filed with fiery missiles, and
the hiss Of bombs mingled with the crash of
rampart, or the bursting roar Of cannon The
day passed on with no Interruption 10 the
dreadful din, and night hung her dark canopy
over the awful scene. only to increase the ter
ror Of the hour. Flash Oh flash illumined the
surrounding gloom, peal on peal reverberated
in loudest echoes from the distant hills while
the whizziHg Of cannon balls from the batter
les on shore, and the continued rattling of
musketry from yard.arms which actually over.
hang the barracks made night hideous by
their fright(ul dissonancP
Major Thaycr, the American officer in com
maud, forseeiug that it would be idle longer to
maintain the disproportioned contest, resolved
upon leaving the fort, and retreatug to Red
Bank Accordingly, when the uproar had
somewhat Subsided, ne dispatched over a ma
jority Of the troops retaining only forty men
with whom he intended to cover their ilight-
All his deicnccS had been shot away, and not
the slightest protection now remained some
broken remnants of the barracks still fingered.
and to these he set fire, by the lurid light Of
whose conaagration, he escaped across the
river, and resigned the ruined, dilapidatcd for.
tTesS to the enemyS power. \ dearly won
treasure, acquired at an enormous sacrifice of
human life and human resources. This battle !
was distinguished by acts OF most extraordi- |
nary valor, the entire garrison veing with each
other in the bravery with which every outpost
was defended, each embrasure manned, proving
how men can combat, VIXEN freedom is to be /
their reward. Congress testified its approba-
tion and regard for the gallantry displayed on
this bloody field, by presenting sword o COL /
Smith, at the same time awarding a well de- /
served promotion to Major Feury.
General Howe, now in possession of Fort !
Ndljn, determined upon eXerting all his pow
cr in the reduction of its compeer on the Cd
posite shore, and therefore ordered Lord Corn !
wallis to make descent upon Fort fdercer. |
and TINS remove from the British feet a very
dangerous incumbrance. General Green was
sent by Washington to intercept this move
ment, but on arriving near to the formers
troops, the great majority of their numbers
rendered him unwilling to hazard SO unequal !
an engagement. The commandant at Fort |
Mercer Col. Christopher Greene, learning of
Cornwall'S approach, and aware how diSpro- |
pOrtioned wOnld be the cOntending armies, re-
solved upon leaving Red Bank, and seeking
only to protect the lives of his few exhausted |
soldiers in the hurried retreat, many cannon |
balls, besides military stores, etc, were neces,
sarily left behind and of consequence became
the enemys property.
Valley Forge now received these toll worn
patriots, and amid its SHOWS they could glance |
back upon their noble achievements. and re-
feet that although defeat and death constant |
ly followed in their footsteps, yet with Wash.
ington as general and liberty as recompense,
all perlls and misfortuues were but as aeecy
vapors which vanish with the sunshine Hap,
py the leader who commanded. thrice happy