The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-08

the fort, ana penetrating the dense thickness OF
the forest, they soon reached the long line OF earth
works thrown up by the French ana guarded by
the sharp abatts. Steadily and win the coolest
courage and precision the regiments are wheeled
into line. No shot is fred from behind the earth
works, and all that can be seen is an occa-
sional French can. The English sound the
signal for assault. The instant This is
given q line OF blazing IRE flashes from
behind the earthworks Hundreds fan in death,
and the English, dashing mauly at the abatts, are
met with round or cannot shot that, Tor the mo-
ment, spreads destruction. terror and panic
among their decreasing ranks. Sapllngs are cut
asunder, trees crash over their heads and the
earth seems crumbling underneath their very feet.
In an instant, however the panic is over the ranks
are filed again and another dash is made upon
the works. The English become entangled in the
abattis. They can neither retreat nor ADVANCE
and all thu while this dreadful CALLING Are
pours upon them from behind the breastworks.
Lost TO older discipline even consciousness,
the Scotch Hghlanders hack at the abattis Termed
OF trees, with sharply pointed limbs, and try TO
hew their way out with their oroadswords IN vain.
one regiment OF Hghlanders alone loses
two-thirds OF It's men ana twenty i've OF
its officers. few, more daring, free
themselves from the abatts, reach the
earthworks, only TO De pierced to the heart with
French bayonets. The English still do not yield
They heard only one command when they started
1t was 'advance.u Once more they formed their
shattered lines Two columns charged TO the
ight another at the centre, third upon the lert
Another crash OF small arms, another burst OF
cannonade ana again hundreds bite the dust
Abercrombie during all this carnage and blood
shed was in the rear, and 1t was only the cool
courage ana wonderful bravery OF Montcalm that
inspired the soldiers TO face such fearful Odds He
knew the moment the first charge was made that
the English had greatly moderated the strength
OF the french, and ielt tnereupon tnat he was
contending against hope. But yet no command
came from Apercrombie TO cease the slaughter.
FINALLY, the line being utterly dsorganized, the
British soldiers began firing upon each other. The
havoc was terrible, ana all the while steady
stream OF fire poured from the French levies. AT
last regiment after regiment began an indepen-
dent, unconcerted retreat, leaving 1000 dead
bodies upon the ground The provlncials covered
their flight the light had waged far into the
night, and, as the English outnumbered the French
fonr1old, the latter restrained pursuit on ac-
count OF the darkness. saw to-day the location
or the ground upon winch this terrible battle
ensued. new growth of timber covers II
now, but the long, circultous earthworks
OF the French lines are distinctly marked
on the landscape. They are located some
distance from the fort but in ready access to it.
gully about five feet deep shows where the
heaviest and most effective firing was done, and
the location OF the abatis can be plainly seen. |
saw also a tree, large oak, standing au1- tire
recedIng slope. 1t marked the s. J. be- old
which Abercrombie could not approach, s~d
from which he began his retreat 1t bore le
board upon which was Inscribed