The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1878-08-21
For THE HERALD.
THE STORNIING OF FORT
SNOW.
"All in the fortress were at rest,
When sudden on their ear did burst
an awful crash, as if some gust
Swant hv - 2,c
BY T. P. S.

When sudden on their ear did burst
an awful crash, as if some gust
Swept BY" &C.
History records many daring acts
exhibiting the courage and iuvincible
determination Of man. The siege of
Troy, drawn by the graphic pen Of
Homer, is a standing monument of
the hardness and boldness, of the en-
erey and frmness of the human char
acter. The design and the storming
Of Quebec by scarcely thousand
men, who vaded streams, climbed
mountains, scaled precipices, endured
toll, privation, cold and famine, until
they stood at last upon the Plains Of
Abraham, where, amidst the thunder
of cannon they marched against well
fortified place, is one Of the suhlimest
sights American history furnishes.
The storuing Of Stoney Point, by mad
Anthony and his gallant band, who,
with bayouets glittering in the fash
Of the enemy's guns, swept over the
living and the dead, smote down. vet
eran ranks, rolled back the tide Of op-
position, rung the heavens with their
wild huzzas spd planted the stars and
the stripes upon its heights, was a
brilliant achievment and worthy the
pen of the most eloquent historian.
These afe occurrences of the past
they live, they breathe, they speak and
have become classic on the historic
page. Each age, each century, is re-
markable for some extraordinary event,
and sections of country acquire noto-
riety from some peculiar local circum-
stance.
AS such the Storming Of Fort Snow
occupies place in the past history Of
Newberry County. Long and stoutly
it withstood siege after siege. But
alas ! it fell. This fortress was stu
ated between here and Helena, and
was considered impregnable. It was
known in vulgar parlance as "Blue
Ruin" Here rested for months the
gallant troops of Maj. Van Horn. It
was washed by a branch on one side,
and the Railroad on the other. Be.
sides these natural defences, it was
provided with batten doors and stout
window shutters, and was garrisoned
by FIVE women, veteran troops (each
one of whom was equal to thirteen
yoke of oxen, or an army Of 100000
men, for history Informs US that the
wife of Darius exercised an influence
over Alexander which no 100000
men could efect,) and one man armed
with two gallon syringe. The gar
rison were sufficient, every one will
see, to have driven back GVe-aye s.
900 times the forces that assailed it.
Twas on the evening of the l7th
September, 1858, that force Of some
thing less than q hundred men, lily
provided with arms, save few mis-
si!es (not known in ancient warfare)
such as brickbats; and destitute Of
heavy ordnance necessary to carry on
regular siege, might have been seen
on their winding way. Twilight came
on, and the mild breezes of the autumn
evening stole gently through the trem-
bling foliage above. The stars came
out in the sky, and the new moon dim
" shone out in the western horizon.
All was sweet and peaceful. While
nature was thus reposing, the band of
besiegers, with their souls wrought up
to the highest pitch, stood beneath a
venerable oak in the gathering shades,
anxiously gazing in the direction Of
the Fort. The besieged were wrap
ped in The arms of Morpheus. The
cackliDg of a goose saved the citadel
of Rome. The scratch of thistle on
the shin of Dane saved the Scottish
army. The barking Of fce-dog, Of
about the 10Th magnitude, saved the
garrison of Fort Snow from being cap
tured. They awoke to the tramp,
tramp, tramp of armed men. Who's
that? came up out Of the Fort. The
besiegers stopped-all hope of a sur
prise was lost. They demanded a sur
render, but the reply was one Of de-
fance. Undismayed, however, the
besiegers stood firm, closed sternly
around their leader, and attempted,
after the manner of the ancients, by
the use Of a log as a battering ram to
take it by storm.
Fiercely they rushed, twas freedom invited
them,
No shrill sounding trumpet to battle excited
them,
The banner of virtue unfurld did wave DER
them,
The heroes rushed on, and the door fell before