The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-01-29


he undertook to convince the British
commander by argument (before resort
ing to arns) that resistance would be
worse than unavailing. Indeed the brave
and brilliant Frenchman seemed to feel
that the mere prestige of his name and
the known valor Of his troops would be
sufficient to make the gates Of the town
hy open to him When he found that
the pluckY garrison would certainly
fight him to the last moment he made
ready to reduce the place by dege; but
soon enough he discovered that the
works, although not formidable from an
engineering point Of view, were SUN.
ciently strong to render them very hard
to reduce by the batteries at his COM
mand At this point Gen. Lincoln
could not aid him much, having no ef-
fective gunA Nothing was left but to
take the lines by storm, and this was
agreed upon between the French and
the American commanders.
The British were aware Of what had
been determined on by the allied forces.
Maynard, now promoted to captaincy,
had managed to ascertain through spies
that preparations for an assault all along
the line had been going on during the
night. He was In command Of two
companies, stationed really outside the
works, but protected by the loop Of
canebrake and wooded swamp through
which Grampus had led Rose. Little
did he dream that Miss Fenwicke was
90 near him while he was maturing his
plans for distinguishing himself by tax
ing the enemy In the flank whenever they
should attempt to charge past theswamp
where he lay in ambush. He was .
good soldier enough, and he was cum
ming a. well as daring. Two heavy
pistols hung at his side and his sword
was unusually long to suit his stature
and great strength. he was ready when
at last, Just at dAybreGk, the grand
charge took place, and right stubbornly
did he meet Il
Prescott, now q brave major, led the
storming column that was 10 attempt
the line in the rear Of the swamp, and
% It happened that the rivals met In the
fun food Of the battle. With such vigor
and swiftness did the little body Of
Americans come down upon their an
tagonists that It was scarcely breath be-
tween the start and the crash Of their a.
sault Firing as they sped forward, 90
accurate was their aim that Maynard's
men were thrown into confusion and
broke badly. This apparent success was
bad for Prescott and his command, for
deeming themselves victorious they
yelled vigorously and swept on beyond
the swamp, unaware Of the battery plant
ed there with curtains Of earthwurkS
hanling II and manned with o doubla
hne Of men.
A roar Of artillery and Q close, deadly
volley Of musketry did the work. Itwaa
useless for Prescott to wave hs sword
and rave at his flying men. They were
now as wildly scared and a. thoroughly
beaten as o moment before they had
been Enthusiastically victorious There
was nothing for him to do but 10 hy
with them and try 10 get them back to
their senses, but the farther they ran the
more they scattered themselves and the
more unmanageable they became. Be-
fore they had retreated beyond tho
swamp they were badly cut up, and
every man was seeking his own safety in
his own way. Indeed II was % all along
the line. The French Jared even worse
than the Americans, Count d'Estaing
himself receiving . wound, which seems
10 have made him In . great hurry to
raise the Siege and re-embark. The
charge while II lasted, however, ives one