Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-07-22
BRAVERY OF MARYLANp's 400 At
LONG ISLAND.

S. K. HARRISON.

AT
CHARLOTTE HALL. THURSDAY. JUNE. "a.
LADIES AND GESTLEMES On the
9th of August, 1916, we find the Ameri--
can army composed in part of the Mary
land troops stationed at Long Island.
Looking out over the quiet bay which
lay before them they could see the last
of the British ships landing in the har-
Dor. Little they though: Of the punish
ment they would receive that day, but
before the golden sun had hid its face
behind the western clouds over thous-
and American soldiers lay dead upon
the field. The battle began early in the
morning and for two or three hours the
storm ragged on. Finally the British
managed 90 attack the rear of the Amer
leans and il YVES seen that q retreat must
be made as speedily as possible. And
how was this retreat to be made While
part of the army made lis way across
creek whick lay TO the rear, the re-
naming part must hold the enemy back,
and TO the lot of the Maryland troops
fell this important work. The Maryland
line composed In part of the sous OF the
ronis due TO perfect equipment and
proud of being distinguished as the best
drilled and disciplined OF American for
ces, was now TO have its courage. its self
devotion and its discipline proved. In
their hands lay almost the freedom of
the country, they were te save the whole
army from complete destruction This
was indeed dark period in the history,
there were our countrymen being sur
rounded by the maddened foe while to
the rear lay a creek growing more and
more impossible by the rising tide. Gen.
Lord Sterling placing himself Mt the
head of these noble sons of Maryland
now hardly numbering 400 men prepared
for an assault upon five times their num-
Der of the best invading army who were
intlamed with all the arrogance of sue
cessful combat. Forming as hurriedly
as possible the light column advanced to
meet the enemy with unwavering front
On. on they marched to meet their fate
which they knew must come, but the
love of their country was so great that
they willingly gave their lives to save il.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon 10 left OF them,
Cannon In front them
Noileycd and Numbered.
StOrmed at with shot and sheli,
boldly they marched and well
Into the jaws OF death.
Into the mouth of he'll
Marched the four hundred.
Artillery plowed their fast thinning
ranks, infantry poured its yolleys of mus
kerry in almost solid sheets upon them,
and from the adjacent hills the deadly
Hessian 5igers sent messengers of death
into many a manly form. Still on they
went beating their way through the lines
of the enemy. Five times were they
driven back bat only TO renew the at
tack with increased vigor. They shook
whole brigade of British regulars, and
victory seemed almost within their
grasp, but the height of human endu-
rance had for the time been reached and
they were forced TO retreat. As Stirling
looked across the salt meadow away TO
the scene of his late struggle and saw
the confused masses of his conntrymen
crowding their way over creeks, mill
ponds or struggling through the muddy
tide-stream, lac felt how precious TO their
country's liberty were the lives of his
Tetreating soldiers and he again nerved
himself for a combat which he knew
could only prove sacrifice Once more
he called upon the survivors of the pre-
vious dreadful assault and again the
noble young men were gathered around
their general. How sadly he must have
locked upon scarcely more than bows.
so young, so braye, and 10 meet again
the pitiless iron hail. The impetus and
spirit of this charge carried them over
every obstacle quite mp to the enemy,
and CORVALLIS seemed about to aban-
don his position but the CALLING fire of
the enemy from the adjacent high
grounds with their overwhelming num-
beers again compelled a retreat. Rally
ing once more they flung themselves
upon the constantly reinforced ranks of
the enemy but the combat so long and
80 unequaliy sustained was now hasten
ing TO close. A few minutes more and
So6 OF the noble sons of Maryland were
either prisoners in the hands OF the enc
my or lay among the thickest of the
slain. In that hour OF sacrifice they had
not only sustained their former reputa-
ton Tor courage and fidelity, but they
had prevented the complete destruction
OF the retrcating American column and
made possible the glorious republic of
the West. Washington from an emf
nence within the American lines had
watched the conflict and rs he saw the
attack, the repulse and the courage, in
agony of heart he said. Great God"
what must my boys suffer today. How
much the cause of American lndepen-
dence owes to Maryland and her sons
history has not sufficiently told. Mary
land herself Is largely responsible for
this, her own writers have been slow to
give the full measure Of praise TO what
her great warriors and statesmen have
accomplished in the cause Of human
freedom II rests with the people of
Maryland To recognize and assert the
claims Of her great men 10 the worlds
consideration. II is not expected that
other sections win perform this duty for
her. Let us then keep alive the senti-
ment that urged On the 400 at Long Is
land. let us keep fresh the memory OF
These martyrs whose blood poured out
i'm the cause of liberty secured tC US tAe
blessings We Cow enjoy.
when can their Eiory faies
oh the wiid charRe they made
All the wurtd wourleFssf
Honor the charge they made
Homer the light brigade.
Nob'e four hundred.