Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-08-21

They found it regularly fortified, ana
defended by some good works,a num-
ber of excellent cannon, garrisoned by
about 500 regular troops, and incap-
able by extent of being completely IN
vested by such an army as ours, ana
in condition, therefore, of being con-
stantly supplied from the country, ana
reinforced by the natives, fierce ana
daring people, who in a short time
came to the assistance of the place
with a body of ten thousand men,
armed in their barbarous fashion,
Before batteries could be erected, the
enemy attempted sally with about
four hundred men. But this essay OF
their strength proved extremely dis
couraging to them, and they were oD-
liged to retire with loss and precipita-
ton.
The superior skill and bravery OF
our troops appeared in so striking
light in this little engagement that 1t
was thought it might prove an induce
, ment to the governor to endeavor at
advantageous terms by an early sur
render. But his answer to the sum-
mons of our commander was more
spirited than the behavior of his gar
rison had hitherto proved 1t was
plain we had to expect nothing but
what we were able to command.
Through all the difficulties of the
season our works proceeded, and by
the indefatigable vigor and unconquer-
able spirit of our soldiers and seamen,
three batteries for cannon and NOR
tars were raised, and played on the
town with considerable effect. The
Indians from time to time contiued
their attack; but they rather molested
our troops, than obstructed their pro-
gress. Equally ignorant of the laws
of humanity and of arms, they MUIR
dered our people wherever they met
them dispersed from the army; and
even perpetrated the same cruelty on
an English officer, employed under the
protection of a flag of truce, and an
act of generosity to an enemy, in con-
Quoting into the town the governors
nephew, who had been taken. Their
savage cruelty entitled them to no
mercy; and whenever they fell into
the hands the English soldiers they
found none.
The operations against the town
proceeded with unremitted vigor and
diligence. The bombardment contin-
ued day and night. The navy which
had hitherto assisted no otherwise
than by furnishing men and stores lin
which, however, it was of greatest SER
vice. began now to take direct part.
They placed themselves as near the
town as the depth of the water would
admit, and began fire in order to sec
ond the operations of the land forces,
by enfilading the front they proposed
to attack. Although the shadows OBJ
liged the ships to keep too great dis
tance to have all thee feet they wished
this fire, which which was opened on
new quarter, and was kept up without
intermission, added not little to the
fatigue of the garrison, and to the con-
fusion and terror Of the inhabitants.*
The Spaniards, seeing their fortifica-
tions no longer tenable, determined to
make a conclusive effort, and to avail
themselves of the strength of the gar
rison, which their free communication
with the country had made as num-
erous as they could wish. For that
purpose htey projected a sally, dis
posed in two attacks upon the two
most important posts of the English.
The Spaniards were at length
driven off with the loss of seventy
men; nor were we freed from these
resolute attacks without loss on our
side, brave officer having fallen, and
forty men being killed or wounded.
This was the enemy's last effort. They
were now confined to the walls. Dis
couraged by their frequent and bloody
repulses, the greatest part of the In
dians returned home. The fire of the
batteries, which had been a little in
terrupted by these attacks, recon-
menced with greater spirit and with a
more decisive effect than ever so that
the next day the enemys cannon we're
all silenced, and the breach appeared
practicable.
Any other people but the Spaniards
OF this garrison, in these circum-
stances, would have immediately pre-
pared a capitulation, when no law Of
honor, because no prospect of sue
cess, required further defense; at
least, if they had desperately resolved
on the last extremity, they would have
made such works and posted their
men in such manner, as to have made
the first attempt to storm as desperate
on our side, as this too late defense
was on theirs But their resolution