s favorite hero and friend was seized with the compunctions of
magnanimity;--he remembered what ancient Britons were; he remembered
that something was due to the character of Sir Thomas M. Hardy. Three
hours in fact elapsed, when at 8 in the evening the attack was commenced
by a discharge of shells from the bomb ship. Several barges and
launches had taken their stations in different points, from whence they
threw Congreve rockets, and carcasses. This mode of attack was continued
incessantly till midnight; and the fire was returned occasionally from
the battery, as the light of the rockets gave opportunity with any
chance of success.

The few drafted militia which had been sometime stationed there, under
command of Lieutenant Hough, were placed in the best directions to give
an alarm in case a landing should be attempted. During the night the
volunteers and militia had assembled in considerable numbers; and the
non-combatant inhabitants had generally removed to the neighboring
farm-houses, in the momentary expectation of seeing their abandoned
dwellings in flames. It was a night of inexpressible anguish to many a
widow and orphan, to many aged and infirm, whose little pittance they
were now apparently to lose forever. But Providence directed otherwise.
This compact little village of 100 buildings had been for four hours
covered with flames of fire and bomb shells, and not a single building
was consumed nor a person injured.

At the dawn of day on the 10th, the approach of the enemy was announced
by a discharge of Congreve rockets from several barges and a launch,
which had taken their station, on the east side of the town, and out of
reach of the battery. Several volunteers, with small arms and the four
pounder, hastened across the point, supposing the enemy were attempting
a landing. Colonel Randall of the 13th regiment, who at the time was
moving towards the battery with a detachment of militia, ordered them to
assist the volunteers in drawing over one of the 18 pounders to the
extreme end of the point; the fire of which in a few minutes compelled
the barges to seek safety in flight. During this time the brig was
working up towards the Point, and soon after sunrise came to anchor,
short of half a mile from the battery, (or more correctly, the
breastwork). Our ammunition being soon exhausted, the guns were spiked,
and the men who fought them, being only about 15 or 20,[5] retired,
leaving them behind for want of streng