totally
ceased. Orders were given, in case of Lamotte's approach, not to alarm
or fire on him without a certainty of killing or taking the whole. In
less than a quarter of an hour, he passed within ten feet of an officer
and a party that lay concealed. Ladders were flung over to them; and, as
they mounted them, our party shouted. Many of them fell from the top of
the walls,--some within, and others back; but, as they were not fired
on, they all got over, much to the joy of their friends. But, on
considering the matter, they must have been convinced that it was a
scheme of ours to let them in, and that we were so strong as to care but
little about them or the manner of their getting into the garrison.

The firing immediately commenced on both sides with double vigor; and I
believe that more noise could not have been made by the same number of
men. Their shouts could not be heard for the fire-arms; but a continual
blaze was kept around the garrison, without much being done, until about
daybreak, when our troops were drawn off to posts prepared for them,
about sixty or seventy yards from the fort. A loophole then could
scarcely be darkened but a rifle-ball would pass through it. To have
stood to their cannon would have destroyed their men, without a
probability of doing much service. Our situation was nearly similar. It
would have been imprudent in either party to have wasted their men,
without some decisive stroke required it.

Thus the attack continued until about nine o'clock on the morning of the
24th. Learning that the two prisoners they had brought in the day before
had a considerable number of letters with them, I supposed it an express
that we expected about this time, which I knew to be of the greatest
moment to us, as we had not received one since our arrival in the
country; and, not being fully acquainted with the character of our
enemy, we were doubtful that those papers might be destroyed, to prevent
which I sent a flag [with a letter] demanding the garrison.[446-5]

* * * * *

The firing then commenced warmly for a considerable time; and we were
obliged to be careful in preventing our men from exposing themselves too
much, as they were now much animated, having been refreshed during the
flag. They frequently mentioned their wishes to storm the place, and put
an end to the business at once. The firing was heavy through every crack
that could be discovered in any part of the f