remarking that, as the Americans had never yet dared
to attack, there was no great probability of their doing so on
the present occasion.

In this manner the day passed without any further alarm; and
darkness having set in, the fires were made to blaze with
increased splendour, our evening meal was eaten, and we prepared
to sleep. But about half-past seven o'clock, the attention of
several individuals was drawn to a large vessel, which seemed to
be stealing up the river till she came opposite to our camp; when
her anchor was dropped, and her sails leisurely furled. At first
we were doubtful whether she might not be one of our own cruisers
which had passed the fort unobserved, and had arrived to render
her assistance in our future operations. To satisfy this doubt,
she was repeatedly hailed; but returning no answer, an alarm
immediately spread through the bivouac, and all thought of sleep
was laid aside. Several musket-shots were now fired at her with
the design of exacting a reply, of which no notice was taken;
till at length, having fastened all her sails, and swung her
broadside towards us, we could distinctly hear some one cry out
in a commanding voice, "Give them this for the honour of
America." The words were instantly followed by the flashes of her
guns, and a deadly shower of grape swept down numbers in the
camp.

Against this destructive fire we had nothing whatever to oppose.
The artillery which we had landed was too light to bring into
competition with an adversary so powerful; and as she had
anchored within a short distance of the opposite bank, no
musketry could reach her with any precision or effect. A few
rockets were discharged, which made a beautiful appearance in the
air; but the rocket is at the best an uncertain weapon, and these
deviated too far from their object to produce even terror amongst
those against whom they were directed. Under these
circumstances, as nothing could be done offensively, our sole
object was to shelter the men as much as possible from the iron
hail. With this view, they were commanded to leave the fires,
and to hasten under the dyke. Thither all accordingly repaired,
without much regard to order and regularity, and laying ourselves
along wherever we could find room, we listened in painful silence
to the pattering of grape-shot among our huts, and to the shrieks
and groans of those who lay wounded beside them.

ATTACK.

The night was now as dark as pitch, the m