The Spirit of '76
by Benjamin Cowell
Pub. Boston 1850
Page 235-6-7
The storming of these two redoubts is thus described by an elegant historian
(Botts).
"The besiegers had already commenced the labors of the second parallel, and
their activity seemed to increase every day. They were now but three hundred
yards from the place. The English endeavored to arrest them by a deluge of
bombs and balls. But the artillery of the first parallel kept up so heavy a fire
that the besieged, far from being able to interrupt the labors of the second,
soon beheld all their batteries upon their left flank dismounted. This event
was the more prejudicial to them, as it was against that very part that the
allies directed their principal attack. In order to complete their trenches,
it remained for them to dislodge the English from the two advanced redoubts, of
which we have made mention above. Washington gave orders that they should be
carried by assault. With a view of exciting emulation betwen the two
nations, the attack on the redoubt upon the right was committed to the Americans, and
that of the other to the French. The American detachment was commanded by
the Marquis de LaFayette and by Col. Hamilton, Aid-de-camp of the Commander in
Chief, a young man of the highest expectation. They were accompanied by Col.
Laurens, son of former President of Congress, who was at that time confined in
the Tower of London. He was also a youth of he fairest hope and would
infallibly have furnished a brilliant career if an untimely death had not snatched
him from his family and from his country.
"The Baron de Viomesnil, The Count Charles de Damas and the Count de Deux
Ponts, comanded the French. The commanders addressed their soldiers a short
exhortation to inflame their courage; they represented that this last effort would
bring them to the term of their glorious toils. The attack was extremely
impetuous. On its success depended in a great measure that of the siege.
Relying entirely upon their bayonets, the Americans advanced with unloaded arms;
they passed the abattis and palisades without waiting to remove them. The
English astonished at so much audacity attempted in vain to put themselves upon
defence. The humanity of the conquerors, equaled their courage; they granted life
to all those who demanded it, not withstanding the cruelties recently
committed at New London. Young Laurens gained great credit upon this occasion and
personally took the commanding officer prisoner. The loss was very moderate on
both sides. The redoubt upon the left cost more efforts; but at length, the
French chapeurs and grenadiers animated by the example of their chiefs,
carried it with the bayonet. This double conquest was no less useful to the allies,
than it was honorable for their arms. Washington presented the two regiments
of Gatinois and Deux Ponts who had contributed to it, with the two pieces of
cannon which they had taken. The besieged made no atempt to recover the two
redoubts. The besiegers hastened to include them in the second parallel, which
before the next morning was entirely completed. The situation of the
garrison was become so critical that it could no longer hope for safety. Cornwallis
foresaw perfetly thaat when the besiegers should have opened the fire of the
batteries of their second parallel, all means of resistance would fail him.
The greater part of his artillery was dismounted, broken or other wise
disabled; the walls were crumbled into the ditches; in a word, almost all the
defences were razed. Having lost the use of his heavy artillery, the British
commander gave with difficulty some sign of resistance by firing at intervals with
his howitzers and small mortars"
The part which Capt. Stephen Olney of the Rhode Island Line took and the men
under him, in this enterprise was not noticed at the time in the manner most
agreeable to the soldier, we have often heard "Capt. Olney in his life time,
speak of this, we have also often conversed with some of his men particularly
with John Strange, who when he made a declaration to obtain a pension make a
statement of this particular service. It was perhaps the most daring and
hazardous enterprise undertaken during the war. Capt. Olney was a brave but a modest
man, he did not complain of the injustice done him at the time, in the orders
of the day, but he felt it to the day of his death.. And it is in fact rather
extraordinary that LaFayette himself should not have been more careful in
doing justice to the most efficient officer of this forlorn hope.
Capt. Olney, informed us, as well as John Strange, that when the column began
its march towards the redoubts it was slow, silent and solemn, giving every
man an opportunity to reflect and prepare his mind for the worst.
Under all the circumstances it was indeed a "forlorn hope" and the
"hope" of
surviving the most "forlorn" of all. The redoubts were well manned and the
palisades thick. John Strange told us he was the first to press through them,
but we suppose there was not much difference in the time when both Capt. Olney
and Strange presented themselves within them. As soon as Capt. Olney got
through, he called out in a loud voice for "Capt. Olney's company to form
here"
This was done to make the enemy believe there were other companies besides his.
No sooner had he spoken, then he received several stabs from bayonets one in
his abdomen, through which his bowels began to protrude and he was obliged to
hold them in by his hand. At this moment John Strange informed us he shot
down a man who had his gun leveled at Capt. Olney's head; by this time most of
his men had got inside and the enemy soon surrendered. They made quick work of
it; Capt. Olney informed us the French were much longer in taking the redoubt
assigned to them. The storming and taking of these two redoubts, was a
brilliant affair and the deliberate manner in which it was done made it more so.
There was nothing now in the way to prevent the capture of the whole army of
the enemy, but to save blood and carnage, Cornawallis surrendered.
Capt. Olney was carried to the hospital and in a short time recovered from
all his wounds and again joined the army. But strange as it was, his bravery
was overlooked in the "General orders of the day" an affront which he, as a
military man could never forgive.
To be continued
Copied by Claire Dietz