14.0 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



Ijoldness. The firing Vas no sooner heard thaj* 

 the advanced parties of both arrnies moved on 

 to battle ; supported and reinforced by their? 

 jregpectiye commanders, the battle became fierce 

 ^d obstinate ; the Americans aiming not to 

 receive, but to commence the attacks. From 

 the nature of the ground, the American generals 

 were unable to perceive^ thp different combina- 

 tions of the march of the royal troops ; and their 

 first attempt was to turn the right wing of the 

 British army, and flank their line. The strong 

 position of general Frazier prevented their being 

 able to execute this design. They next moved in 

 a very regular order, and made a furious attack 

 upon the left. The battle was now become 

 general, and both artmies appeared determined 

 tp cotjquer. A continued fire was kept up lor 

 diree hours, without any intermissiop. The 

 Americans and the British were alternately driv- 

 en, and drove each other. Several pieces of 

 British cannou were alternately taken apd re- 

 taken ; and the B'litish b?,yonet was repeatedly 

 tried withput effect. On both sides, the action 

 was kept gp with a resolution and stead iiiess 

 that nothing could exceed, and the approach of 

 darkness alone put an end to the contest of the 

 hostile battalions. The utmost that the British 

 army had been able to effect, was to remain on 

 the field ; and the Americans would not quit 

 their advantageous attacks, till the darkness of 

 the night put it out of their power to continue 

 the battle any longer. 



Severe and undecisive as the conflict had 

 been, the advantages that attended it, were 

 ■wholly on the American side. The British losif 



