which has so often deprived society of its brightest ornaments, we may be permitted to speak of the lamented Biddle, as a distinguished citizen, and a meritorious soldier of our country. Thomas Biddle was born in Philadelphia, about the year 1790, and was the son of Charles Biddle, Esq., a highly respectable citizen of that place; an active friend of his country in the days of the revolution, and the incumbent of several important offices, under the state of Pennsylvania. Capt. Nicholas Biddle, (the brother of Charles,) was a distinguished naval officer in the revolutionary war, and performed a series of gallant services, at a period when our navy was so insignificant in point of force, and opposed to such overwhelming superiority, as to render it an act of daring, even to hoist our flag upon the ocean, and a triumph of skill to show it with impunity. Alluding to these facts, and to the services of Major Thomas Biddle, and of several of his brothers, they were spoken of recently, on the floor of the senate of the United States, as "a family in which courage, patriotism, and talents, appear to be an inheritance." If under any circumstances it is excusable, in a republican government, to indulge the pride of family, it is when estimable and noble virtues are transmitted from one generation to another, and faithfully devoted to the public good. The object of this notice was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, where he became well grounded in the rudiments of those sciences, which were usually taught at that time. Whether he was graduated, we do not recollect, nor is it important. His aspirations were not for scholastic honours; nor was his disposition, in -youth, of that kind which tamely submits to the laborious drudgery, and arduous restraints of college discipline. His ambition was for active life, and perilous adventure. He longed for that kind of distinction which is to be earned by courage, and jeopardy of life. His own wishes were directed to a sea-faring life, and if we are not mistaken, he made one voyage in the merchant service, in which he endured much hardship; and was probably induced to yield his own predilections, in deference to the intentions of his father, who had destined him to the mercantile business. The war with Great Britain, which broke out in 1812, offered him the opportunity he had so anxiously desired, and opened for him that career, which best suited his genius; and on the 6th of July, of that year, he was appointed a captain in the 2d regiment of artillery, commanded by colonel, (afterwards general,) Izard, of which Winfield Scott, who became subsequently so eminently distinguished, was lieutenent colonel. Izard was soon promoted, and Scott became colonel. Captain Biddle was placed immediately on the recruiting service, and after completing his company, proceeded to the frontier. The first scene of active hostilities in which he was engaged, was at the reduction of Fort George The preparations for this purpose were completed, and the troops collected in the neighbourhood of fort Niagara, about the middle of May, 1813. These two forts being nearly opposite to each other, and separated only by the Niagara river, the final attack was preceded, by a destructive firing of artillery, between the batteries on either side, in which the Americans had the decided advantage. In the course of one night our artillery, under the direction of the veteran colonel Porter, assisted by Major Totten, of the engineers, and captain Archer, of the artillery, poured red hot shot into the enemy's combustible works, with such skill, that before morning they were a levelled mass of smoking ruins. The assault was made on the morning of the 27th of May. We cannot in this place give a detailed account of this brilliant affair. Captain Biddle, whose company acted as infantry, was in the advance, led by Scott. The main body of the army was divided into three brigades, the first led by Boyd, the second by Winder, and the third by Chandler. The troops were landed from our fleet, upon the lake shore above the fort. A heavy fog, which at first concealed them, began to disperse about nine o'clock, as they approached the shore, and unveiled them to the enemy. The ascending vapours, gilded by the bright sun beams, floating above, the lofty feet and bannered boats moving below, formed a scene at once imposing and beautiful. The enemy lay concealed in the woods, sheltered behind the natural breast works of the bank, until Scott came within reach of his shot, and then rising, poured into our advance corps, a severe fire. Undismayed by this reception, our troops, without firing a gun, landed, and rushed up the bank. The unbroken line, and far superior numbers of the enemy, forced them to recoil. Two or three times, his galiant little band ascended, with undiminished, but ineffectual valor, within the eight or ten minutes which intervened between the commencement of the attack, and arrival of the first brigade. Reinforced by the latter, our advance rushed again to the charge, and drove the enemy, who again formed at the village, under the protection of a destructive fire from the fort; but they were again beaten, and retreated, after evacuating the fort. As the flag of the fort was still flying, captain Hindman, of the artiliery, was detached, with his company to take possession of it. A few officers preceded him. As they approached, a magazine exploded. The remembrance of York made them pause; but entering immediately after, they cut down the flag staff, and the flag sunk among the ruins. At this moment a blazing portfire was seen protruded from a magazine of powder, which in another instant, would have exploded, and destroyed many lives. Captain Hindman deliberately withdrew the burning match and thus prevented the catastrophe. On an occasion where all who were engaged were thus signally distinguished, it is enough to say of captain Biddle tha'. he did his duty, and earned the approbation of his commander. In the action of Stony Creek, which followed shortly after, captain Biddle again fought under the command of the gallant Scott, and was among those whose good conduct was noticed by the commanding general. Thus in his first campaign; he had the fortune to be conspicuously engaged, and to deserve on each occasion the notice of his country. At the close of this campaign, the several artillery companies under the command of colonel Scott, being much reduced in number, were consolidated, and the supernumerary officers ordered to the interior. Captain Biddle was sent to Philadelphia, where he assumed the command of fort Mifflin, then garrisoned by a company of infantry, and a detachment of about 200 recruits belonging to the artillery. During this winter the three regiments of artillery were consolidated into one body, called the "corps of artillery," and colonel Scott became a brigadier general. The gallant Hindman whom we have mentioned, was promoted to a majority, in the corps. In the spring of 1814, captain Biddle, at his own solicitation, was ordered to select from the recruits at fort Mifflin, one subaltern and ninety men, and to proceed to Sacketts Harbour. He was labouring at this time under an ague, contracted on the frontier during the preceding autumn, and which had afflicted him throughout the winter. He proceeded, however, to obey his orders. Selecting his company from a large body of new recruits, enlisted chiefly in the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania, he was enabled to pick a body of young, healthy, hardy men, such as an enterprizing officer might be proud to command. He proceeded from fort Mifflin to Trenton by water conveyance, marched thence to Brunswick, and embarked in shallops for Albany. While in the boats, he was confined to his bed by sickness, and at Albany the company left him, too weak to march. He followed in the stage and overtook the company at Utica, where he met major Hindman, who delighted to encounter his gallant friend at the head of a fine company,changed his destination to Buffalo. Captain Biddle was again left sick at Utica, but again followed, 1832.] and joined his company within a few miles of Buffalo, and marched to the head quarters at that place. Such were his persevering efforts, in the performance of duty, or the pursuit of time. Buffalo was then a heap of ruins. The village had been burned by the British the preceding winter; and but one house was standing, on the spot which is now occupied by one of the most flourishing towns in New York. If any thing had been wanting to stimulate the ardour of our troops, it might have been found here, in the heaps of ashes, the solitary chimnies, the black and wide spread desolation, and the houseless families, who sometimes wandered back to their desecrated hearths. The army now assembled, was composed of choice materials. The generals, Brown, Scott, and Ripley, of the army, and Porter of the volunteers, were all in the vigor of life, had distinguished themselves in inferior grades, and been recently promoted to their present stations. The regiments and battalions were well commanded. Colonels Miller and Brady were excellent officers. The majors were young men, most of whom had been dis. tinguished as captains, and were still full of the fire and vigor of youth; such were Jessup, Leavenworth, McNeil, and Hindman. The battalion of artillery commanded by major Hindman, consisted of four companies, commanded by captains Towson, Biddle, Richie, and Williams, each company having three pieces of brass field ordnance, and equipped for service as light artillery. The time allowed for the disciplining of this army, would be thought insufficient by military men; but it was well spent and the event showed that where the officers are skilful and efficient,but little time is required to turn brave citizens into soldiers. Every hour was devoted to the drill or other duties, and the sentiment soon became general throughout this little army, that it was competent to meet its own numbers on any field. The army, about three thousand strong, crossed the Niagara river, at Black Rock, on the 3d of July, 1814, before daylight in the morning. A battalion of infantry, under major Jessup, and captain Biddle's company of artillery, were detached to reduce fort Erie, which was then a small, but strong work, mounting three guns. These troops moved forward with alacrity. Jessup had formed his men in the edge of the wood within musket shot of the fort; Biddle had displayed his battery within the same distance, and in sight of the work, when the flag was struck, and the garrison surrendered. Captain Biddle was ordered to take possession of the fort, and occupied it during the ensuing night. Within an hour manding general, in general orders. The We pass over the details of this active campaign, After the battle, the British destroyed which would of themselves, furnish interesting materials for a volume. their fort at Chippewa, and retreated to fort George, pursued by general Brown. The arrival of large reinforcements under lieutenant general Drummond, forced the American army to retreat in turn; and on their arrival at the falls of Niagara, another engagement took place, the battle of Bridgewater, probably the most bloody which has ever been fought on th's continent. This action commenced before sunset, and lasted until after midnight, the whole of which time was occupied with a succession of the most desperate onsets, in most of which the Americans were the assailants. The artillery bore a noble part in this battle. Three companies were engaged; those of Towson, Biddle, and Richie. Posted in different parts of the field, separate from each other, unable to follow the frequent and rapid movements of the line, and often unable to distinguish friend The next day, July 4th, was spent in marching to from foe, they were frequently placed in perplexing cirChippewa. Here the army was encamped on a beauti- cumstances, and sometimes exposed to capture. Hindful plain, which had been embellished with fine farms, man dashed from one company to another, his horse but the latter having been deserted at the approach of reeking with blood. Towson's vetaern company, so of our troops, and the fences torn down, the whole ground ten distinguished, was now dreadfully mangled. was open. Biddle's company of artillery, occupied an gallant Richie fell, literally covered with wounds. Bid. angle of the encampment, which projected towards the dle's company suffered considerable loss, and he was woods, on the opposite side from the river. It was a wounded in the neck by a musket ball. Two incidents point from which an attack might be apprehended, and which occurred, will show the confusion occasioned by a picket guard was stationed in the woods, in this direc- the darkness of the night, and attest the coolness of On the captain Biddle. He was at one time, stationed in a road tion, on a path leading towards the camp. morning of the 5th, about 10 o'clock, an alarm was which was raked by his pieces. The enemy had been heard in that direction, several muskets were fired, and pressed from the ground they had at first occupied, and then two or three individuals were seen emerging from as our line advanced, Biddle changed his position from the wood, and running towards the camp. Biddle sprung time to time, advancing with them, and keeping up a on his horse, and gallopped forward-several officers of heavy fire along the road, or on either side of it, as ocThe firing the general's staff hastened to the same spot, but Bid-casion required. Suddenly, several battalions changed dle's position being the nearest to the point of alarm, position, and a corps of our own army was interposed The black volumes of smoke The and the other officers having started from the opposite between Biddle's battery, and the enemy. side of the camp, the former reached the fugitives first, ceased on both sides. and finding that they belonged to the picket which had settled down, and thick darkness succeeded. been attacked, he sternly ordered them back to their heavy tramp of men and horses, was heard on every side. post. The men instantly rallied, the whole picket was Bodies of troops were moving rapidly in different dicollected, formed, and le! back by captain Biddle, as-rections, but whether friend or foe, could not be dis, sisted by the officer commanding the guard, who, how- tinguished. To remain thus situated, was to be expos ever much appearances were against him, had really dis-ed momently to be captured, or cut to pieces: to move was impossible. Silence and vigilance alone remained. played no want of courage. For his conduct on this occasion, captain Biddle was complimented by the com- The men exhausted with several hours severe duty, sat down at their posts, the officers leaned up- CASES OF CHOLERA PRIVATE PRACTICE, AS REPORTED TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH, (Continued from page 112.) British dragoons, led by a serjeant. Taking our artillery for a company of their own army, which he had probably left at the same spot, he asked for the captain. "Here," said Biddle; "I have a wagon in charge," replied the other, "the army seems to have retreated and left me in the rear, I know Date. Residence. Age. Femal | Male. White | Black. Result. Carpenter, above 6th, Moyamensing 6 St. John's, above Poplar lane, N.L. 55 1 do 1 Corn. Catherine & Swanson, Southw. 46 1 1 conval. do 361 10 13 do 12 1 1 do Arch, above 5th, do 11th, bet. Spruce and Pine, city Ninth, below Christian, South, above 13th, Race, bet. Schuyl. 7th and 8th, do not what to do with it." "Leave it with Aug 12 No. 52, Mary street, city After this engagement the army retired to fort Erie, which was, as we have stated, a small fortress, mounting but three guns, and not capable of containing more than one company. It was now included in the delences of an extensive line of works, which were thrown up for the protection of our shattered army. The erection of these works was an herculean labor. Our gallant army was reduced to a mere handful, worn down with fatigue, and afflicted with sickness. Drummond, with a numerous and well appointed army, sat down before the intrenchments, but seemed unwilling to risk another battle. Our troops labored upon the works day and night. At last, when the defences were nearly complete, general Drummond, who might probably have succeeded at an earlier period in capturing Fourth, below Shippen, Southw. 26 999 Sixth, bet. Chesnut and Market, city 39 do 40 1 1 sudden do do 19 1 27 1 16 re-action Corner Pearl and Race, city 1 1 Passyunk road, Moyamensing 1 dead collaps. do 1 1 conval. do conval. dead Carpenter, below 6th, Southwark 22 Beach, above Poplar lane, Kens. 42 Passyunk, 162, 1.ombard, city 10 Elizabeth street, Juniper, below Chesnut, city Lombard, near 3d, 11 our feeble and exhausted garrison, made the memoriable assault of the 15th September. The details of the events of that glorious night are before the public. The British troops, infuriated, as is supposed, by a double ration of rum, rushed to the attack, with the dreadful cry of "no quarters!" And they were met with the spirit of men who neither asked, nor expected mercy. They were repulsed with dreadful slaugh ter. Here the battalion of artillery lost two of its finest officers, captain Williams, and lieutenant McDonough, who were slain. Captain Biddle distinguished himself on this occasion, by removing a howitzer from his battery, and placing it in a position to rake the ditch, which was crowded with the enemy, at great personal hazard. He was again honourably mentioned in general orders. The whole of this siege, but particularly that part of it which occurred after the assault, was calculated to try the firmness of our army to the utmost. The enemy's works were advanced so near as to throw round shot and shells into the fort; and during the latter part of the siege their batteries played upon the garrison incessantly. For more than six weeks there was scarcely an hour in the day or night in which bombs and shrapnell shells were not bursting in the air, and cannon balls sweeping through the area of the fort; not a day or night in which a number were not kil.ed. Nor was any spot secure; general Gaines was wounded by the bursting of a bomb-shell, as he sat writing in his own quarters. The troops were all in tents; the one occupied by captain BidIdle and his lieutenant, was destroyed by piecemeal during the siege, being torn in nearly twenty places, at different times, by fragments of shells and other missiles. One of these, a fragment of more than a pound weight, pierced entirely through the mattress on which those gentlemen were sitting. Biddle himself was struck down on one occasion by a small fragment of a shell, which fell perpendicularly on his shoulder, pierced through the strap of the epaulet, and penetrated to the bone; on another, a soldier who stood at the opening of the tent, had his head completely crushed, while the brains were thrown upon a dish, which the captain's servant was about to place on the table. Unfortunately for the garrison, the season was remarkably rainy. The fort was situated on a level plain, on the margin of the lake; the heavy rains pouring continually upon it, and the treading of so many men, reduced the whole ground to one great mud puddle. The service itself was severe. The artillery espe cially were ordered to sleep in their clothes and accoutrements, and to man the guns at every alarm. These occurred, not only every day and night, but often, every hour. The real alarms were numerous; the false alarms, occasioned by the mistake or inadvertence of the sentinels, or the accidental firing of guns in the woods, were still more frequent. In every such instance the artillery paraded at the guns, remained perhaps long enough to be thoroughly drenched with the rain, then returned to their tents, to sleep for an hour in their wet clothes, and be again called on for duty. The rains were so incessant, that the tents and the CHOLERA CASES CONTINUED. ground under them, the baggage and the men's clothes, became thoroughly wet, so that at times, neither officers nor men had a dry change of clothes. The supply of Date. provisions became scanty. Although a communication was kept open with Buffalo, Residence. across the lake, yet this was often rendered Aug 13 Plumb, near Fifth, Southwark difficult by stormy weather, when the boats could not pass, and was hazardous at all times, from the fact that [the boats were obliged to pass, for a short distance, within point blank shot of the enemy's batteries. Most of the officers were, besides, totally destitute of money; and they lived, in general, like the privates, upon their rations of meat and bread. Sickness began to prevail to an alarming degree; and even those who remained on duty, were enfeebled and worn down by fatigue and exposure. Add to this the continual exposure of ghastly corpses, the dreadful groans and excruciating pains of the sick, the wounded, and the dying; the sick destitute of every comfort, and the dying of every consolation; and it will be seen that this little army endured a complication of dangers and sufferings, which can scarcely be realized by any who have not had the same experience. We have been thus particular, because such trials afford the severest test of the soldier's courage and sense of duty. It is true, that the brightest laurels are won upon the field of battle; because the achievements of the field are presented most vividly to the public eye. But it should be remembered, that the most desperate battle is but brief in its continuance, and that the warrior is borne through it by proud feelings, and stimulating circumstances, which render it easy to be brave. He earns his laurels nobly, and deserves them. But on an occasion like that which we have attempted to describe, when all the dangers of the battle continued for weeks; when hunger, sickness, and exposure, add their terrors; when every day shows some friend m tiluted or slain; when none of the stirring incidents, or gaudy scenes of the battle field are presented to the eye or the heart-it is then that patriotism becomes a deliberate principle, and courage is seen as the noble result of enlightened reason. It was under such circumstances, that the friend whose loss we deplore, and whose memory we honour, showed himself worthy of his country and his name. His fortitude was equal to every exigency, his vigilance was unceasing, his performance of all his duties exact and punctual, his affectionate care and kindness towards those under his command, generous and unremitting. It was then that he shone as the feeling man, the high minded patriot, and the thorough soldier. The sortie from fort Erie, one of the best planned, and most brilliantly executed exploits of that war, closed the active operations of this campaign. The enemy were surprised in their intrenchments in open day, beaten with great loss, and soon after raised the siege, and retreated; leaving General Brown master of the seat of war, and victor at the close of a campaign which has not been exceeded in this country, either in duration, in the number or severity of its conflicts, or the brilliancy of its results. The campaign being thus honorably end 8 Age. White's alley, below Shippen, Moy 33 Atkinson court, city 26 do. do. do, do. Corner of Hurst and Lombard, city 12 1 1 Gamphor court, Southwark 2 1 1 Bedford, near Eighth, Moy. 32 Coates alley, city dead conval. 1 1 |