Yet there are some for whom the story of _The Attack_ has not yet lost its interest. They learned it in childhood, from the lips of those who shared the perils and the glory of the action. They grew up, amid associations which could hardly fail to kindle an honest pride in their birth-place. To them, the "Tenth of August" was not merely a school-holiday, but an anniversary entitled to equal honors with Independence Day itself. They have helped draw the "old Eighteens," through the streets of the Borough, in solemn procession to the site of the demolished Battery. They have seen the cherished Flag--pierced and torn in a dozen places by the enemy's shot,--float again from the flag-staff, in honor of the day: and some of them were standing by when "Old Hickory" bared his head to salute it, and bade the citizens preserve, with all care, this precious memorial of the courage and patriotism of their townsmen. It is for these--the companions of my own school-days,--and in honor of the volunteers of 1814, that I have reproduced some of the contemporary accounts of the attack and defence of Stonington. The first (pp. 9-20) was written by Col. Samuel Green, the publisher of the _Connecticut Gazette_, who visited the Borough during the action, and obtained his knowledge of facts of which he was not an eye-witness, from the actors themselves and from official sources. This account, printed in the _Gazette_, of August 17th, was copied into many of the newspapers in the northern states, and appeared in Niles's _Weekly Register_, November 5th, with some additional particulars. Following this, are copies of the muster-roll of the Borough company of militia; the official account furnished for publication by the magistrates, warden and burgesses (pp. 24-32); and a letter from Capt. Amos Palmer, chairman of the citizens' committee of defence, to Mr. Crawford, secretary of war, containing a concise narrative of the action. Philip Freneau's _Battle of Stonington_,--though not of the highest order of lyric excellence,--challenges favorable comparison with many of the loyal effusions which have found their way to the public, during the present war; and will be welcomed as an old friend by some who value patriotism more than poetry. T. _Hartford, Conn., July 28th, 1864._ THE DEFENCE OF STONINGTON. [From the Conn. Gazette, Aug. 17th, 1814.] RECORD OF THE EXTRAORDINARY ATTACK ON STONINGTON.[1] NEW LONDON, AUGUST 17, 1814. On Tuesday the 9th instant, at 5 P. M. the _Ramilies_, 74, _Pactolus_, 38, a bomb ship, and the _Dispatch_, 22 gun brig, arrived off Stonington, and a flag was sent on shore with the following note-- "_On board his Majesty's Ship, Ramilies, Stonington, Aug. 9._ TO THE MAGISTRATES OF STONINGTON.