Star. — London, England, 1815-03-10 00:00:00

amen, and 400 marines, the sth West Wilk ri gia . went, and four Feces of artillery, under the corm mend of Colonel Mormon, of the 85th, was to pass over during the night, and move along the right bank towards . New Orleans, clearing its front until it reached the Il4nking battery of the enemy on that side, which it had orders to carry. The assailing of the enemy's line in front of us, was to be made by the brigade composed of the 4th, :Um, and 41ah regiments, with three companies of the 95th, under Major-General Gibbs ; and by the 3d brigade, euns . e.ing of the 93d, two companies of the 95th, and two companies of the fusileers, and 43d, under M ijor-General Keane; some bla.:1; troops were destined to skirmish in the wood on the right.— The rein:lite' attack was to be made by Major-Ge neral Gibbs. The Ist brigade, consisting of the In sikers and 431, formed the reserve. The attacking columns were to be provided with fascines, scaling ladders, and rafts—the whole to be at their cadet's before day-light. An advanced battery in our fient of six eighteen-pounders, was thrown up during the night, about eight hundred yards from the enemy's line. The attack was to be made at the earliest houi. , Unlooked for dill:ultics, increased by the failing of the river, occasioned considerable delay in the en.; tr ince of the armed boats, and those destined to land! Colonel Thornton's corps, by which four or five hours were lost, and it was not until past five in ti e! triornieg, that the Ist division, consisting of five hundred men, were.over. The sosembl.: of the gene ral movement was lost, an 3 iu a point which was of the list impottance to the attack on the left bank of the river,. although Colonel Thornton, as your Lord.o ship will see in his report, which I enclose, ably exit. cuted in every particular his instructions, and fully i justified the confidence the Commander of the Forces placed in his abilities. The delay attending that corps occasioned some on the left bank, and the at tack 'did not take place until the columns were dis cernible from the enemy's line at more than 200 yards distance ; as they advanced, a continued and most galling fire was opened from every part of their line, and from the battery on the right bank. The brave Commander of the Forces, who never in his life could refrain from being at the post of honour, and sharing the danger to which the troops were exposed, as soott as from his station be had made the signal for the troops to advance, galloped on to the front to animate them by his presence, and he was seen, with his hat off, encouraging them on the crest of the glacis ; it was there, (almost at the same time) he received two wounds, one in his knee, and another, which was almost instantly fatal, in his body ; he fell in the arms of Major M.Daugall, Aide-de-Camp. The effect of this in the sight of the troops, together with Major-Gene ral Gibbs and Major-General Keane being both b irne off wounded at the same time, with maily other commanding dicers, and further, the preparations to aid in crossing the ditch not being so forward as they ought to have been, from, perhaps, the men being wounds.d who were carrying them, caused a wavering in the colutnn, which in such a situation became :neva:able; and as I advanced with the re serve, at about two Mildred and fifty yards froin the line, I had the mortification to observe the whole fading back upon me in the great:st contusion. In this situation, finding that no impression had been made, that thuugh many men had reached the ditch, and were either drowned or obliged to surren d r, and that it was impossible to restore order in the regiments where they ware, I placed the reserve in poAtion, en:il I could obtain such information as to determine me haw to act to the best of my judg mont, and whether or nut I should resume the at tack, and if so, I felt it could be done only by the reserve. The confidence I have in the corps cum posing it, would have encouraged me greatly, though not without loss, which might have made the at tempt of serious consequence, as I know it was the opinion of the late distinguished Commander of the Forcet, that the carrying cf the first line would not be the least arduous Service. After making the best reflections I was capable of, I kept the ground Cit. troops then held, and went to meet Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, and to tell him, that under all the circumstances, I did not think it prudent to renew the attack that day. At about ten o'clock 1 learnt of the success of Colonel Thornton's corps on the right bank. I sent the commanding officer of the artillery, Colonel Dickson, to examine the situa tion of the battery, and to report if it was tenable; but informing me that he did not think it could be held with security by a smaller corps than two thoti sand men, I consequently ordered Lieutenant-Colo nel Gubbins, on whom the command had devolved (Colonel Thornton being wounded) to retire. The army remained in position until night, in order to gain time to destroy the eighteen-pounder battery we had constructed the preceding night in advance. I then gave orders for the troops re suming the ground they occupied previous to the attack. • Ou. loss has been very severe, but I trust it will not be considered, notwithstAnding the failure, that this army has suffered the military character to be tarnished. I am satisfied, had I thought it right to renew the attack; that the troops would have ad vanced with eneerfulitess. The services of both army and navy, since th, it landi .g on this co Ist, have been arduous beyond any thing I have ever witnessed, and difficulties have been gr , t over with an assiduity and perseverance beyond all sample by all ranks, and toe most hearty co-cperation has existed between the two services. It is not tit cessary for me to expatiate to you upon the lugs the army has sustained in blejor-General the IlonourAble Sir E. Pikenham, Commander-in- Chief of this force, nor could I in adequate terms. His services and mer:ts are so well Itisown, that I have may, in common with the whole army, to express my sincere regret, and which may be sup. posed at this moment to cvme peculiarly home to me. Major-General Gitotts,' who died of hi, wounds the followibg day, and Kijor-G.:neral Keane, who were both cariied off the field within twenty yards of the at the head of their brigiilis, sufficiently *peak at such a moment how they were conducting themselves. I am happy to say blajor.Geoeral Keine is doing well. Captain Wylly, Of the Fusileers, Military Secre tary to the lice Commander of the Forces, will have the honour of delivering to your Lordship these dis patches, Xuowin, bow much he eninTe4 his este em, • :a . •• . • • • and was in dais confideneefrom a long experience of hie talents, I fed I cannot do less than pay this tri bu'teao what I conceive would be the wishes of his iste General, and to recommend him strongly to your Lordship's protection. I have, &c. (Signed) 301114 LAMBERT. Major-General, Commending Camp Olt the Left Sank of the Mississippi, 9 miles • from New Orleans, Dee 26, 1814. SIR-I have the honour to inform you, that be ' tureen the 17th and 22d instant, the troops destined for the attack of New Orleans, were collected at Isle Aux Prix, which is at the entrance of the Pearl River. Having learnt that it was possible to effect a landing at the head of the Bayone Catalan, which runs into Lake Borgne. I directed Major Forrest, Assistant- Quarter-Master-General, to have it reccnnoitred. L:eut. reddie, of that department, accompanied by the Hon. Captain Spencer of the Navy, ascer tained on the night of the Mr, that boats could reach the head of the Bayone t from which a communica titer might be made to the laigh road, on the left bank of the Mississippi, leading to New Orleans. Oa the mornirig of the 22J, every arrangement being made by Vice Admiral the Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane, I iielernained to attempt it. The light brigade. composed of the 85th and 95th regiments, Captain Line's rocketeers, 100 uppers and miners, and the 4th regiment as a support, the whole under the command of Colonel Thornton, were placed in the boats, and the 21st, 44th, and 93d regiments. under Colonel Broelre, and a large proportion of artil lery under Major Munro, were embarked is small boats. • • At 10 A.M. on the 22d, we sailed from Pearl River and reached the head of the liayone at day-light next morning. A landing was immediately effected, without any other opposition than the country pre sented—Captain Blanchard, of the Royal Engineers, in the course of two hours, opened a cornmuarcation through several fields of reeds, intersected by deep muddy ditches, bordered by a low swampy wood: Colonel Thornton then advanced, and gained the high road, taking up a position with the right resting on the road, and the lelt on the Mississippi. In this situation I intended to remain until the boats returned for the rest of the troops to the vessels, some of which grounded at a great distance. At about eight o'clock in the evening, when the men, much fatigued by the length of time they had been in the boats. were asleep in their bivouac, a heavy flanking tire of round and grape shot was opened upon them, by a large schooner and two gun vessels, which had dropped down the liver from the toxn, and anchored abreast of our fires—immediate steps were necessary to cover the. men, and Colonel Thornton, in the most prompt and judicious manner, placed his hi igade under the inward slope of the bank oi the river, as did also Lieutenant-Colonel Brooke, of the 4th Regiment, behind some buildings which were near that corps. This movement was so rapid that the troops suffered no more than a single ca sualty. Tire teree-pounders, being the only guns up, the success ut a few 12-pound rockets, ditectrd by Captain Lane, was tried against these vessels, but the ground on which it was necessary to lay them not being even, they were found'nut to answer, and their firing was ceased. A most vigorous attack was then made on the advanced front and right flank picquets, the toriner of the 95. h, under Captain Haller), the latter the . 85th, uoder Captain Schaw ; these officers, and their respective picquets, conducted themselves with great firrnnes',, and L.-eclat' the enemy for a considerable time, but renewing their attack with a large force, and pressing at these points, Colonel Thermo': judged it necessary to move up the remainderof both corps. Tice 85th regiment was commanded by lire. vet Major Gubbins, whose conduct cannot be too much commended ; on the approach of his regiment to the point of attack, the enemy, favoured by die darkness of the night, concealed themselves under a high fence which separated the fields, and calling to the men as friends, under pretence of being psi t of our own farce, offered to assist them in getting over, which was no sooner accomplished than the 85th found itsi.l; in the midst of very superior numbers, who, discovering then.l( Ives, called on the regiment immediately to surrender—the answer was an instan taneous attack ; a more extraordinary conflict has perhaps never occurred, absolutely hand to hand, both officers and men. It terminated in the repulse of the enemy, with the capture of thirty prisoners. A similar finesse was attempted with the 95th regiment, which met the same treatment. The enemy Ending his reiterated attacks were re pulsed by Colonel Thornton, at half-past ten o'clock advanced a large column against our centre ; per ceiving his intention, I directed Colonel Stovin to order Lieutenant-Colonel Dale, with one hundred and thirty men of the 93d regiment, who had just reached the camp, to move forward, and use the bayonet, holding the 4th regiment in hAnd, formed in line, as my last reserve. Colonel Dale endea voured to execute his orders, bat the crafty enemy would not meet him, seeing the steadiness of his small body, gave it a heavy fire and quickly retired.. Colo nel Brooke, with four companies of the 21st regi ment, fortunately appeared at that moment on our right !link, and sufficiently secured it from further attack. The enemy now determined on making a last ef fort, and, co,lecting the whole of his force, formed an extebsive line, and moved directly against the light brigade. At first this line drove in all the ad vanced pots, but Colonel Thornton, whose noble ex ertions had guaranteed all former success, was at hand ; he rallied his brave comrades round him, and moving forwards with a firm determination of charg ing, appalled the enemy, who, from the lesson he had received on the same ground in the early part of the evening, thought it prudent to retire, and did not again dare to advance. It was now twelve o'clock, and the'firing ceased on both sides. From the best information I can obtain, the ene my's force amounted to five thousand men, and was commanded by Maj , )r.General Jackson; judging from the number hit on the field, his loss mu•t have been severe. I now beg leave to inclose a list of our casualties on that night, and have only to hope it will appear • to you that every officer and soldier on shore did his duty. To Sir Ale:arider Cochrane / •feel particularly obliged for his very friendly counsel and ready com pliance with every wish I expressed respecting the unite 91 tvoifue of the troupe. ' ... .. • r i To Rear-Admiral Malcolm' and the several Cap tains employed in the landing, &c. I confess the greatest obligation. I must leAve it to the Vice-Ad miral to do them the justice they so much deserve ; for I cannot find words to express the exertions made by every brattelt oLthe Navy since the period ut our arrival on this coast. In the attack made on the centre, Lieutenant-Co lonel Stovin, Assistant-Adjutant-General, received a severe wound, which deprived me of his able services. To him and Major Forrest, Assistant-Ouarter-Mas. ter-General, I feel greatly indebted ; they ate both officers of great merit. Colonel Brooke is entitled to every praise for secu ring our right Bank. To Colonel Thornton I feel particularly grateful ; his conduct on the night of the 23d I shall ever ad mire and honour. He headed his brigade in a most spirited manner, and afforded it a killiant example of active courage and coal determination. I have every reason to be satisfied with Lieutc nant-C:oiont.l Brooke, cimmanding the 4th r...giment; as also with Major Mitchell, of the 95th, who was untertnnately taken pi i . .oner at the close of the affair. The exertions of Major Monroe, of the Royal Ar tillery, were unremitting ; to him and the officers un der his cemmand l feel every obligation. The assis tance given by Captain Blanchard, and the Officer , of the Royal Engineers, was most conspicuous, and entitle them to my best thanks. Brevet Major Hooper, Acting Deputy Assistant- Adjutant-General, was attached to the light brigade. Colonel Thornton states, that he derived the greatest benefit from his activity, zeal, and judgment. I re gret to have to add, that he was very severely wour.- ded, and had his leg amputated in the course of the night. The indefatigable zeal and intelligence displayel by Lieutenants Peddie and Evans, of the Quarter- Master-General's department, entitle theta to the most favourable consideration. Assistant Commissary-General 'Wemyss's arrange ments were satisfactory, and Deputy-InspectorThorrip son claims my best acknowledgements, for the care and attention shewn the wounded, the whole of whom were collected, dressed, and comfortably lot.!;tJ, be fore two in the morning. Major Milli, of the 14. th Light Dragoons, accom panied me on shore; from him, Capt tin Per sw, my Aid. de-camp, and the Hon. Lieutenant Curzon, N.l - Aid-de-camp, I received every assi , :ance. Trusting that the steps I pursueJ while ►n cc.m mand will meet your •ipprobation, I have the hanour to be, St:. (Signed) JOHN KEANE, Mej. Major-Cener4 the lion. Sir B. Pakeoluni, K. ii. Ikr. etc. Rtdoubt on the Right Bank of the Mi .issippl, Jan. R. Slit lose no time in reporting to yon the suc cess of the troops which you were yest,rilay pleasca to place under my orders, with the vi. .w of Att4,lc ing the enemy's redoubt and position on this side to the river. It is within poor own knowledge, that the diiTi culty had been found so exuctnely great of dragging the boats through the canal wlich had been lately cut with so notch labour to the Nlistissippi, that, cot withstanding every possible exertion for the purpose, we were un..ble to proceed across the river until eight hours after the time appointed, and even then with only a third part of the force which you had allotud for the service. The current was so strong, and the difficulty, in consequence of keeping the boats together, so great, that we only reached this side of the river at d.iy; break; and by the t;ml the troops were disembarked, which was effected without any molestati. n from the enemy, I perceives by the flashes of the guns that your attack had already commenced. - This circumstance made me extremely anxious to move forward, to prevent the destructive enfilading fire which would GI course be opened on your co lumns from the enemy's batteries on this side; And I' proceeded with the greatest possible expedition, strengthened and secured on my right fhnk by three gunboats trader Captain R. ,, berts, of the Navy. whose ze.il and exertions on this occasion were as nn_ remitted as his arrangements in embarking the troops and in keeping thd boats together iu crossing the ri ver were excellent. The enemy made no opposition to our advance, until we reached a picquet, posted behind a bridge, at about 500 paces nom the ho'ise in the Orange- Grove, and secured by a small work, apparently just thrown up. This piquet was very soon forced, and driven in by a division of the 85:h regiment, under Captain Schaw of that regiment, forming the advanced guard, and whose mode ot attack foitLe purpose was prompt and judicious to a degree. Upon my arrival at the Orange Grove, I had an opportunity of reconnoitring, at about seven hundred yards, the enemy's position, which I found to be a very formidable redoubt on the bank of the river, with the right flank secured by an entrenchment cx. tending back to a tl.ick wood, and its .ine protected by an incessant fire or grape. Under such circumstances, it seemed to me to af ford the best prospect of success, to endeavour to turn his right at the wood ; and accordingly, I de tached two divisions of the 85th, underibrevet Lieu tenant-Colonel Gubbins, to e ff ect that dilject, which he accomplished with his usual zeal and judgment, whilst one hundred sailors, under Captain Money, of the Royal Navy, who, I am sorry to say, was severely wounded, but whose conduct was p irticularly dis tinguished on the occasion, threatened the enemy's left, supported by the division of the 85th regiment ' under Captain Schaw. When these divisions had gained their proper po sition, I deployed the column composed ot two divi sions of the Smith regiment, under Major Deshon, whose conduct I cannot sufficiently commend, and about one hundred men, of the Royal Marines under Major al.dai I also deserving of much commendation, and mev, d forward in line to the attack of the centre entrenchment. At first the enemy, confident in his own security, spewed a good countenance, and kept up a heavy fire, but the determination of the troops which I Had the honour to command, to overcome all ditficultals, compelled him to a rapid and disorderly flight, leav ing in our possession his redoubts, batteries, and po sition, with sixteen pieces of ordnance,• and the CO.. lours of the New Orleans regiment of mil►tia. Of the ordnance taken, I enclose the spec►fic re turn of Major Mitchell, of the Royal Artillery, who . accompanied and afforded me much assistance, by ' able directions of the flu ing of some sodas, it having been found practicable in the first iwtance t , bring over the artillery attached to his command. I shall have the honour of sending you a retia t , of the usualties :that have occurred, as scon as it i„ russible to collect them, but 1 am b ippy to say they are extrem ely iliconsiderable when the stitingtli of a s , pasition, and the number of die enemy arc censi. tiered, which our prisoners (ab:mt . thirty-1e nun,;), agree in stating from fifteen hunched to two tl.uusaer: awn, commanded 'ay General Morgan. I should be extremely wanting both in je...tice and in gratitude, were I not to rev uest your varticula notice of the Officers whose names I Lire ni,2ll6cad, as well 3S of Major Ulanch.ird, of the royal eiten.eci, had L.icuu::ant Pecktie,Gf the 27tli regiment, 1i Assistant 4 )1 , 1; ter-Master-General, whose. intelligence 1 I..and of the greatest . smeice. The woitial.nl men are meeting vital ev e ry of attention aud humanity by tale inc.:acid arrai. z . ments of Staff-Surgeon 11 aster. Tile enemy's camp is supplied with a great dance provi3ions, a very large stlre of All sw:. of ammunitiha. OR moving to the • attic':, I received a woe:: ► which shortly atter my reaching the reclutibt, oc:: sinned me h liCll pain and ttitfoess, that I have bra: obliged to give over the conanand of the troop: 4 7 this side to Lietnenant-Colonel Gubbins, of the Es: 7 :. light infantry ; bur a. he Las obtained some reir...l merit, since the attack, of sailors and marines, :kl.l has taken the best precautions to aver and b: nis position, I will be an,werable from my knowled el of his kidgment and enerience, that he will ret a in e until pus pleasure and further orda% shall b:ccta inthsicated to hint.—l have the honour to be, Sze. (S::,;ned) W. TLIORNTON, Col! v.% Lieut.-Col. ts5C.) Re4t. ;•., makr.ccoe:-.-.1 the I fon. Sir h. M. Prktuluir.t, EXTRACT FROM flit: JOCItS Gl' THE MOVINEs:T 111 L Alt:lY EMPLOI:LO SOUTIURN OF NOIITII ANIEHICA. On the evening of the 25th December, Igl i, M jor General Sir 1 . :. llakenharti arrived alul conin:ln.l of the arm... Oa the .0 day-lid!:!, our Lotteries ncere.l,l the event j':; schooner, then lying on the orp.i4izz b. of the rive:, aitd V.LICh }Lid occ.(sionally canne,:e.td:i our line 1:1e t‘,o pet ceding clefs. The rtl;•c, w ., a: soon to set 11.7 r fit:, and at nine A. N,. she blew up. A ship arnied with 161ong %Tot:. • Jets, which came down the Jay W o ve to a positix, abreast of our advance, no sooner SAW the tate of tht schooner than she got und:r weigh, and tan up the River. On the 27th. at day-light, the troops moved for. ward ht two columns, driving in the enemy's piccusti to within six miles of the tuwn, wherl ,their wain L•scly was discovered strongly posted behind a canai, having a breast work in their front, the extent (ran right to left being about one thousand yards ;—their right rested on the Mississippi ; and tuither prot..c• ted by the armed ship moored in a position to etch lade our columns as they advanced ; their left touched the wood. This wood extends in a paraLl direction with the river. and is in general distant Iron it one thousand to one thousand five hundred yard.; • the intermediate space is intersected by strong hot: zontal railings and a wet ditch or drain, and is prit:- cipally planted with sugar canes. Considerablehou:e4 with large outbuildings and negro huts attached, are scattered at irregular distances along this track. The left column under Major General Keane at'. ranted airing the main road to within 21)(1.3 eiglt hundred yards of the enemy's right, when he upend from two guns upon the head of our column ; upea this it was moved off the road to the right, unds cover of some houses. The ship, at the same tin:, opened an enfilading fire upon our left, and kept s.p an incessant cannonade for above an hour. columns were now deployed, and the line t•rdered to lie down, our right pscqucts touching the word. The enemy cannonaded us from four guns in his line, aud om the ship during the day, but with little dab In the evening the troops were retired beyond reach nt the enemy's guns, and &ratted to hut themselves. Groun a as also marked out for a redoubt on our right tiaiik, and the buns our left covered from the enemy's fire. From the 24th to the 31st, every exertion was made to get up from the ships ten IS-pound, and four 24-pininder carronades, with the ammunition and stores. These were brought up the canal is boats, to •a;thin a quarter of a mile of the Main road, and thence transported on carriages of the country or our own linaheis, by the "seamen, with incredible labour. The weather wa; fortunately tair, and the road consequently good. The enemy, during this period, established twa batteries, ut one gun each, on the opposite bank of the river, and occasion Ally threw shot into our camp with some effect. Four 18 pounders were placed in a battery form•A with hogsheads of sugar on the tn.iin 'road, to fire upon the ship it she dropped down the river. Preparations were also made to establis:, batteries, one of siz 18. pounders to break the enemy's line, and of the four 24. pounder carronades ; end the field gun and howitzers were to keep the tire of the (Term under, whilst the troops were to be moved forward to storm the works as soon as a practicable breach w.is effected. On the night of the 31st of December, working parties were employed in throwing up the b.itteries and getting in the guns. In this they were most !IT ierially assisted by the seamen under Captain Sr. Thomas Troubridge ; before day.light was completed and the batteries ready to oprii. The morning of the Ist ot January was log,;), 3 " 61 objects could not be discerned at any diszapee anti inne o'clock, when our batteries opened. The enemy soon returned our tire, and a mutual cannonade tool. place ; our batteries made little impression upon the enemy's parapet. I'he order for the assault was, theretore, not carried into acct. The troops re mained in this advanced position, and orders Were given to retire the guns in the night. The evening changed to wet, and the ground became. in cfluse• quence, so deep, that it required the exertions ot the whole army, as a working party, aided by the seat . men, to retire the gans a short distance betore ti4l - The army then tell back to the position it oc cupied on the SI st. (S igne d) C. R. ToftEn' t Assist.Q.-A-ten.