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

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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 Bayonet 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

iTo 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 effect 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 retiat,
of the usualties :that have occurred, as scon as it i„
russible to collect them, but 1 am b ippy to say they
are extremely iliconsiderable when the stitingtli of as,
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 every
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: 47
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 knowledel
of his kidgment and enerience, that he will retain 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 Wove 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. (Signed)
C. R. ToftEn't Assist.Q.-A-ten.