The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-03-10 00:00:00

TIIE STATESMAN.

o;licers, and further, the preparatintts to aid itt cross-
theditt:h not beim+, so forward as they ought to
twee be.u,fr n perhaps, the men being wountle,l \Om
were carryjoa t,ie.n. caused a wavering in the column,
h, in •uch a situation, became irreparablt ; and
as I Itivance•: the reserve, at about two hundred
:lad fifty yo rds from the line, I had the mortification
to oh4erlie the whole failing hack upon me in the
Enufirsiott. _ _

. .
In this cite ;lion, finding that no impression had
made, though many men bad reached the
• and were either drowned or obliged to sue-
r. find ghat it was impossible to restore order in
the n•g•m.nts where they were, I placed the reserve
in pisitien, until I could obtain such information as to
determine me how to act to the hest of my judgment,
and whether or not I should resume the attack, and
if so, 1 felt it could be done only by the reserve.--
The confidence 1 have in the corps composing it would
Items encouraged me greatly, though not without
loss, which might have made the attempt of serious
x►:tsegoence, as I know it was the opinion of the late
tli,tingolithed Commander of the Forces, that the car-
ryis..! of the first line would not be the least arduous
service. After making the best reflections I was ca-
pable of, I kept the ground the troops then held, and
went to meet Vice-Admiral Sir Alex. Cod', alle, and
to tell him, that under all the circumstances I did not
think it prudent to renew the attack that day. At
about tea .o'clock, I learnt of the success of Cul.
Thornton's corps on the right hank. I sent the,Com-
mending Officer of the Artillery, Colonel Dickson,
to examine the sitna ion of the battery, and to re-
port .i it was tenable ; iult informinz me that he did
not t'..ink it could he held with security by a smaller
than two thouQi.l.d m n, I consequently ordered
Lieut.-Colonel Gubbins, on whom the command had
devolved (Colonel Thornton :r ing wounded), to re-
tire.

Tt:e army remained in position until night, in er.
der to gain time to destroy the eighteen-pounder
buttery WP had constructed the preceding night in
advance. I then• gave orders for the troops re•
sumiii,z the ground they occupied previous to the at
tack

0. loss h;.s been very severe, but I trust it will
not lAr een,idered, notwithstanding the failure, that
this army has suffered the military character to be
tarrnshed. lam satisfied, had L thought it right to
renew the attack, that the troops would have ad.
vancid with cheerfulness. The services of both
army and navy, since their landing on this coast, have
been arduous beyond any thing I have ever witnessed,
and tii,cu;t;es have bee's got over with an assiduity
and erseverahce beyond all example by all ranks,
ant f ;le most hearty co-operation has existed between
the ; t) servioes.

It s. not necessary for me to expatiate to you
upon the loss the army has sustained in Major-
Genern„l the Honourable Sir E. Pakenham, Com-
mend ,r in Chief of this force, nor could I in ade.
quate terms. His sertices and merits are so well
known, that I have only, in common with the whole
army, to express my sincere reuses, and which may
be supposed at this moment to come peculiarly home
to in..

Major-General Gibbs, who died of his wounds the
follow :,sg day, and Major-General Keane, who were
iswth carried off the field within twenty yards of the
rhsris, at the head of their brigades, sufficiently
sp- •Is at such a moment how they were conductiog
th' ;,;Mies. lam happy to say Major-Geu. Keane is
0,,10g well.
Captain Wylly, of the fusiliers, Military Secretary
tst the late Commander of thA Forces, will have the
bon° :r of delivering to your Lordship these dis-
patches. Knowin4 how much he enjoyed his esteem,
and was iu hi. confidence from a long experience of
Isis talents, I feel I cannot do less than pay this
stilute to what I conceive would be the wishes of his
bile General, and to recommend him strongly to
your Lordship's protection. I have, &c.

(Silned)

JOHN LA NI HEAT,
Major-Geier: commauding.

[Nest follows a report from Major-General
Keane, dated Camp on the left bank of the Missis-
sippi, 'tine miles from New Orleans, December 26,
181 I, Ftativg the landing of a part of the troops, and
that tomtit ei,,ht o'clock in the evening on tho 22t1,
when the men, much fatigued by tIE: length of time
they had been in the boats, were asleep in their
bir lac, a heavy dunking fire of round and grape
shot wrs °woes! ,:pon them, by a large schooner and
two gun vess...f,, which had dr,,pped down the river
from the town ; fr :n this they were covered.]
A most vigorous attack was then made on the ad-
van,•••4 front right piequets, the former of
tin 9514, under (' iptai:, 1:allnI., t'ie latter the 85th,
undo Captain Sehaw ; these and their re-
specti w c pirgncts,conducted ..)selves with firmness,
and :•11.,:ked the e•temy for a considerable time; but
renewing thPir attack with a large force, and pressing
at these poias, Colonel Thornton judged it neces-
sary to mote up toe remainder of both corps. The
85th regiment was commanded by Brevet Major
Gubhins, whose conduct cannot be too much com-
mended ; on the approach of his regiment to the
point of attack, the enemy, favoured by the dark-
ness i.f the night, concealed themselvea under a high
fence which ,eparlted the fields, and calling to the
mer. as ftialth, under pretence of being part of our
own force, offered to assist them in getting over,
%Odd' wis no sooner accomplished than the 85th
found itself in the midst of very superior numbers,
who, discovering themselves, called on the regiment
immediately to surrender—the answer was an in-
stantaneous 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 30 prisoners. A
similar fines.. was attempted with the 95th regiment,
which met the same treatment.

The enemy finding his reiterated attacks were re.
pulsed by Col.Thoratoa, at half-past ten o'clock ad-
vanced s large column against our centre; per.
ceiling his intention, I directed Colonel Stovin to
order Lieutenant-Colonel Dale, with one hundred
and thirty men of the 934 regiment, who had just
reached the camp, to move forward and use the
bayonet, holding the 4tb regiment in hand, formed in
line, as my laid reserve. Colonel Dale endeavoured
to execute his orders, but the crafty enemy would not
meet him, seeing the steadiness of his small body, gave
it a heavy fire cud quickly retired. Colonel Brooke,
with four companies of the 21st regiment, fortunate-

ly appeared at that moment on our right flank, and
solliciently secured it from further attack.
The enemy now deteimined on making a last
effort, and collecting the whole of his force, formed
an extensive line, and moved directly against the.
light brigade: At first this line drove in all the ad-
vanced posts, but Colonel Thorton, whose noble ex-
ertions had guaranteed all former success, was at hand;
he rallied his breve comrades round him, and motthig
forwards with it ffirm determination of charging, ap-
palled the enemy, who, from the lesson he had re-
ceived on the same litound in ths early part of the
evening, *ought it prudent totetire, and did not
again dare's advance. 4
at, on the Right Bent of the
istaippi, Jnn. 8, INC
lose time in 'sporting to you the sue-
. cess of the troops which you were yesterday pleased
Ito place under my orders, with the view of attacking
the enemy's redoubt and position on this side of the
river. It is within your own knowledge that the
difficulty , had been found so extremely great of
dragging the boats through the canal which had been
lately cut with so much labour to the Mississippi that,
notwithstanding every possible exertion for the pur-
pose, we were unable 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 bad allotted for the service. The current was so
strong, end the difficulty, in consequence, of keep-
! ing the boats together, so great, that we only reach.
ed this side of the river at day-break, and by the
time the troops were disembarked, which vas effect-
ed without any molestation from.the eneetryj I per-
Iceived by the flashes of the guns thatyottrintack had
already commenced.
; This circumstance made me extremely anxious to
move forward, to prevent the destructive enfilading
; fire, which would of course be opened is your
:columns from the enemy's batteries on this Ode ; and
II proceeded with the greatest possible elpeditiOn,
I strengthened and secured on my right Rank by three
!gun-boats, under Captain Roberts, of the navy,
whose zeal and exertions on this occasion were as uu-
remitted as his arrangements in embarking the troops,
and in keeping the boats together in crossing the
• river were excelleut. The enemy made no opposi.
tionto our advance, until we reached a pictieet,
posted behind a bridge, at about 500 paces from the
Orange Grove, and secured by a small work, uppa•
.
rently just thrown up. This picquet was very soon
forced and driven in by a division of the 85tb regi-
ment, under Captain Schaw, of that regiment 4 form-
ing the advanced guard, and whose mode of attack
for the purpose was prompt and judicious to a degree.
Upon my arrival at the Orange Grove, I had an
opportunity of reconnoitring, at about seven hun-
dred yards, the enemy's position, which I found to
be a very formidable redoubt on the bank of the
!river, with the right flink secured by an intrench-
ment extending back to a thick wood, and its line
protected by an incessant fire of grape. Under such
circumstances it seemed to me to afford the best
prospect of success, to endeavour to turn his right at
the wood; and I accordingly detached two divi-
isions of the 85th, under Brevet Lieut.-Colonel Gub-
bins, to effect that object, which he accomplished
. with his usual zeal and judgment, whilst 100 sailors
under Captain Money, of the Royal Navy, who, I
am sorry to say, was severely wounded, but whose
conduct was particularly distinguished on the occa-
sion, threatened the enemy's left, supported by the
division of the 85th regiment, under Capt. Schaw.
When these divisions had gained their proper po-
sition I deployed the column composed of two divi-
sions of the 85th regiment, under Major Deshon,
whose conduct I cannot sufficiently commend, and
about one hundred men of the royal marines under
Major Adair, also deserving of much commendation,
and mewed forward in line, to the attack of the
centre of the intrenchment. At first the enemy,
confident in his own security, showed a good coun-
tenance, and kept up a heavy fire ; but the determi-
nation of the troops which I had the honour to com-
mand, to overcome all difficulties, compelled him to
a rapid and disorderly flight, leaving in our posses-
sion his redoubts, batteries, and position, with 16
pieces of ordnance, and the colours of the New Or-
leans regiment of
Of the ordnance taken, I enclose the specific re-
turn of Major Mitchell, of the royal artillery, who
accompanigd and afforded me much assistance, by his
able directions of the firing of some rockets, it not
hating been found practicable in the first instance to
bring over the artillery attached to his command. I
shall have the honour of sending you a return of the
casualties that lia‘e occurred, as soon as it is pos-
sible to collect them, but I am happy to say they are
extremely inconsiderable when the strength of the
position, and the number of the enemy are considered,
which our prisoners (about thirty in number) agree in
stating, from fifteen hundred to two thousand men,
commanded by General Morgan. I should be ex-
tremely wanting both in justice and in gratitude,
ware I not to request your particular notice of the
Officers whose names I have mentioned, as well as of
Major Blanchard, of the Royal Engineers, and Lieu-
tenant Peddie, of the 27th regiment, Deputy-Assist-
ant-Quarter-Master-General, whose zeal arid intel-
ligence 1 found of the greatest service.
The wounded nien are meeting with every degree
of attention and humanity by the medical arrange.
ments of the Staff-Surgeon Baxter. The enemy's
camp is supplied with a great abundance of provi-
sions, and a very large store of all sorts of ammuni-
tion. On moving to the attack I received a wound
which shortly after my reaching the redoubt, occa-
sioned me such pain and stiffness, that I have been
obliged to give over the command of the troops on
this side to Lieut.-Colonel Gubbins, of the 85th light
infantry ; but as he has obtained some reinforce-
ment, since the attack, of sailors and marines, and
has taken the best precautions to cover and secure his
position, I will be answerable, from my knowledge
of his judgment and experience, that he will retain
it, until your pleasure and further orders shall be
communicated to him.

I ha►e the honour to be, &c.
(Siitned) W. THORNTON, Lieut.• Col. B.sth Reg.
To Mnjor• Gen. the Um
Sir E. M. Pat:enham, K. K. ate.

[An Extract from the Journal of Major Forrest,
A. Q. M. G. of the movements the Army employed
on the Southern Coast of North America, gives the
details of the minor operations up to the lst of
January.]

His Majest%'s Ship Tennant, tiff Chandeleur's
Island, Jan. 2S, 1815.
••• MY Loan,—After maturely &Jibe ting on the
sitoation'of this army, after the corn nd had unfor-
tunately devolved upon me, on the th instant, and
duly considerin what probability now remained
of carrying on with success, on the same plan, an
attack against New Orleans, it appeared to me that it
ought not to be persisted in. I immediately commu-
nicated to Vice-Admiral Sir S. Cuchrance, that I
did not think it would be prudent to make any fur-
ther attempt at present, and that I recommended re-
embarking the army as soon as possible, with a view
to carry into effect the other objects of the force em-
ployed opon this coast ; from the 9th instant it was
determined that the army should retreat, and I have
the satisfaction of informing your Lordship that it
was effected on the night of the 18th instant, and
ground was taken up on the morning of the 19th, on
both sides of the Bayone, or creek, which the troops
had entered on their disembarkation, 14 miles froth
their position before the enemy's line, covering New
Orleans, on the left bank of the Misissippi, and of e
mile from the entrace into Lac Borgne : the arSy re-
mained iu bivouac until the 27th instant when the
whole were re-embarked.

In stating the circumstances of this retreat to your
Lordship, I shall confidently trust that you will see„
that good order and discipline ever existed in•this ar-
my, and that zeal for the service and attention was
ever conspicuous in officers of all ranks. You
Lordship is already acquainted with the position t'ne
army occupied, its advanced post close up to the
enemy's line, and the greater part of the army were
exposed to the fire of his batteries, which was unre.
mitting day and night since the Ist .3anuary, when
the pbsition in advance,was taken up; the retreat was
effected without being harassed in any degree by the
enemy; all the sick and wounded (with the excep-
tion of eighty, whom it was considered dangerous to
remove), field artillery, ammunition, hospital, and
other stores of every description, which had been
landed on a very large scale, were brought away,
and nothing fell Into the enemy's hands, excepting
six iron eighteen pounders, mounted on sea carriages,
and two carronades which were in position on the
left bank of the Mississippi, to bring them off at the
moment the army was retiring was impossible, and
to have done it previously would have exposed the
whole force to any fire the enemy might have sent
down the river. These batteries were of course de-
stroyed, and the guns rendered perfectly unservice-
able; only four men were reported absent next morn-
ing, and these, I suppose, must have been left be-
Lind, and have fallen into the hands of the enemy ;
but when it is considered the troops were in perfect
ignorance of the movement, until a fixed hour dur-
ing the night, that the battalions were drawn off in
succession, and that the picquets did nut move off till
half-past three o'clock in the morning, and that the
whole had to retire through the most difficult new
made road, cut in marshy ground, impassable for a
horse, and where, in many places, the men could
only go in single files, and that the absence of men
might be accounted for in so many ways, it would be
rather a matter of surprise the number was so few.
Au exchange of prisoners has been effected with
the enemy upon very fair terms, and their attention
to the brave prisoners and wounded, that have fallen
into their hands, has been kind and humane, I have
every reason to believe.
However unsuccessful the termination of the late
service, the army and navy have been employed upon,
has turned out, it would be injustice not to point out
how much praise is due to their exertions ; ever
since the 13th December, when the army began to
move from the ships, the fatigue of disembarking and
bringing op artillery and supplies from such a distance
has been incessant; and I must add, that owing to
the exertions of the navy, the army has never wanted
provisions. The labour and fatigue of the seamen
and soldiers were particularly conspicuous on the'
night of the 7th inst. when fifty boats were dragged
through a canal into the Mississippi, in which there
were only 18 inches of water, and 1 am confident
that Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, who
suggested the possibility of this operation, will be
equally ready to admit this, as well as the hearty
co-operation of the troops on all occasions.
[The letter concludes by praising the conduct and
exertions of redoes Officers.]
I have the'honour to be, &c.
(Signed) JOHN LASI BERT,
hlajor-General Commandant.
To the Right lion. Lord Bathurst, &c. &c. &c.

P. S. I regret to have to report, that during the night of the
15th, in very hail weather, a boat contaiuing two officers, viz.
Lieutenant Brydges and Cornet Hammond, with thirty-seven of
the 14th Light Dragoons, unfortunately fell into the hands of
the enemy, off the mouth of the Regolets I have not been able
to ascertain correctly the particular circumstances.
Names of Officers killed and winded and the misting is the
action on the Bth of January.
KILLED.

General Staff—Major-General lion. Sir F. Pakenham, Com-
mander of the Forces; Captain 'Thomas Wilkinson, 85th, Ma-
jor of Brigade.
4th Foot--Ensign Wm. Crowe.
7th Ditto—Major Gen. King, Capt. Geo. Henry.
21st Ditto—Major .1. A. Whittaker, Capt. IL Kenny (Lieut.-
Col.), Lieut. Donald Sl'Donald.
41th Ditto—Lieut. IL Davies and Ensign M.l.nsky.
93d Ditto—Lieut.-Colonel K. Dale, Capts. T. Machias and A.
Mairhead.