Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-07-12

The following letter was WftteH
Naval Officer, who was attached to the
British expedition against New-orleans.
Notwithstanding The writer has not duly
appreciated the skill and bravery OF our
Southern army. vet his letter will be read
with very considerable interest, as It de,
tails some facts which were not noticed
in the British official-account, and which
none but an English Officer could have
known -
From the London Pilot Of May 5.
Expedition to New-Orleans
The annexed letter, written bya young
but Intelligent Naval Officer, gives as
some new and interesting details OF the
last unfortunate enternri2e of the Anle-
rican war. ard explains causes OF the
failure. yet imperfectly known altho'
las we lave already intimated IN HE
PILaT. some OF the parties adyerted TO
as crimipally deficient, are known to be
under orders for trial BY Court Martial.
His .Gniesty's ship --, eff the coast Of
.Ntw-O rleans, Jan. SO, 1873.
After forty-seyen days absence, ! may
saw onas difficult service as ever boats
encountered, | have returned, and,
must acknowledge, rather fatigned.
When / am so, what must my crew have
been After the most incessant labor,
they arc still, | am sure, more than anx-
ions. and would willingly suffer, it pos
sible. double--so inyeterate IS their ma
tired to our implacable enemy. Would
to heaven / could say we hai been sue
cessful but thank God no blame car De
attached to our excellent Commander IN
Chief. save what some of those " would
be knowing" Gentlemen might call that
of having advised the expedition: Ia
point of bodily fatigue, none ever IN SO
high situation, | believe, did, or lndeeo
couia have used greater ezertlon. The
distance from the line OF battle ships to
the first place of debarkatiou Nas 70 miles
if not more: this was on an island IN the
entrance to Lake Pontchartrain. or more
properly a swamp, like the rest OF this
'pa;t Of America. 1t was absolutely ne
Icessary that the army should be collect
led here. as we had still 20 Or 25 miles
farther before we could reach the place
of our destination. The whole army
having assembled there, and sufficient
qnantity of stores being ready, we lett
the island in, believe. as fine order as
was possible for boats to be formed. lie
division in which was, consisted OF the
4th, 85th, o5th, rocket brigade, and some
sappers and miners. The place we land
ed in, the Americans say, was never be.
fore explored bit BY allisators aid Wild
ducks: il was up creek. SO narrow and
SO completely hid by the canes, that be-
|Ijeve. it had never before been discover
ed by tie Americans; it was pointed out
by some Spanish fishermen, vino had ap-
GroaIiated one part q II ior the purpose
Of smuggling. Tie head Of t"is creek
vas distant from the Mississippi about
three niles, and. frem the high road to
New-Orieans a mile and a half trotn
tle city SIX or eight. This event was not
discovered by the Americans Tor some
time alter we had made a land4ng; nor
40 think they wouid have discovered IT
|tili we sheved ourselves, as We had all
.,ot UP by daylight, ana the upper part
Ijecame so marrow tliat We We're CitaIie
to pull our oars, but tracked the Doa'o
,by the shore. This is a proof that our
landing at Pine Island completely &C.
ceived the Americans, whose pl1hclEal
were made at the mouth OF
The Lake, and almost In every point, Out
where we really came. Cur ar
my advanced. and about two O'CLOCK,
we're. on tie banks Of the MISSISSIPPI,
having the river On their lett, wood on
their right: with the main read BEFORE
them; and SO confident was Gen. hEAN
of an easy conquest, that it IS sald he
expressed ideas on the subject, D. saying
he could be in New Orleans that night:
but wished to wait Tor the other diVisiohs
Joining. Seen after dark, the Americans
sent schooner down to attack our lahA;
while their army commenced ON the ifont'
The bravery or!y Of such troops as , one
regiments already mentioned, could nave
saved them, particularly the gallant So,h
who are the admiration OF all. LIE a.
mericans we're completely beaten by,
comparatively speaking, a hanaiui, and
this was done solely BY personal hrayeTD
las our little army was almost taken ny
s,,rpl;ze. which. With the confusion caus-
hAnnnrss h,.n nreYented arY