The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-04
Extract Of a t,rfuQte letter, dated
Camp near New-Orleans,


Alter naTrating occurrences of which we
are already informed, the letter says-"We
all remained perfectly quiet until the morning
OF the first of January, when the enemy had
advanced within 500 yards of our breast
works, under cover of night and heavy
fog, and erected 3 different batteries. mount
ing in all fifteen guns, from SIS to SOS. A
bout O'Clock, wsci. the fog cleared of, they
commenced most tremendous fire upon us,
but it was amply returned by us, and heavy
cannonading was kept up without tho least
interval on either side, except that occasion
ed by the explosion of my magazine in the
rear of my battery, and the magazine of nv
captain in the night, ewing to their con-
grove rockets. Against o'clock in the at
ternoon, we had dismounted all their guns
butt two They re treated during the night 20
their strong hold, about a mile and quarter
from our lines, where they have remained
perfectly quiet ever since. On new years
day we lost abSut fifteen killed and as many
badly wounded. That OF the enemy, from
the accounts of two prisoners taken ON that
day and deserters since, mus. have been
much greater. Twice have the enemy tried
to storm and carry our batteries, with the
FIRM belief of dining IN Orleans the same
day, but woefuliy have they been deceived.
All deserterS that h We come in, agree that
the eneMy's force IS from seven TO nine thou
sand strong but we generally suppose il 10
be about six thousand. The enemy in killed,
wounded and prisoners, since the esd, must
have lost near one thousand men, Since our
last fight, the kentucky troops have arrived
near 5000 men, which makes our force bet
ter than 5000; so that Orleans, believe, is
pretty safe
Ea,fTaet efa letter fran gentlemen in
Orleans, 20 q gentleman il, this citv,
dated
Newt Orleans, Jan 9th, 1915.
SIR,
The operations of the enemy since
Friday, the day on which they were repulscd
IN an attempt to pierce our left flank, have
been confined to firing upon our camp, from
their heavy ordnance, erected on an advan-
ced battery, and the discharge of every spe-
cies OF connbastihle matter, under expecta-
ton OF throwing us into confusion and thereby
giving chance for storming our lines and
bring on general engagement. The coel
and intrepid conduct of our men however de
teated their scheme, while the fire from our
batteries drove them back beyond their
works, enabling us in sortie to demolith
them. Since this discontinue, their main
body is said to have retreated towards the
bayou, where they landed, intending as mnv
De presumed either to wait reinforcen,ents
by the river, feature in the original plan Of
INVASION, or to erect cl2ndestincly an escape
to their shipping. They are said TO be dis
tressed Tor provisions and very sickly, aud
appear heartily to repent their presumption.
General Adalr's force reached this Wedpes-
day week /; our effective force ten thousand
men.
tGen. Jackson's official letters, and other
letters, giving accounts similar TO that con-
tanned IN the above, are in the city, but we
nlU We mil asr Ill. -. -
cation to-day-l Mar. Int.
WAsHINCT ON, Jan. so.
CONGRESS.
we have not room for particular detail
OF the proceedings of Saturday.
In the Senate a bill was finally passed for
requiring colonel to be appointed for every
regiment Of militia in the u. States. A re-
solve was agreed to, that it was inexpedient
at this time % interfere and pass any laws
on the subject matter Of the several petitions
praying the prohibition of the TRANSPORTS
ton and opening of the mail on the Sab
bath. The bill to prohibit intercourse with
the enemy, was again considered further
amended, and ordered to be read a third
time.
III the House. Patrick dHagrnaer resign
ed his Office as Clerk Of the House. in let
ter to the Speaker which we shall publish
It we can obtain copy Of it. The day was
principally occupied in the discussion of the
bill for paying for property lost or DESTROYED
in the service Of the u 5.
January 81.
NKW-ORLEAES.
We have not received any further nc
counts from Orleans than those already ei
ven. We have seen "a number of private
letters, OF the same tenor as those we have
already published. We are sorry to learn
that the state OF General Jackson's health *
50 precarious as to give reason to appreheod
that his Country may be priged Of his SER
vices at this critical moment. Some com
plants are made Of a scarcity of ammunition.
which, however, few days will supply, as
we understand there are great quantities on
the passage down tine river. One Of the mi
Yatc letters states that 1t. Gen. PicroH is in |
command OF the British forces near New-Or-
leans, and, as the deserters inform, that the |
enemy daily expects renforcements. re
tore he receives them, we hope TO hear of his |
defeat and dispersion.
We have heard, and we believe oorre-tlv. |
That, to guard against possible events, the go |
vernment intend TO call out five or six thons |
and men, from Kentucky principally, to pro-
ceed down the Mississippi, to join our for
Cos in that quarter.
THE BANK BILL.
The President has refused his signature 70 !
the National Bank Bill. ari has returned |
the same to that House Of Congress IN which
i originated, with HE objections, which will /
~ found under the proper head.