Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-11
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Cohy Of u letter from gentleman IN .Mcw..
Orleans to Member of Congress
New-Orleans, 18th January, 1915.


DEAR SIR,
Knowing the interest Won must
feel in the movements of the enen nv in this
quarter. | will now continue nv account IN
tn this date. In nv last | mentioned re-
enforcement daily expected by the enemy,
which I now understand was at that time
actually received by them at Cat Island,
having arrived in fleet of twenty one sail,
sal to be from Portsmouth. This forcc is
said to consist of 5000 men, and to be con,
handed by general Lambert, and probably
forms the first brigade of their present ar
nv, On the 9TH these troops ware olsen.
barked at the Bayou Bieavenu. The enemy
had now remained quiet for three or four
DAYS, keeping us in 4 state ofuneasy suspense
and fearful uncertainty. During this omin.
Gus interval, part of their forces was en-.
ploved in preparing scaling ladders, and
collecting fascines (made of sugar canes)
for their intended assault upon our lines |;
while others were digging canal, conmu
nicating With that through which they en-
tered. ard extended to the levee, which, on
the evening the 9TH, was cut through to ad
nit the river. Through this canal they
loa,ed or dragged twenty four of their
smaller boats, supposed to Contain twenty
five men each, and thus transported about
eco men {, the opposite side OF the river,
some distance below the spot where we had
constructed our batteries. These troops,
under the command of col. Thornton, were
intenled to make dash at our batteries,
and create a diversion on that side Of tn.
river. while the main attack was carried on
m this .ide Accordingly, before day light
on the morning Of the 9Th, they drew out a
large force to storm QUE lines, their columns
advancing unperceived in the obscurity OF
the morning, 70 within about half mile of
oar camp, where they met and drove in our
piouet guard. About day-break they adj
vanced with great yivacity TO the entrench4
nnents. led CALAMITY on by their officers up
10 the very nuzz,e Of our guns Some Of
their men penetrated into our lines, where
they were Immediately killed or taken prig-
oners MANY fell mounting the breas. works;
others upon the works themselves, and the
ditch in front was in many places literally
filed with dead and wounded. The roar Of
artillery from our lines was incsssant, while
an uninter nitted rolling FIRE was kept up
from our muskets. The atmosphere was
flied with sheets Of FIRE and volumes of
smoke For an hour and a quarter the ene>
my obstinately continued the assault fresh
men constantly arriving To hll up their lines,
thioned by our fire. Their determined per.
severance and steady valor, were worthy
better cause nor did their troops falter, un.
I'll almost all the officers wis led then on
had fallen. They then retreated, leaving
from 1900 to 1000 In killed, wounded and
prisonees--in this number are included
thirty nine officers On our side, the loss
was confined to about twenty men, seven
Only of whom were killed Though cur ex-
IRENE right was attacked with great viva
city. yet the principal ASSAULT was made on
our left, where general CoGee's brigade Of
ri1emen were stationed, and the carnage
there was prodigious. Our men, covered
by their breastworks took steady and de-
liberate aim, and almost every shot told,--
The enemy drew out eight regiments to the
attack, animated by the presence Of their
commander in chief. Pakenham, and led
on by generals Gibbs and Kcan,
In my former letter, I named 70 YOU six
NJ these regiments, viz : the 4th. 44th, 2lst,
s5th, 93d and 95th. To these were added
the 9TH regiment of Scotch Fusieers, and
the 431, bsing part OF their last reinforce
ment. Their 7th and 21st regiments are
said to be completely ruined. Soon after the
battle. they seat in a flag Of truce, and
twenty-four hours were allowed them "a
remove and bury their dead. In one small
spot alone. on the left OF our lines, they
found three hundred and sixty eight dead
bodies. In the course OF the day, forty cart:
and ten beats arrived in town loaded with
woun1ed prisoners, who were put into the