Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-13


cooperation Of armed boats could be secur
ed.
The disposition for the attack was as fol-
lows IA corps, consisting of the S5th Light
infantry, 200 seamcn. and 400 marines. the
an west india regiment, and four pieces
OF artillery, under the command of Colonel
thornton. or the 8Sth, was 20 pass over
during the night, and move along the right
oank towards New Orleans. clearing its
fTnnt until ie reached the Ranking battery of
the enemy GA that side, which il had orders
to carry,
Ahe assailing OF the enemy's line in front
OF us. was to be made by the brigade COM .
pored OF ne 9Th, Plat. and 44sb regiments.
WIN three Com anies of the 95th. under
NJ J"r General Gibbs, and by the Sd bri-
stde Consisting of the s3a. two companies
OF TIE 95th and two companies of the Fusi-
ieers. and Asi. under Major Gen. Keane
soliN ofck troops we e destined to Skin
! iEi'ss- ri'As %red On the right i; the princ;.
pa attack was to be made by Mai General
.,ioos tAe LIST brigade. Consisting Of the
! faslees aud 43d, formed the reserve
ne attacking columns were TO be provided
WIN tacines, scalingladders and RATS, the
whole to be at their stations before day light
An advanced battery in our front Of six I8
pounders was thrown up during the night,
about $40 yards from the enemy's liue.--
Inc at,eck was to be made at the earliest
| hour. Unlocked for difficulties, increased
oy the falling of the river, occasioned con-
siderable delay in the entrance of the arm,
ed boats, and those destined to land. Col.
Ihornton's corps. by which or S hours
we're lost, and it was not until past FIVE
IN the morning, that the LIST division consis.
ting OF 500 men, were over. The ensemble
Ifrlnx Hor,k l.~.s -
point which was of the last importance to
the attack On the left bank of The river, al.
taough COLONEL Thornton, as your Lordehip
VIII see in his report, which l enclose. ably
executed in every .particuar his instruc
Tons, and fully justified the confidence the
Commander OF the forces placed in his a.
utilities. In delay attending that corps
occasioned soPe on the left bank, and the
attack did not take place until the Columns
were discerna:,ie from the ehemy's line at
nore than 9e0yards distance as they ad
vanced, Continued and most CALLING fire
vas opened from every part of their line,
and from the battery ON the right bank
The brave commander of the forces, who
never IN is life could refrain froni being at
the post of honor, and sharing danger to
winch the troops were exposed, as soon IS
from his station he had made the signal for
the troops to advance, gailoppei on to tbs
front to ANIMATE them with his pressnce
sRd be- we seen with his hat IF, encs.crae
ns them IN the crest OF the giacis it was
taeFe (2imost At the same tirne) he recely-
ed twC wounds, one in his knee, and auo.
tner which was Instantly fata,, in his bod,
ne TELL 10 the arms of Major M'0eugai,
Aide.de Camp
The effect of this in the sight of thu
troops, together with Major Gen. Gibbs
and Major Gen. Keane being beth borne of
wounded az the same time, with many o.
Their commanding officers, and further, The
preparations to aid in crossing the ditch no,
being so forward as they ought to have been,
from, perhaps, the men being wounded who
were Carrying them, caused a waverine in
the Column, which in such situation be,
came irIeparabie and as advanced with
the reserve, at about two hundred and 6f
ty yards from the line, / had the mortfca-
tlon 70 OBSERVE the whole falling back upon
me IN the greatest Confusion.
In this situation, finding that no impression
had been made, and though May men bad
reached the ditch, and were either drowned
or Obliged to surrender, and that it was i'm
possible to restore order in the regiments
where they were, placed the reserve in
POSITION, until could obtain such informa.
best OF my judgment, and whether or not
should resume the attack, and if so. I felt il
could be done only by the reserve. The
confidence have in the corps composing it
would have enc urag ed me greatly, though
not without loss, which might have made
tue attempt OF serious consequences, as
know 1t was the opinion of the iate dlslin.
gulShed commander of the forces, that the
carrying OF the first line would not be the
least aIduous service. After making the
osst reflections was capable of, kept the
ground the troops then held and went to
meet Vice Admiral Sir Alex. Cochrane, and
10 tell nm, that under all the circums!an-
ces did lot think it prudent TO renew the
attack that day. AT about 10 o'clock |
learnt OF the success Of Col. ThorAton's
corps OH the right bank. sent the com
manding officer OF the artillery, Colonel
DICKSON, to examine the situation of the
battery and report If it was tenable but in
forming me that he did not think it could
be held with security by smaller corps
than two thousand men, consequently or
dered Lieut.. Col. Gubbius, on whom the
command devoived, (Col. Thornton being
wounded) to retire.
The army remained in position vnaiI
night, in order to gam time 70 destroy enc
eighteen FOUNDER battery we had constructs
ed the preceding nigh. in advance. fthen
gave orders for the troops resumiDg the
ground they occupied previous TO the at
tack
Our loss has been very severe, but trust
Il will not be considered notwithstandirg ne
failure, that this army has suffered, the mi.
lltarY Character to be furnished. I am ga,