Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-20
LATE DISASTER ut
NEW ORLEANS.

NEW ORLEANS.
The following letter, written from the Banks
OF the Mississippi. by an officer On the
staff OF the expedition, contains some inte-
resting particulars Of the late disastrous
attack and repulse.
January 16.
Here we are lying wet enough in sugar.
cane huts. after having met with severe
repuise, on Sunday, the 9Th OF January, in n
general assault on the strongly fortified posi-
ton of the Yankees. covering the capital of
this country. Ghe 85th regiment, sailors.
and marines, we're, after incredible ahour
and eScrtion, passed over to the righ, bank
of the Mississippi, during the night of the
9TH. and morning of the S,h but, owing to
the unforeseen and unavoidable difficulties.
they were not all over so soon as had been
calculated on, consequently not sufficiently
advanced when the signal for the general
attack was made, just before dawn ofday ::
owing to which untoward circumstance,
those on the left bank. where the principal
strong opposition lay, did not profit, as vas
meant they should, from their combined at
tack, and the fate cfthe day was decided on
our part before they began to act /; but for
all this, do not know that there could be
any remedy, under all the circumstances of
the case ; nor do know that blame can at
tach any where, however, unfortunate the
result has been, sf
General Gibbs commanded the 2nd bril-
Sade, consisting of the 9TH, 2Ist, aud 44th
regiments General Keane the Sd, consists
ing of the s5th, 3d. and 95th Gen. Lam.
bert had the lst, consisting OF the fusileers
and 43d. This latter brigade was to be in
reserve the two frs. to begin the attack,
which they accordingly did. The enemy's
position was sncommonly strong, in the form
OF crescent, fianked on the right by the Mis-
sissippi, on the left by a thick wood, and an
impossible morass the whole crowned with
inndmeraole artillery, and all loop ho.ed
Tor the musketry, with narrow PLATA 10
front. not more than half mile .brear. by
which only we could approach them.
The whole of our columns were at their
appointed stations before day-lieht, await.
ing the signal ROCKET to be thrown for the
general attack. 1t was fired off as the day
began to dawn a short time before which
or H. Pakenham had passed the first bril-
Sade' without speaking to any body. We
al moved on to the front, under most
CALLING hire of cannon and small arms but,
as me day opened, we soon observed the
broken columns making for the rear, and
vast number OF wounded passing and lying
Sfoaning around us. General Lambert
was at this present moment, informed, of
IRE. lamented fall of the Commander in
ChieIf, and that, in Consequence of this, and
the severe wound Of General Gibbs, he was
lett ~ command. We were ordered to de.
pioy(into line, and lie down in the swamp,
TO avoid the destructive showers of grape,
WINCH were within 800 yards, playing a
way most furiously on us. Here we lay till
ton night, as wet as ever poor devils
were. seeing all the movements of our foes,
and hearing all their orders.
nag ottruce was sent In towards the
eveb'Ds, and the Americans spoke msch
oIpface, but every thing around them look.
soSluite the contrary, as nothing could D..
seen before them but the dead and diving.
Major King, ofthe flsileers, was killed ear
iy, as was Captain Henry, with the Lieu
tenant, Colonel detached with the third bri,
sade. Lieutenant Hutchinson had no less
than tour balls through his cap Lieutenant
Lorentz the other l., c. sub. received
wound between the shoulders, not very sc.
we're. ne Column lost a great many men.
Captain Robinson. Brigade Major to Ma
Jor General Lambert. had bali through
has saddle cloth, without injury. Tte Ame-
ricans lost very few men I; NOT one hundred
to our thousand, being completely under
cover OF their position, and prntected by
wet ditch, altogether too formidable for so
trltlpg force TO carry for we had not al.
together ADORE 5000 men in the attack.
The LIST brigade preserved noble front,
and wore too formidable an appearance for
1onashan to oppose them. The 9TH lost a.
bote ninety, the sd sixtythree The 4O.h
are just arrived from. Cork, but are not to
land, as we hope 10 be all on board our
ships IN less than week. Indeed, we
thought to have been so ere this We ought
to have had the free navigation of the Mis-.
sissippi before we landed. We have seve,
raj sicEly from the wet weather, and if
we are not off Immediately, fear we shall
have numders more.
We expect to go to Bermuda--they are
this moment Smelling US as fast as they can
1.-the Americans have no en;erprize or we
should not escape so well.--we get nothing
to buy, but bullocks and few wild fowl
we are GA sugar plantation, and, OF course,
nave plenty OF sweets without cost The
river IS fine one : but believe me, there ia
nothing else IN this quarter worth coming
oOo0 miles 70 see. The people appearto
be Dons and Blacks, none of whom seem
aux ions to he our Allies
From the Charleston Southern pafrfot--Afay 9.
AFFHIR OF ST. MARY's
The following authentic account Of The af-