Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-04

anu ADVANCED IN close column which the
strong fire from our lines compelled to re-
treat.
On the 2Sth they were again harrassesi by
the hire Of our armed vessels. which cnm
PEELED them to retreat again into the swamp
On the 2eth three deserters from the
enemy came to our camp no attack was
made.
From the prisoners and deserters we have
various accounts of the force and designs of
the enemy.
The main body of the army that opposes
us sailed from Plymouth on the 23th of Sep
TENDER last it consisted Of about 5000
men !; they touched at Madeira, Ba rbadoes
ami Jamaica. In the two latter islands they
took some troops which had before garri-
soned the island Of Marsinico, and two re !.
giments of blacks. There are, it is said,
some Indians also with them but this is not
credited.
Combining the various accounts we have
the probable result is, that the force of tn,
enemy below the city, is not less than four
nor more than 1000, and that of his mum
Der are from 1000 to $500 blacks they are
we'll supplied with arms. ammunition, ar
tiisry and provisions. The force of Gene.
raj ackson before The enemy is from six to
seven thousand, and is drawn up in lines
oehind high and strong entrenchmen i'm
penetrao!e TO muskerry, and the shot OF
small cannnn. At the'd stance of about two
lies from he enemy In front of the en-.
trcnchment and along its whole length, is
wet ditch ; the right flank covered by the
river, and the LEFT by an inpenetrable Cy.
press swamp, and the whole trent rs defend
ed by several pieces of cannon of various
caibres
None even among the most timid enter.
tam any apprehension of the enemy's ability
to force our lines, and / imagine our pre-.
sent force sufficient to insure our Temporary
safety at least. We are in hourly expec-
tation of the arrival of Gen. Thomas with a
large reinforcement from Kentucky, and
aetaoliments OF militia are approaching the
city from several quarters so that | aD-
prehend not the least danger from the ene~
my unless they be strongly reinforced.
The remainder or the letter is the same
| neiry as that copied letter from the Ten.
| nessee .papere.
Copy ola letter from a gentleman in Nezv" Or.
teams 20 a gentleman in this city, dared De
ceDsber So
SIR--After the action last Friday with
| The British, Gen. Jackson fell back short
| distance. where he strongly and advanta
| geously eutrenched himself Monday the
| enemy succeeded in destroying one of our
| artillery, Of which they have few small
| pieces. Wednesday they made an at empt
| nn our lines, but were repylsed at every
| point, with loss, as is said, OF $50 men
| killed They have subsequently endca wore
to entrench themselves in the vicinity of our
| camp but have been compelled to retreat TO
| their original position, their force being in
sufficient apparently to effect any thing, of
| fensiveiY. Our loss in both actions has been
| inconsiderable. Sone few are known to be
killed, some TO be prisoners. 1t appears
| from the report of desterters, that the Brl-
tish calculated on the neutrality of the
French and Spanilrds and with view to
realize it, they have liberated every Creole
who has fallen INTO their hands, observing
| mat they did not make war upon them, and
that their property should be generally RESI-
pected Upon the whole the greatest CON-
hdence prevails in our ability to drive away
| the enemy and l am sanguine that in a
short time they must either surrender e.
our arms or evac1ate the country. The
| Kentucky troops, $500 strong, are moment-
ly expected: Our force will then amount
to 10 900, fully equal to the defence of the
Country at the present moment.
VERY LATE FROM NEW ORLEANS
The mail arrived Yesterday thai ought in
reSular course TO nave arrived on Satur-
! day, so that there is now no mail due from
| that quarter.
II brought to US tho foil owing highly ga.
satisfactory intelligence, on which We hear
| tily congratulate our readers. Having been
two weeks before the enemy, we may place
confident reliance on our brave fellow ci-
tizeus in camp at New Orleans doing every
! tbiag that the same number of men can ct.
| feet
Extract ola friUate letter, dated
| Camp near New Orleans, Jan. 9th, 1914.
After narrating occurrences of which we
are already informed, the letter SAYS
1--WE all remained perfectly quiet until the
morning of the list Jan. when the enemy had
advanced within 600 Yards of our breast
works,under cover of night & a heavy fog, &
| erected three different batteries, mounting
in all Is guns, from 6's to 32's. About 8
O'clock, when the fog cleared of, they COM
meDced most tremendous FIRE upon us,
| but it was amply returned by ss, and hea,
! Wy cannonadiDg was kept up WITHOUT the
least interval on either side, except that
| occasloued by the explosion Of my maxa-
zine in the rear Of my battery, and the mag