Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-22

shore, I had the extreme morti6cat ion of seeing
her blow up
1t affords me great pleasure to acknowledge
the able assistance received from Lieu,cnants
Norris and Crowley, and Sailing Master Halter.
and to say that my officers and crew behaved
on this occasion, as well as on the 23d when un.
der your own eye, in most gallant manner.
Almost every article of clothing belonging to
the officers and crew, from the rapid progress
OF the hire, was involved in the destruction of
the vessel.
have the honor 10 be,
Very respectfully,
Your ohd't. servant,
(Signed)
JOHN ID. HENLEY.
P.S. have not made out detailed account
ofthc action on the night Of the 2Sd, as YOU
were on board daring the whole action.
Captain DANIEL L. PATTERSON,
Commanding U. States Naval forces
on the New-Orleans station.
Copies Of letters from Com. Patterson, connarS-
ing oir nasal force on Me Orieaas citation, 70
fhe Secrefq,y ofthe Navy, DARED
q. 8. Ship Louisiana, miles below New.
Orleans, 9eth December 1914
have the honor to inform you, that on
The morning OF the 18th instant, at about half
past z, perceived our advanced guard retreat
Jog towards our lines--tl,e enemy pursuing -
fired shot, shells. and rockets, from field artiI.
lery, with which they advanced on the rosd be.
hind the leyee; sprung the ship to bring the
starboard guns to bear upon the enemy at IS
minutes past !, A. M. the enemy opened their
fire upon the ship, with shells, hot shot, and
rockets, which was instantly returned with
great spirit and much apparent effect, and con-
tinued without intermissior till /, p. nj. when
The enemy slackened their fire, and retreated
with a part of their artillery from each Of their
batteries, evidently with great loss. Two At.
tempts were made to screen one heavy niece
of o. Gnance mounted behind the Ieyee with
which they threw hot shot at the ship. and
which iiad been long time abandoned before
they succeeded IN recovering it, and then il
must have been with very great loss, as dis
tinctiy saw, with the aid of my glass, several
shot strike in The midst Of tie men fseamenl
who were employed dragging il away. Ats
NJ. the enemy were silenccd at 4P'M. ceased
firing from the ship, the enemy having retired
beyond The range of her guns. Many Of their
shot passed over the ship, and ;heir shells burs,
over her decks, which were strewed with their
fragments yet after an incessant cannonading
OF upwards OF seven hours, during which 500
shot we're fred from the ship, one man only Was
wounded slightly, by the piece of a she'll, & one
shot passed between the bowsprit and heel of
the jib-boom.
The enemy drewup his whole force, evident.
W with an intention Of assauting Gen. Jack.
sons lin s, under cover OF his heavy c,nnon Int
his cannOnadng being so warmly returned
rem the lines and ship Louisiana, caused him.
presume, to abandon his project, rs he retired
without making the attempt You will bore
learned by my former letters, that the erry IS
the Louisiana IS composed of men of sll natl.
ons, (English excepted) taken from the
streets OF New Orleans not a fortnight before
the battle yet never knew guns better serv-
ed. n foI
ed from her.
Lieutenant Q. c. d. Thompson deserves great
credi, TOT thedisciplne to which in 80 short
time he had brought such men, two tbirds of
whom do not understand English.
General Jackson having applied for officers
and seaInen to work the heavy cannon on hi.
lIes iiirnlsned by me, Lieutenants Norris and
sto",ey' % tle iate schooner Carolina, inst ant.
ly volunteered, ard with the greater mar, or
her crew were sent to those cannon, wi. Il thev
served during the action herein detailed. Tie
enemy must have suffered great loss IN ,hat
days action, by the heavy FIRE from ,b;s dir
and General Jackson's lines, where the canr
spirit WIZ sfeS'
have the honor to be,
WIN great consideration and resnect.
your obeditnt servant,
DANL. T.. PATTERsoN.
~ P"'. oSCIcIsly OF the
Navy, Washington City.
Marine Battery, FIVE miles below
SIR, ''e'"'' i''h Jan. 1915
Ihaye the honor TO inform vou. that i,-.
ing the 2nd and Sd inst landed rom The si,;.,
ana mounted, as the former ones ON The hani,
OF tho river, four more 70 Founders, and er.cs
ted furnace for heating shot. TO dcs,rov
number OF buildings which interyened bo,Sys.n
General Jsckson's lines and the camp Of The ="
neIny' and occupied by him. On lie eysn;no,
OF the 4th, succeeded in firing number oS
them, and some Rice Stacks by nv bo, sbot
which the enemy attempted TO ext;nynisf ,,o.
understanding the heavy fire l kobt nm 'i b,,,
whieh at length compelled them 10 desi1 M,
the 9th and 7th, erected another jgrnss"
, sha mounted st on the banks Of the river two
more ~ Founders, which had been brooa.,,, W
from the English Turn, by the exers;rn. =. -
Csionei Caldwell, of the drafted militia of,h;.
state, and brought within and mouat.d On t H.
entertainments on this side the riyer on, s 10
Pranaef ~ additicnt TO which, Geacrsl Nor