Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-15
From tie london z.aet, Of. lsau 5.
EXPEDITION TO Ngw-op,psv Nc

E4PEDIIIONTO N-EJH-ORLE9.NS.
=, Inc annexed letter, written by young but in
.eiilgent Naval Officer, gives some new and in.
teresting details of the last unfortunate
OF the American war, and explains causes Of the
failure, yet imperfectly known although as we
nave already intiinated in The Prior. some of
the parties adverted to rs criminally deficient.
are known to be under orders for trial BY Court.
Martial. -,
Ms.Iaiesty's snip -----, o6-sIe coas, Of Mem.
Orleans, January 80, 1915.
AFTER forty-seVen days absence, | may say on
80 uiiichit service as ever boats encountered, L
nave returned, and must acknowledge. rather,
faugued. When am so, what must nv crew
nave nave neen After the most incessant labour.
tllev are stu, am sure, more than anxious and
would willingly suffer, if possible, double-so in.
veterate is Their hatred to our implacable enemy
Would to Heaven I could say we had been sue
cessful; but thank God no blame can be attached
10 our excellent Commander in Chief, save what
some otthose 'would be Knowing Gentlemen
might call that of having advised the exped;tion
III point OF bodily fatigue, none ever in SO high
sltua' On, believe, did, or indeed could have
, USED greater eXerton. The distance from the
me OF battle ships to the first place Of debarka
lo,i was ~ mics, fnot more: this was on an ISL
ana IN the entrance to Lake Ponchartran. or
more properly swamp like the rest of this part
OF inns America. It was absolutely necessary
that the army should be collected here. az we
mad stlll 20 or 25 niles farther before we could
reach the place of our destination. The whole
army having assembled there, and a sufficient
luantity OF stores being ready, we left the Island
NJ oelieve, as fine order as it was possible for
boats to be formed. The division in which 7 was
consisted OF the 4th, 85th, 95th, rocket brigade
ana some sappers and miners The place we
landed IN, the Americans say, was never before
explored but by alligators and wild ducks 1t
wa was up creek, SO narrow and SO completely hid
- 1rfRn
Deeh discovered by the Americans: 1t was point
ed out by some Spanish fishermen, who had an
ProPrlated one part oft for the purpose of SNUG
SLng. The head of this creek was distant from
the Mississippi about three miles and from tbe
high road to New orleansa mile and half; from
the CITY SIX or eight. This event was not discov.
cred by the Americans for some time af. er we
had made good landing; nor do / think thew
would have discovered it till we Showed our.
Serves as we had all got up by day light. and the
upper part became so narrow that we were ma
ole 70 pull our oars but tracked the boats bv the
shore: rms is proof that our landing ut Pine
lsiahu completely deceived the Americans. whose
prniG'Pal preparations were made at the mouth of
inc Lake, and almost in every point, but where
we really came Our army advanced. and about
woo CLOCK were on the banks of the Mississippi
having the river on their left, a wood ON their
right with the main road before them and 90
confident was Gen. Kean Of an easy conquest. that
II IS SAID he expressed ideas on the subject. hv
saying he could be in New Orleans that night.
out wished to wait for the other divisions ioinIne
soon alter dark, the Americans sent a schooner.
down to attack our flank while their army com.
fhenced on the front. The bravery only Of such
troops rs the regiments already mentioned. could
nave saved them, particularly the gallant85th who
are the admiration of all The Americans were
completely beaten by, comparatively speaking, a
handful, & this was done solely bv personaf rsI
le nj,
PRISE, which, with the confusion caused by the
sclooner's FIRE, prevented any thing like order or
manGuvrlng, Among the wounded was CAPTAIN
Knox, who is spoken Fin the highest terms, and
his loss sincerely regretted.
Jonathan after this gained rather more wisdom.
unfortunately tor us, and kept closely to his
works Tw0days after this battery was cornDlet
ed, and to the satisfaction of every body the schr
blown up the ship Immediately ran for the
Town, and, to every body, If appeared as If all OBJ
stacles were removed
On Christmas day, Sir z. Packenham arrived
On the 18th drove in the American advance. took
up their position, and commenced erecting bate
res On New Years day we made an attack from
the Works, but owing to the ground beng swarm
Py,and breast-worksnot sufficen thick II was.
after some firing, knocked topieces 1t was AZ
yer these different attacks, that believe Sir
Alexander recommended the project of widen
ing ditch, and cutting a passage into the lI,s-
s"SipPi. MS was Tor the purpose Of dlslodp.
ing the enemy from the works they had erected
on the opposite SIDE, eihgt hundred wards distant
| and Which completely enfiladed on left. while,
ct the same time, it should serve as a diversion
me boats with guns (ntended IN have been 90I
were then TO have passed the batteries and oven.
ed hTo on the rear, while the batteries were 10
nave opened on the flank the attack was then 20
have taken plsce-the 44th to have carried the
ladders and tasoines while the DIST, 4tb, and oSd
on the sgnalrocket being fired, we're to advance
On the other side, wewere lucky in having the
oSth, with their famous Colonel (Thornton3 and
Of greatest difficulty and consequence 50 E's
| every thing appeared in a most promising wav.
ana not doubt was entertained of favorable
result suibumas foresight, IS constantly, hap.