Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1815-02-09
II EW-ORLEANS.
OFFICIAL.

" VIC ooG ee"y " ~ ar, GQte6 heGa
Quarters, 9Th u. ID. Camp, miles be-
toeD NeD. Orleans, january l3, 1915.
SlR--At such crisis, conceive it mr.
duty to keep you constantly advised Of mr.
situation.
On the 10th instant, / forwarded yeu ana
account OF the bold attempt made by the
enemy on the morning of the 9Th to taxi
possession of my works by storm, and Of
the severe repuse which he met with
That report having been sent by the mail
which crosses the Lake, may possibly have
miscarried for which reason think it the
more necessary briefly to repeat the SUBJ
stance OF it.
Early on the morning the Sth, the enc
my having been actively employed the two
proceeding days in making preparations
for storm, advanced in two strong columns
on my right and left They were received
however, with firmness which, it seems,
they little expected, and wi.ch defeated ali
their hopes. My men, undisturbed by their
approach. which indeed they long anxiously
looked for, opened upon them fire so de.
liberate and certain, as rendered their seal.
ing ladders and fascines, as well as their
more direct implements of warfare perfect.
ly useless. For upwards of an hour it was
continued with a. briskness of which there
have been but few instances, perhaps. in
any country. In justice to the enemy it
must be said, they withstood it as long az
could be expected from the most determin.
ed bravery. At length, however, when al,
prospect OF success became hopeless, theg
fled in confusion from the field, leaving It
covered with their dead and wounded. Their
loss was immense. | had at first committed
it at 1900, but it is since ascertained to have
been much greater. Upon information.
which is believed to be correct, Col. HAYNES
the Inspector General, reports it to be in
the total $500. His report l enclose Won.
My loss was inconsiderable, being only r.
killed and wounded. Such disproporti-
on in loss, when we consider the number
and the kind of troops engaged, must, |
know, excite astonishment and NAV not
every where be fully credited vet / am
perfectly satisfied that the account is not
exaggerated on the one part, nor underrat
ed on the other.
The enemy having hastily quilted post
which they had gained possession of, on
the other side of the river, and we having
Immediately returned to it; both armies at
Whether after the severe losses he ha,
sustained, he is preparing to return to his
shipping, or to make still mighter efforts
to attain his first object, | do not pretend
to determine. 1t becomes me to act as
though the latter were his intention One
thing, however, seems certain, that if he
still calculates on effecting what he has
hitherto been unable to accomplish, he
must expect considerable reinforcements
as the force with which he landed must
undoubtedly be diminished by at least 5000.
Besides the loss which he sustained on the
night of the Esd ult. which is estimated at
400, nc cannot have suffered less between
that period and the morning of the Sth inst.
than 300-having, within that time, been
repulsed in two general attempts to drive
us from our position, and there having
been continual cannonading and skrmish-
ing during the whole Of it. Yet he is still
able to shew very formidable force.
There is little doubt that the command
ing general, Sir Edward Rockingham was
killed in the action of the 9Th, and that
majors general Kean and Gibbs were badly
wounded
Whenever more leisure moment shall
occur, will take the liberty to make out
and forward you more circumstantial ac-
count of the several actions, and particular
ly that of the 9Th, in doing which my chief
motive will be to render justice to those
brave men have the honor to command.
and who have SO remarkably distinguished
themselves.
have the honor to be, most respectfully,
your obedient servant,
ANDREW JACKSON,
Maj Gen Commanding
P. S A correct list of my killed and
wounded will be forwarded you By the