Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-11
WAsn,wGToM, Feb. s.
hlmost Tncredihle Victory

WASU-NC TC., rSO. VI
Almost Incredible Victory !
FROM NEW.ORLEd.NS.
Dates no to the 18th January the Enemy
at=cking our entrenched Array on the
sth beaten and repu'sed by Jackson and
his brave associates, with great slaughter.
Cohr Of letter from l1faior Gen Jackson
to the Secretary Of IIar. dated
Co.,h, mics 6cio-v Orleans.
9th ian. 1915.
SIR,
During the DAYS OF the Oh and 9TH.
the enemy had been actively employed IN
making preparations for an attack on my
Iiaes. With infinite labor they had succee-
ded on the night OF .he IN in getting their
hnats across from the lake to the river, by
wi,ering and deepening tie canal on which
they had effected their Decentralization.
Il had not been in my power to impefe these
operations by general attack added to
o'her reasons, the nature OF the troops m
der nv command, mostly mi'-ia. rendered
il too hazardous 10 attempt extensive often
siue movements in an open country, against
a numeraus ard we'll disciplined army. Al
though my forces rs to nunOer. had been
Increased nv the arrival OF the Kentucky
division, my strength had received very lit
tie addition a small portion only OF that
detachment being provided with arms
Compelled thus to wait the attack OF the
enemy, took every measure to repel It
when i: should be made, and 20 defeat the
object he had in view. General Morgan
with the Orleans contingent, the Louisiana
militia and strong detachment of the Ken
tucky troonS, occupied an entrenched camp
on the opposite SIDE OF the river protected
by strong batteries on the bank, erected &C
au2erintended by Commodore Patterson.
In my encampment every thing was rca
DIV fer action, when, early Oh the morning
OF the 9th, he enemy, after throwing
heavy shower bombs and C9ngreve rock
els, advanced their columns on nv right
and left. TO storm my entrencbaenss. j
cannot speak sufficiently IN praise Of the
frmness and de'iberatiou with which nv
whole line received their approach more
could not ha e been expected from vete.
rams innred tn war. For an hour the FIRE of
the small arms was as incessant and severe
as can be imagined. The artillery, too, di
recsed by officers who displayed equal skill
and courage. did great execution. Yet the
columns of the enemy continued to advance
with irmness which reflects upon them
the greatest credit. Twice the column
which approached me on my left, was re-
pulsed by the OOPS of Gen Carroll, those
of General Coffee, aud a division of the
Kentucky militia, and twice they formed as
gain and renewed the assault. At length,
however, cnt to pieces. they fed in con(u
zion from the field, leaving It covered with
their dead and wounded. The loss which
the enemy sustained on this occasion Cannot
be estimated at less thar 1900 IL Killed.
wounded and prisoners Upwards of =
hundred have already been delivered .. IL
Tor burial and my men are still engaged in
picking them up within my lines and carry.
ing them to the point where The eneny are
TO receive them. This is in addition to the
dead and wounded whom the enc Wy have
been enabled to carry from the field during
and since the action, and TO those who have
since died Of the wounds they received We
have taken about $50 prisoners, upwards
of 800 e whom are wounded, aud a great
part of them mortaly. Nj loss has not
exceeded, and believe has not amounted to
ten killed and as many wounded. The en-
tire destruction of the enemy's army was
now inevitable, had il not been for an unfor.,
tunate occurrence which IL this moment
took place OH the other she of the river
Simultaneously with the advance npcn nv
Lies, he had thrown orer in his boats a con-
These having landed, were hardy enough
to dyance against The works of Gen. Nor
gal; and what is strange aud difficult to &C
count for, at the very moment when their
entire discontinue was looked for with a
Confidence approaching to certainty, the
Kentucky reinforcements, i !. whom so nuch
reliance had been placed, iEgloriously led,
drawing alter them. by their example, the
remainder of the forces and thus Welding
to the enemy that most fortunate position.
The batteries which had rendered me. for
many days, the most important service
though bravely defended, were Of course now
abandoned } not however until the guns
had been spiked.
This unfortunate route had totally chan,
ged the aspect Of affairs. The.enemy now
occupied position from which they might
ANNOY us withou, hazard ADD by means Of
which they nigh, have been enabled 10 de.
feat, IN great measure, the effects of our
success on this side the river. Ii became
therefore an object Of the irst consequence
to di''odse hini as soon as possible. For this
object all the means in my power, which /
could with any safety use. were immedi.
stsly put ~ preparation. Perhaps howe