The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-13
BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT
or THEIR
.ATT.fCK OyV.NEIY- ORLEANS
Supplement- to the Lo,,don Gazette Of Tuesday
-NIrch T.

DoSsg'iHg-Strset .lGgrCh s, lSl5.
Dispatches Of which the following are copies have
been thisday received BY Earl Bathurst, one OF his
Majesty's principSl Secretaries of State, from Maj
zen. SIR John Lambert, X. c. u. commanding on the
coast ot Louisiana
Camp, ID. front cfdte eaehgis lines, }
before Ne.y- Orleans, Jan. 10, 1915. s
Mr. LoDn,
1t becomes my duty TO lay before your
LmdShp, the proceedings Of the urce lately employ
ed On the coast Of Louisiana, under the command of
Maj Gen. tie lion. Sir T.. VI Packenham, L. B. and
acting IN concert with Vice Adm. the Hon. Sir a
Cochranc, x. II
The report, which enclose from Mai Gen Keane,
will ut yUIr Locshp in pcslessonto the occurrences
which took place uutii tie arrsa of Mai Gen. the
Hon. Sir b. Psc$enh1n TO assume the command
from that period send extract OF the journal Of
Maj Forrest, Assistant Guarte master general, up to
the time OF the joining OF the troops (Which sailed On
one 10th oil Oct last uadeT my commGnd) and which
was, the 9th of January and from that period
snail detail, well ain able, the subsequent G.
vents.
found the army in position, in aat country, with
the Mississippi on its lett, and thick extensive wood
on its rights and open 10 its 'front.' from which the enc
nys line quite distirguishsble
1t seems Sir +. Packenhain had waited for the srti-
val of the fusileers and sell regt. in order TO make
general attack upon the enemys lines and on the Sth
tie army was formed for that object.
In order to give your lordship rs cleNra view as ]
can, shall state tue position of the enemy. On the
left bank OF the river was simply straight line ofa-
bout front of 1000 yards, with parapet the right
resting the river, aud the left on wood which
had been made impractieabe for any body OF troopso
pass This line was strengthened by sank works. and
had csnaiu front OF about four feet deep pen, rally
but not altogether of equal width ii was supposed
10 narrow towards their left about eight heavy guns
we're imposition on this line The Mississippi is here
about 500 yards across they hadon It's right hea-
Wy battery OF 10 guns. which enhaded the whole front
o. The position ON the left bank.
PREF araiions made Our side by every consi-
derabie labour, to clearos and widen canal that
muncated with stream By which the boats had pas
sedup to the place of Decentralization, open it into
the Mississippi by whon troops could be got o.
yer TO the right bank, and the cooperation of armed
bosts could he secured.
The disposition for the attack was as follows a CORPS
consisting Of the s5th light infantry 900 seamen, and
zoo marines, the 5th West India regiment, and four
pieces of artillery snder the command of col. Thorn
ton, of the S5th pass during the night and
along the right bank towards New Orleans clear
ing its front until it reached the anking battery of
the enemy that side which it had orders to car
~.
The assaIing of the enemy's line in front of u.s. was
to be made by the brigade composed Of the 9TH, 2Ist
and 18th regiments, with three companies the 9Sth
under Mai Gen. Gibbs, and by the Sd brigade, conss-
ting of the 0Sd, two comnanes of the 95th, and two
companies of the Fusileers, and i3d under Mai Gen
Kesne some black troops were destined to skirmisI
IN the wood the rights the principal attack was to
I've made by Mai Gen. Gibbs the 1st brigade censs-
ting of the Fuseers and @5d, formed the reserves the
attacking columns TO be provided with fascines
scaug ladders and ratts the whole 10 be at their sta
tons before daylight. An advanced battery in our
front OF eighteen FOUNDERS thrown up during the
night sb9ut eight hundred yards from the enemy's
line The attack was to be made at the earliest holr
Unlocked for difficulties increased by the falling ofthe
rgcI occasoned considerable delay in the entrance of
the armed bOsts and those destined toiand Col Thoro
tors corps by which or hours lost and il was
not until past in the morning, that the first division
consisting OF Eve thousand men were over. The en-
se,nJ,e ofthe general movement was lost, and in
poin; which Was ofthe last Importance to the attack
on the left bank OF the river, although Col Thornton,
your lordshp will see ia his report which enclose
ably executed every particular his Instructions and
fully justified the confidence the commander of the
forces placed in his abilities The delay attending that
corps occasoned the left bank and the attack
did nor take place until we were discernibe from the
enemys line than two hundred yards distance
As we advanced, continued and calling fire was
opened from every part of their line, and roa the bat
.ry on the right bank.
The brave commander of the forces, who never in
his life could refrain from being the post Of honour
and sharing the danger to which the troops we're ex.
posed, from his station he had made the sly.
nal for the troops to advance eaopped on to hefo6t
TO anirla,e them by his presence, and he was seen
with his hat off encouraging them on the crest of the
gac1 it was there (ainlost at the same time) he re-
ceived 1.-TWO wounds, one 10 his knee and another which
wasinstRnty pta, in his body he fell in the arms of
Nisior NJ Dougah, Aid-de.camP.
The effect Of this, in the sight of the troops togeth-
~ with mai gen. Gibbs and mai. gen. Keane being
borne OF wounded at the same time with many other
UilictlS tne preparations TO
aid in crossing the ditch not being so forward as they
OF ~ to have been, from, perhaps, the men being
wounded who we're carrying them, caused a wayering
in the columns which in such situation became rrepa,
rable and as advanced with the reserve at about
two hundred and fifty yards from the line, had the
modification to observe the whole falling back upon
o. c, in the greatest confusion.
in this situation, finding that no impression had been
made, and though many men had reached the ditch
Trey we're either drowned or obliged to surrender and
ati was impossible to restore order in the regiments
where they we're, placed the reserve in position I'm
I'll could obtain such information as to determine
enc hsw 20 act to the best of my Judgment and whe-
ther or not should resume the attack and ifso felt
II could be done only by the reserve. The confidence
have in the corps composing il, would have encoCra
gcd me greatly, though not without loss which might
have made the attempt Of serious consequence rs
know it was the opinion of the late Commander of the
forces that the carrying Jf the first line would not be
the lesst arduous service. After making the best re-
Section was capable Of kept the ground the troops
then held, and went 10 meet Vice Adm Sir Alex
Coehrane AID TO tell him, that under all the circun-
stances did not think Il prudent to renew the attack
that day. At about 10 o'clock, learnt of the success
Of col Thonton's corps on the right bank sent the
commanding officer of the artillery, Col Dickson. to
examine the sustion OF the battery and to report if
WAS tensblc but informing that he did moi think
It could be held with security by a smaller corps than
two Thousand wcn, consequently ordered Lieut. Col
C;ubhins, or whom the command had deyoyed (Col
ThoIton being wolnded) TO retire.
Thc army remsncd in position until night, in order
% gain time tOdestrny the eighteen ponder battery
we had constructed the preceding night in advance /
then gave orders for The troops resuming the ground