Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-09
From the Boston Gazette.

year 1915, justpublished, thus briefly re-
cords the history of that part Of the war
with tits countrs which belongs to the
annals of that year. Our readers may
Ihave some curiosity to learn in what'
terms these events are described in that
work
:. The signature of peace between
Great Britain and the United States of
America, at The end OF The last year.
could not operate to put period to hos
tlities till it had been made known and
ratified beyond The Atlantic and Sc.
erai actions remain to be related as the
conclusion of a destructive war, which
wisdom and temper might have prevent
| ed
On January Is, a British squadron,
consisting of the Majestic. Capt Hayes,
and three frigates being stationed off the
coast Of New York. in order to prevent
the escape of the United States frlgate
President. Commodore Decatur, and O.
Their vessels from Staten Island, describ-
ed the President attempting to get to-
sea: and commenced a general chase.
After a'run of many hours the Endymi.
on frigate got along side the President
and warm action ensued, which was
maintained with great gal'antry on both
sides for two hours and half, when the
End, MONS sails BEING cut from her;
yards, the American got head. Att
length the Pomone coming up, and firing
"a few shots, Commodore Decatur hailed
to say he had surrendered. The loss
was considerable in both the ships, but
much greatest on board the President
She vas frigate of the largest rate and
had on board about 400 persons.
A series OF operations Of the British
army in the neishborhood of New Orleans
occupied the last week of December and
a part Of January. An army had beeni
collected for an attack on that town, an
der the command of Maj. Gen. Keane,
which with the assistance of Admiral sir
Alexander Cochrane, was disembarke ed
without resistance on the Esd, During
the following night the troops were as
saulted with visour by a considerable be-
dy of Americans, who after repeated ef-l
forts. were repulsed with loss. On the
25th Major General Sir Edward Paken-
ham arrived, and took command of the
army. In the morning of the 9th the
troops moved forward in two columns.
and drove in the enemy's piekets to al
situation within six miles of the town,
where their main body was discovered
strongly posted behind canal, with al
breast work in front, their right resting
on the Mississippi, in which an armed
ship was moored, so as to enhlade any /
advancing assailants, and their leftI
touching thick wood. From that time
to the 9Th of January the interval was oc-
cupied on both sides in preparations for
attack and defence On the 9th the Bril-
fish army WIGS formed for general as.
sault upon the enemy's line, to be pre-
cedeG by an attempt with detached!
70 &c under Col. Thornton. to cross the!
river during the night, and proceedingI
aleng the right bank, to carry the 6anka|
ing batterys Of the Americans on thati
side. Various unforeseen difficulties rel
tarded the execut on of this part of the
plan till the cooperation lost its intend
ed effect. thoughin the end, the battery
was taken and the main attack did notI
take place till there was light enough
for the enemy to descry the assaiIahts at
more than 200 yards distance. A gal
hing f'e was immediately opened from
every part Of the American line. and in
the midst OF it, Cen, Pakenham, riding
forwards to animate his men. received 2!
shots, one of which was almost instantly
fatal. He fell into the arms of his aid
de-canp, and at the same time General
keade and Gibbs we're carried off wound.
ed in sigot Of the troops, who were SO
disenheartened. that they began to waver.
Major General Lambert then bringing
up the reserve, nett the whole falling
back in the creates confusion and though |
he restored order so far as to maintain,
the ground he occupied, it was not
thought advisable to renew the attempt.
On learning the success of Colonel Thorn.
tons attack, General Lambert sent an
artillery officer over the river to exa:ine
whether the post was tenable, and from
his report he was induced TO order it to
be relinqulshed. Such was the anfor-
tuhate termination ofan enterprise which ;
appears to have been undertaken with
more courage thanjudgment.
The loss on this day was very serious, {
including that of the general in chief kill
ed. general Gibbs wounded so severely /
as to die on the next day. general KeaE,sI