The Massachusetts spy., 1821-07-11
From late English publication.l
BlTTTE OF NEW ORLEANS.

The author gives particular account of the
movements OF the feet from the Chesapeake to
jamaica, and thence to the neighbourhood of
New Orleans--oi the landing of the troops, and
of the several actions before the city. After
describing the unsuccessful attack upon our
lines from their batteries on the list of January.
he proceeds to give the following account OF
the assault which was made on the 9Th -
alt was determined to divide the ar
my, to send part across the river, who
should seize the enemy's guns, and turn
them on themselves; while the remain
der should at the same time make gem
eral assault along the whole entrench-
ment. But before this plan could be put
into execution, it would be necessary to
cut across the entire neck of land, from
the Bayo de Cataline TO the river, of
sufficient depth and width to admit of
boats being brought up from the lake.
Upon this arduous undertaking were the
troops Immediately employed. Being
divided into four companies, they labour-
ed by turns, day and night; one party re-
lieying another after stated number of
hours, in such order as that the work
should be entirely deserted. The
fatigue undergone during the prosecution
Of this attempt, no words can sufficiently
describe, yet it was pursued without re-
pining. and at length; by unremitted ex-
ertions, they succeeded in eflecting their
purpose by The 9th of January
He proceeds to state, that in the mean time
Maj. Gen. Lambert unexpectedly arrived with
two full regiments, mastering 800 effective men
each-and that, with the addition of a body of
sailors and marines from the fleet, their numbers
now amounted to little short of 5000 men. He
says there were various reports of the American
force, some stating them at 2S, and others at
10000. He supposes $4,000 to be about the
probable number. This number however. is
greatly exaggerated.
'sThe canal, as | have stated, being
finished on the 9th, it was resolved to
lose no time IN making transportation of
1400 men; and Col Thornton with the
9th regiment, the marines, and party of
sailors, were ordered to cross the riper'
But number of untoward accidents oc-
Cured to spoil plan of operations as ac-
curately laid down as any in the course
of the war. The soil through which
the canal was dug being soft, parts of
the bank gave way, and, choking up the
channel, prevented the heaviest Of the
boats from getting forward. These a.
gain blocked up the passage, SO that
none of those which were behind could
proceed, and thus, instead Of a fotilla for
the accommodation of 400 men, only a
number of boats sufficient to contain $50
were enabled to reach their destination.
Even these did not arrive at the time
appointed! According to the preconJ
certed plan, Col. Thornton's detach-:
ment was to cross the river Immediately
after dark.-They were TO push forward
SO as to carry all the batteries, and point
the guns before daylight; when, on the
throwing up Of a rocket, they were to
commence firing upon the enemy's line,
which at the same moment was to be at.
tackled by the main body of our army.
In this manner was one part of the
force TO act, while the rest were thus
appointed Dividing his troops into
three columns, Sir Edward directed that
Gen, Keane, at the head of the 95th, the
light companies Of the 9lst, 4th and 44th,
together with the two black corps, should
make demonstration, or sham attack,
upon the right that Gen. Gibbs, with
the 9TH, 2lst, 44th, and 93d, should
force the eneny's left, while Gen. Lam
bert, with the 18th and 43d, remained in
reserve, ready TO act az circumstances
might require. But in storming an en-
trenched position, something more than
bare courage is required Scaling lad
ders and fascines had therefore been
prepared, with which to fill up the
ditch, and mount the wall and since to
carry these was a service of danger,
requiring a corps well worthy of de-
pendence, the 44th was for that purpose
selected, as regiment of sufficient
numerical strength, and already accus-
toned to American warfare. Thus
were all things arranged on the night of
the 7th, for the 9Th was fixed upon as
the day decisive of the fate of New
Orleans.
While the rest Of the army, there
fore, lay down to sleep till they should
be reused up to fight, Col. Thornton,
with the 85th, and corps of marines
and seamen, amounting in all to 400
men, moved down to the brink of the
river. As yet, however, no boats had