Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-06-08
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MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Boston Dnily Advertiser.
3ATTIE OF NEW ORLEANS

fkc author of Il Narrniire offhe Ctn,p, ofthe
British dr7ay at Washingtoi and fe,g Orleans,
gives particular account of the movements of the
ceet from the Chesapeake to Jamaica, and thence
10 the ne,ghborhood of New Orleans, of the landing
OF the troops and of the several actions before the
ciW.-Atter describing the unsuccessful attack
tpon our lines from the batteries on the LIST of
January, he proceeds TO give the following account
ofthc assault which was made on the 9th:
A" Il was determined TO divide the army to send
part ACROSS the river, who should seize the enernys
guns and turn them on themselves while the re-
inainder should NJ the same time make general as
sault along the whole eB,rcnchmcEt' But before
t,is plan could be put into execution, it would be
necessary 10 cut canal across the entire neck of
lind from the Baeo de C1dline to the river of suf-
hcient width, aud depth to admit Of boats being
brought up from the lake. Upon this arduous UNI
dettaking were the troops immediately employed.
Being divided into four companies, they labored by
turns, day and night one party relieving another
after Stated number of hours, in such order as
the work should never be entirely deserted The
fat5ie undergone during the prosecution of this
attempt, no words can sufficiently describe yet it
was pursued without repining and at length by UNI
rssniticd cxertions. they succeeded in eifectng their
purpose by the 9th of January
lie proceeds to state, that in the mean time
Mai. Gen. Lambert unexpectedly arrived with two
fuil regiments. mastering 300 effective men each
and that with the addition OF body OF sailors and
marines from the feet their numbers NOW amounted
10 little short OF 5000 men lie saws there were yar-
reports OF the American force SOME stating
them At %. and others al 30,00O.--He supposes
ZpNO 10 DC about Inc probable number
" The canal, as have stated, being finished on
the 6th II was resolved 10 lose no time in making
use OF IT. Boats were accordingly ordered for the
transportation of 400 men; and Col Thornton with
The 8Jlh regiment, the marines and party of sail
ors were ordered TO cross the river. But number
OF untoward accidents occurred, to spoil a plan of
operations as accurately laid down as any in the
course OF the war. The soil through which the ca
nal YVES dug being soft, parts OF the bank gave way
and choakng up the channel prevented the heaviest
OF the boats from getting forward These again
LOCKED up the passage, so that of those which
were behind, could proceed, and thus, instead Of
notiIla Tor the accommodation of HOO men, only
number of boats sufficient to contain $50 was enab-
led to reach their destination. Even these did not
arrive nj the the time appointed. According TO the
pre-concerted plan, Col. Thornton's detachment
was TO cross the river Immediately after dark They
were TO push forward carry all the batteries
and point the guns before day light when on the
throwing up OF a rocket, they to commence
firing upon the cnemy's line, which at the same
moment was to be attacked by the main of our
army
In this manner was one part of the force to act,
while the res; were thus appointed. Dividing his
troops into three columns, Sir Edward directed,
tiat General kcanc, at the head of the gh
companies of the Dist, lth and Nth, to-
sethcf with the two black corps, should make de-
monSfration, or sham attack upon the right that
general Gibbs with the 4th, 2lst, lith, and 93d,
should force the eucmy's left, while General Lam
tcrt with the 9TH and I'D remained in reserve rca-
oy to act as circumstances might require. But in
than bare courage is required. Scaling ladders and
iascnoS had, therefore, been prepared, with which
10 fill up the ditch and mount the wall and since to
carry these was aseryice of danger, requiring
corps well worthy of dependence, the 1i.h was for
that purpose selected, as a regiment of sufficient
numerical strength, and already accustomed to A
merlcan warfare. Thus were all things arranged
the night Of the 7th for the 9Th was fixed uoon
az the day decisive Of tie fate OF New Orleans
While the rest OF the army, therefore, Law down
70 sleep til they should be reused up TO fight Colo
mel Ihornton, with the S5th, and corps OF Marines
and seamcn, amounting in all 10 1 100 men, moved
down 10 the brink OF the river A. vet however
no boats had arriyed-hour after hour ELAPSED
before they came ; and when thcy did come the
Ensioitunes which have stated above were disco
Nsred Tor out OF all that had been ordered up, only
a lew made their appearance. Still il was abso,
lately necessary that this part of tho plan should he
carried into OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, therefore, the
rest OF his followers the colonel put himself az the
head OF his own regiment, about 30 seamen, and as
many marines, and with this small force, consisting
oil no more than $40 men, pushed OH But
nniTtunaeiy, the loss of time nothing could repair
Instead OF reaching the opposite bank, at least by
midnight, dawn was beginning TO appear before the
boats Quilted the canal. il was in vain ihat they
rosed on in perfect silence, and with oar, munIed
gaming the point of debarkation without being per-
ccIvea IL was in vain That they made good their
landing and formed upon the beach without opposi
ton or alarm; day had already broke and the signal
rocket was then seen in the air, while they were
set four miles from the batteries which OUGHT our
tFgp u haze been taken.
In the mean time the main body armed and moved
forward some way 10 front OF the piqucts. There
they stood waiting for day light, and listening with
the greatest anxiety for the firing which ought no
10 DO heard on the opposite bank But this auen- |
lion was eSertcd in vain, and day dawncd upon them
long before they desired It's appearance Nor was |
or bdward Packcnham, disappointed in this plan !
alone Instead of pcrceiVina every thing i'm readi-
ness for the assault, nc his troops in battle ar
ray indeed, but not ladder or fascne upon the Gcd
pc 4ith, which was appointed TO carry them had |
Husdnderstood or neglected their orders aud now /
headed the COLUMN OF attack, without any means |
bhng provided for crossing the encmy's ditch or |
sc1ling his rampant.
The Indignation Of poor Packcnham on this oc- |
casIon may be imagined but cannot be described /
tialoPIng towards colonel Muens, who led the tith ,
Ia commanded him instantly TO return with his re-
gimco for the ladders but the opportunity of plant
sns them was lost, and though they were brou ghup
~ was only to be scattered over the field by the |
frightened bearers for troops were BY this time
visible TO the enemy. 4 dreadful fire was Accord
pgy opcncd upon them, and they were moved
Gown oy hundreds, while they stood waiting for or
Gers.
Seeing that all his we'll laid plans were frustrated.
Packeuham gave the word TO adynncc and the 9th
81 Regiments leaving the 9Th with the ladders and
iAscines behind them, rushed on to the assault On
iae lett detachment Of the y5th, 2lst, and 4th
pormed three gun battery and took IL. Here they
remained Tor some time in expectation Of support |
none arriving, and q strong column of the enemy
forming ior US recover; they determined TO antci-
PATE We attack, AID pushed on. The battery which
tiey had taken was ia Advance Of the body of the
works, beng cut of from Thy ditch across which
ony single plank was thrown Along this plank
ga t1ose brave men attempt to pass but being OPP
i2sed ny osefrowerinc aumbers, thcy were nc puis-
~ add TIC Americans, in turn forcing their way /,
'tio the battery, az length succeeded IN recap.
l. iing q with Immense slaughter. On tie right a.
an the ti' and 4ih Icing almost cni - pieces and
THROWN 'atO vuic confusion iy the enemy fire. The
~ rGsbt4 Oh AID too siic Notwithstanding rrr