Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-30

Dug, beng SOFT. parts OF the bank gave way,
and choking up the channel, prevented the
heaviest of the boats itom getting forward.
These again blocked an the passage, so that
none os those which were behind could proceed,
and thus instead Of a AOulla for the accommO.
dauon OF l40O men,, only a number of boats
Sufficient TO CONTAIN $50 men WAS enabled To
reach their destination. Even these did no,
arrive At the time appointed. According 10 the
Pre-eonceFted plan, Col ThoFnton's detach.
rnent was 10 cross the river immediately after
DARK They wsre to push forward. SO as to
carry al tue batteries, aud 10 point the guns
before day light. when, on the throwing up OF
a rocket, they were 10 co nmence firing upon
me enemys line, which at the same moment
was to be attacked with The main Of our army.
IN THIS manner was one part OF the force to
act, while the rest were thus appointed-Dr
viding his troops into three columns, Sir II
ward directed, that General Kean, at the head
OF The 95th, The light companies ct the 2is,,
4thi and 44Ih, together with the two black
corps, should make a demonstration, or sham
attack upon the right; that General Gibbs, with
he 4th, @lst, 44th, and esd, should force the
enemy.s LETT, while General Lambert with the
7th and 45d renamed ia reserve, ready 10 act
as circumstances might require. But in storm
ing an entrenched position, something more
than bare courage is required. Sealing ladders
and tascines had, therefore, been prepared,
with which to hll up the d;cn aud mount the
wall, and since to carry these was a service of
danger, requiring a corps well worthy OF de.
pendsnce, the 44th was for that purpose Sc.
iected, as q regiment Of sufficient numerical
strength, and already accustomed to American
warfare, Thus were all things arranged on the
night OF the 9Th, for the 9Th vas fixed upon as
the day decisive OF the fate Of New Orleans
"Nhist the rest OF the army, therefore, lay
down to sleep iii they should be reused up 20
night, Gel. Thornton with the 65th, aud a
corps Ut marines and seamen, amounting IN all
TO i40U men, moved down 10 the Drunk Of the
riVer As yet, however, no boats bad arrived,
hour alter hour elapsed before the, did come,
inc misfortune which / have stated above were
discovered, for out OF oil that had been order.
ed up, only a few made tier appearance. Still
Il was absolutely necessary that this part ofthe
plan should be carried into execution. Dis.
missing, therefore, the rest Oh his followers,
the Colonel put himself at the head OF his own
regiment, about hity seamen, and as many ma.
rtoes, and with this small force. consisting of
no more than $40 men, pushed of. Bat, un.
fortunately. the loss of time nothing could re.
pair Instead Of reaching the opposite bank.
al latest by midnight, lawn was beginnng TO
appear before the boats quilted the canal, Ii
was in vain that they rawed on in perfect 81.
ience, and with oars mutfied, gaining the point
Of debarkauon without beng perceived. 1t
was in vain that they made good their landing,
and formed upon the beach without any oppo.
sitIon or alarm, day bad already broke, and the
5 gaal rocket was seen in the air. while they
we're yet four miles from the batteries. which
ought hours ago to have been taken.
In the mean time the main body armed and
moved forward some way IN front of the pick.
cts. There they stood waiting for Daylight,
and listening with the greatest anxiety for tina
firing which ought now to be heard Oh the op.
posite bag. But this attention was exerted
IN vain, and day dawned upon them long be.
fore they desired It's appearance. Nor was Sir
Edward Psckenham disappointed in this part
OF bis plan alone. Instead OF perceiving every
thing IN readiness for the assault, he saw hrs
troops in battle array, indeed. but not a ladder
or fsscine upon the field.-The 44th, which
were appointed TO carry them, had misunder-
stood or neglected their orders, and now head.
ed the column of attack, without any means
being provided for crossing the enemy's ditch,
or scaling his rampant.
The Indignation of poor packenham on this
occasion may be imagined, but Cannot be des.
cribed. Galloping towards Col. hullens, who
led the 44th, he commanded him instantly to
return with his regiment for the ladders. bat
the opportunity OF planting them was lost, and
though they were brought up, it was only to
be scattered over the aeld by the frightened
bearers. For our troops were by this time vi.
sible TO the enemy. A dreadful fire was accor.
DINGHY opened upon them, aud they were now
ed down BY hundreds while they stood waiting
for orders.
''Seeing that all his we'll laid plans were frus-
trated, Packenham gave the word TO advance,
and the other regiments. leaving the 44th with
the ladders and tascines behind them rushed on
to the assault On the left a detachment of the
95th. Dist and 4Ih. stormed a three gun battery
and took it. Here they renamed for some time
in the expectation Of support, but none arriv.
ing, and asIroag column Of the enemy forming
FOR its recovery, they determined 10 anticipate
The attack, and pushed on. The batter, which
they had taken was IN advance Of the body OF
~orks, beng cut oil from It by a ditch, across
which only a single plank was thrown. Along
this plank did these brave men attempt to pass,
but being opposed by overpowering numbers,
they were repulsed. and the Americans, in
turn, forcing their way into the battcry,at length
succeeded IN ~re.cspturing il With immense
slaughter. On the right, again, the 2ist and
4th eelng almost cut TO pieces. and thrown in-
70 some confusion by the ensmy's fire, the SD
pushed on and took the lead. fastening for.
ward, our troops soon reached the ditch. but
TO scale the parapet without ladders, was i'm
possible. Some few. indeed, by mounting one
upon mothers shoulders succeeded in entering
the works, but these were instantly oseTpow
cred, most of tsem killed, and the rest taken
while as many stood without were exposed to
a sweeping fire. which cut them down BY
whole companies. Ii was in vain that the MOST
obstinate courage was DISPLAYED They tell BY