The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-05

ssh Edwa Packenhams plan OF operations lay within
narrow compass. He designed 10 push his columns
by rapid forward movement upon the American en-
uenchmen fill the ditch he reached II with the las
which had been prepared and were TO be carried BY
The heads OF his columns and then 70 apply scaling lad
des and mount The parapet The principal object of the
the right bank OF the river the
batteries constructed there, and 10 turn their fire upon
the American right wing. and enhlade the lines To
der this cooperation e1ectua, essential that the
collateral movement should precede the principal
to place the batteries IN the possession OF the British
before the lines were stofmed Ii therefore part
of the plan that Colonel Thornton 10 whom the opera
lions on the right bank committed should com
mence his movement al early hour in the morning.
10 reach his point of attack about daylight This
however he did not do owing to The fall OF the river
TO some mistake TO the depth OF the canal the boats
grounded, and got of with difficulty and after much
delay The schemes may be maTred by such
unforeseen accidents; but he proves himself to be the
great commander who repairs the misfortune by prompt
and vigorous 1t might have been wiser, had
the British general postponed his attack I'LL the result OF
Colonel Tnonton's expedition disclosed. That
seemed to be the key OF his but he APP
paren,y thought 1t essential TO success that the assault
should take place about the dawn OF day, so that his
columns might approach near possible without OBJ
servalon, and then precptate themselves by sudden
rush, upon the Americans 10 night attack ne naa
nsuperable objections is said account OF the diff
Guilty of distinguishing friend from foe where both spoke
the same language However this may be- he gave The
orders Tor the sgnahe rockets assembled ana MS plan
was committed to his fate.
The British columns were instantly mpeled EDWARDS
A rush, escaade, and the bayonet only could save
fascnes Of sugar cane, and all had their knapsacks upon
their backs French pas de charge would have cleared
the interval in brief space, if indeed, in the power
OF any troops to clear Il! in the face OF the muTderous
fusilade which was vomited forth from the American
words. But slowness death; and the assailants
found it. The damp canopy which had shrouded The
plain was now rising and bringing into view the whole
fearful scene. The columns had debouched from their
shelter, and the dense masses OF human beings were
propelled 10 the very muzzles Of frownng line OF guns,
held by the best marksmen in the worldhe eye upon
the barrel and the finger upon the trigger, and to
the living target at whom the bullet is sped The fire
opened with voleys Of flame and peals OF thunder which
described as being the most awful sight and sound
that ever broke upon the eye Captain Cookies
description OF the reverberalon OF the ntonatons from
the forest is appalling.
swell it may have been 10 who stood before
these terrific discharges, and were moved down without
resistance No doubt as he says none but spectator
could form adequate conception OF this horrible caas
trophe II was not our fortune TO be there, and we
not therefore spread before readers vivid picture Of
a without parallel in ancient modern warfare
nor indeed would il be possible Tor any describe
with minuteness and precision the varied incidents OF
such field fought and won under such peculiar circnm-
stances Suffice 10 say. that some OF the British
troops with machess courage gained the brink OF the
ditch, but could go further The column ITSELF broken,
dispersed dsheartened rereaed in the utmost conu.
TO the ditch behind which they had formed where being
rallied and depOsiiing their knapsacks, they
more brought 10 the conflict But the effort vain.
There was no intermission in the American fire. Mus.
kerry and artillery still poured out their messengers OF
DEATH The British general was killed in the front Of his
troops, anma,ng them by his presence and example.
Ills second and hs tnd IN command were disabled, ana
carried from the field and probably not less than thou
sand men, dead and wounded, were lying beside hn
is said that, from some defect in the management
the ladders not brought forward and this has been
assigned OF the Of failure; but, without
men mount, why ask for ladders! All the scaling
apparatus invented and employed would have been
useless in that hour OF CONSERVATION wheD Captain
Cooke says "a lew brave officers and soldiers were
prowling about the edge Of the ditch Nota hostile hand
placed upon The porapei diag that bloody day Ii is
idle them to inquire into the mschances which prevented
the production OF the ladders. We must look TO olhe
causes for this disaster TO the British arms"