Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-01-05

constructed his chief defence. consisting of
breastwork extending from the river on his
right to cypress swamp on bis left. To has
ten the construction Of these works. cotton
bags was ased, as the cheeks of the en-
brasures. As the enemy was still annoyed by
the schooner Caroline, which lay in the Mis-
siss.ppi they set to work in constructing bat
teres 10 attack her, and, on the 9th of De
cember, threw hot shot, by which she was set
on fire and blown up, about an hour after she
was abandoned by her crew The Louisiana
then took her station. On the 2Sth, the Brit
ish advanced up the levee in force, with the
intention Of driving jackson from his cntrench-
ments, and, at the distance of half mile,
commenced and attack with rockets, bombs,
and heavy cannonade, as he approached the
American works. which were yet unfinished.
The Louisiana discharging her broadsde up
on the enemy's column, causing great destruc-
ton the fire from the American batteries
was not less destructive and after violent
struggle of seven hours the British retired
The British force amounted TO little short
of fifteen thousand of the finest troops that
OF the Americans to about six thousand
chiefly raw militia The British now prepar-
cd for serious attempt on the American
works. With great labor, they had comple-
ted canal from the swamp to the MiSsissip-
pi, by which they were enabled to transport
number of boats to the river 1t was their
intention to make a simultaneous attack on
the main force of General jackson on the
left bank, and crossing the river to attack
the batteries on the right The works of the
Americans were by this time completed The
front was straight line of one thousand
yards, defended by upwards Of three thou
sand Infantry and artierists. The ditch con-
tained five feet water, and its front, from hay-
ing been flooded by opening the lcvees, and
frequent rains, were slippery and muddy. Eight
distinct batteries were judiciously disposed,
mounting, in ALL twelve guns, Of different cal
ibre. On the opposite side Of the river there
was a strong battery Of fifteen guns and the
entertainments were occupied by the Leuisi- |
ana militia and Kentucky troops The Brit |
ish commander having made every preparation I
for an attack, on the morning of the Sth Of I
January detached Colonel Thornton, with
considerable force, to attack the works on the /
right bank of the river He then moved,
with his whole force, exceeding twelve thou
sand men, in two divisions, under Major g en- I
erals Gibbs and Keane, and reserve under
General Lambert. The FIRST of these two I
officers was to make the principal attack; the |
two columns were supplied with scaling lad /
derS and faScines. The British deliberately /
advanced in solid columns, over an open plain I
in front Of the American entrenchments the |
men carrying, besides their muskets, fascines /
and some of them ladders. A dead silence I
prevailed until they approached within reach
of the batteries, which commenced an inces- I
SAINT and destructive cannonade; they, not /
withstandng continued to advance in tolera- 1
bic order, closing up their ranks as fast as
they were opened by the fire Of the Amer-
cans When they came within reach of the (
musketry and rifles, these joined with the ar
tllery, and produced such dreadful havoc that
they were instantly thrown into confusion.-
Never was there so tremendous fire as that !
kept up by the American lines 1t was a con- /
tnued stream those behind loading for the |
men in front, enabling them to fire with scarce /
ly an intermission The British columns were
literally swept away hundreds fell at every
discharge. The British officers were now
making an effort to rally their men, and, in !
this attempt, their commander, Sir Edward
Packenham, was killed.
The two Generals Gibbs and Keane, sue
ceeded in pushing forward their columns a
second time but the second approach was
more fatal than the first the continued roll
ling fire of the Americans resembled peals of
thunder. 1t was such as no troops could
withstand The advancing columns, and no
effort to rally them could avail few pla-
toons only advanced to the edge Of the ditch (
to meet a more certain destruction. An un-
availing attempt was made to rally them
third time, by their officers, whose gallantry,
on this OCCASION deserved better fate, in a
better cause. Generals Gibbs and Keane
were carried away, severely wounded, the
former mortally. The plain in front of the {
British and the American lines, were strewed
with dead So dreadful carnage, consider
ing the length Of time and the numbers enga (
ged, was perhaps, never witnessed. Two
thousand, at the lowest estimate, fell by the
American shot. The loss Of the Americans
did not exceed seven killed ayd six wounded. I
General Lambert was the only general officer
left upon the field being unable to check the
fight of the British columns, he retired to his
encampment.
la the meantime the detachment under Col /
Thornton, succeeded in landing on the right [
bank and Immediately attacked the intrench- /
ment The American right, believing itself
outaanked abandoned its position, while the (
left maintained its ground for some time; but (
finding itself deserted by those on the right, (
and being ontnumbered by the enemy, they
spiked their guns and retired But the Brit I
ish. seeing the fate Of the assault on the left
hank Immediately recrossed the river.