The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-15


packenhan received his second and fatal
wound. He had been previously shot In the
sword arm, had dismounted from his wounded
horse and mounted a Black Greek pony OBJ
tanned by one Of his aids from Jumonvilles
plantation
NIT was on this pony when placing himself at
the head of the Forty fourth Infantry, ne ad-
vanced as near to the American parapet as the
attacking column ever got, that ne was
struck In the side with grape or chain shot,
and fell into the arms Of Sir John McDougaI,
his chief Of staff Supported on his horse py
his aid-the Forty-fourth having shrunk
back under the whitening fire OF Carroll
men and the cross fire of all the American
batteries he was conducted to the rear. until
he reached the line of the Ninety-third High
landers. who were marched up to the support
of the Forty-fourth Then, under cover OF
the advancing solid column of the stalwart
Highlanders, his horse was led to the rear,
Sir John McDougall supporting him In his
saddle until reaching the cover OF large live
oak. still standing, he was gently lifted TO the
ground. a surgeon on examination pronounc-
ing his wound mortal. This was the end
of n heroic officer, who, though not turned
forty, had achieved brilliant name IN the
British army.
These were the facts Of the conduct and
fatal woundlng Of Packenham on the eighth
Of January, 1916 His remains. with those OF
Gen. Gibbs, who commanded the assaulting
column. are entombed, by act Of Parliament,
In ST. Paul's Cathedral, London. There Is an
obvious error In ono feature Of Lamie's pic
ture. which represents the British column as
| firing by battalion or lines, whereas as storm
ers of batteries they advanced without loads
| In their guns. and even II they had cartridges
had no opportunity to use them. The Ninety
| fifth Rifles. forming skrmiShing line con
| Meeting the several brigades which advanced
| In close column Of attack as was long the alb
surd practice Of the British, may have fired
their rifles. but not SO as to create the dense
| smoke which covers portion OF the British
front. The American front on the left Is cor
rpctly enveloped in smoke, but in the centre
| the infantry did not discharge their pieces;
| the batteries alone were engaged. An obser-
vance of this fact would have furnished the
| artist due distribution Of light and shade,
| and brought into full view the American line
where 1t was held by the four lines Of Carroll
and Adalr. the two front lines firing. and the
| other two loading and handing the muskets
/ to the two front lines.
There is a noticeable omission Of those
fascines. made up Of bundles Of sugar cane,
and Of the ladders, which were borne 10y the
front lines of the attacking column, at the
head Of which Packenham fell There Is a
point of historical significance in these fas-
cines and ladders. as it was for their Omis-
sion. in the first advance of the fourth,
that the colonel Of that regiment, the Hon
Mr.. Mullens. was court-marShaled on his re-
turn to England The interval between the
first and the second attack was produced by
the foolish order Of Gibbs to the Forty
fourth to file to the rear and stack
arms. and require the men to advance
with fascines and ladders. 1t was when this
order was partially executed that Packen-
ham, placing himself at the head OF the
returning Forty-fourth, received his mortal
wound. When struck he was bareheaded, way.
ing his hat and cheering his fellow Irishmen Oh
to the charge. The whitening fire which they
had encountered In their first assault hac
greatly moderated their elan and impetu
osity. and but few Of those bearing the utterly
useless aud mpractieabe ladders and fascines
ever reached the miserable ditch, which theil
Imagination had exaggerated into formida-
bic stream requiring several acres Of cane tt
fill and render passable The only use ever
found for the ladders was to employ them as
stretehers for tho removal of the wounded
after the battle was over. twas for this con
duct of the Forty-fourth that its colonel ane
men were made the scape-goats Of all the dis
grace and misfortunes of that day. The regi-
ment was deprived Of its colors, and not for
} many years afterwards did the Forty-fourtf
regain its ancient prestige as one Of the bes
fighting regiments in the British army
+, But we must close these rambling observa-
tions, which have already exceeded the just
} limits as TO space and appropriations Of Q
criticism of q painting of the great artistic
event of this handsome donation to our STATE
by gentleman whose benefactions to oui
people whose unbounded lberality and un
varying sympathy in our distresses, have Sc
deeply impressed the hearts Of all good and
grateful citizens. On account of the donor
as well AS of the merits Of tho picture rs 9
brilliant cOmmemoration Of the most glorious
event in the history of Louisiana, we trus
) il will be carefully kept among the few me-
MORALS we have been able to preserve of tn
patriotic devotion and illustrious achieve
; ments Of our ancestors