Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-15

Americans had were of earth. about
two and One-half feet high, rudely
constructed of fence rails and logs
laid tWenty-four inches apart, and the
space between them filled with earth.
and If there had been any works con-
structed from cotton bales they must
have known 1t.
''In 1926 was prompoted tocaptain
in the 1st infantry ana sent To Nash
vile, Tenn, to recruit for nay regi-
ment, While there met Gems.
Jackson and Coffee very often and
obtained from the former many de-
tails of the battle of Chaimette that
are not i'll print.
There was a very heavy fog on
the river on the morning Of the fight.
said Gen. Jackson, and the British
troops were actually formed and NOV
ing before [ had my arrangements
made. But the instant 7 saw their
formation, | said to Coffee: By c.,
they are ours Coffee's part Of our
lilae was on the flank, which extended
into the swamp. About quarter of
a mile from it there was a huge plan
tation drainage canal, such. as are
common III the Louisiana IowIands.
Here Gen. Packenham formed his
first attacking column His formation
was column IN mass of about fifty
flies front. This was formed under the
fire of the few regular artillerists had
In q little redoubt in Coffee's front,
and that OF some cannon taken from
a man-ofwar, placed in a battery on
the river and served by sailors. Cot
fee, seeing the direction of the attack,
which was intended to turn his flank,
dashed forward and said to his
men: Hold your fire until you
can see their belt buckles" The rifle
men were formed in two ranks behind
the works mentioned, and when the
first rank fired the second was loaded
and ready. There were about eighteen
hundred men behind this frail cover,
all Of whom we're dead shots, and
each had 100 bullets in his pouch and
the necessary powder in his norm.
The British troops came up to within
100 yards of our works without firing
musket. It was a beautiful sight to
see. They marched as steadily shout
der to shoulder as though they were
on review. At 100 yards distance the
order was given them to charge.
With cheer and at double quick they
came forward. They were about sixty
yards distant when a long blazing
flash ran all along our line. It was
as pretty volley firing as I ever heard
Or saw.
9 The smoke hung so heavy that
for the moment [ could not make out
just what had happened,' said Gen.
Jackson. In another instant there
was another sharp, ringing volley that
proved that it came from the rifemen.
I called Tom Overton and Duncan, of
my Staff, and we galloped over to
Coffee's line. Just then the smoke
rose and I saw that the head Of the
British column had literally melted
away. In front of our lines lay one
writhing. CHASTITY mass Of dead and
dying red-coats. The column recoiled,
fell back to the canal, where they had
started from, and where they reform
ed. This time the charge was led by
Gen. Peckenham IN person, gallantly
mounted, and riding as coolly and
gracefully as if he were on parade.
Just as he came within range of my
rifemen | saw him reel and topple
out Of his saddle, mortally wounded.
[ have always believed he fell by the
bullet of a free man of color in the
fight, who was celebrated rife-shot
frem the Attakapas country of Louis
lana"