The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-19
1ltaYsaE..tI q. 8.

of his followers, the colonel put himself at
the head of his regiment, about fifty sea-
men, and as many marines, and with this
small force, consisting of no more than $40
men, pushed off But, unfortunately, the
loss Of time nothing could repair. 3 =
1t was in vain that they made good their
landing and formed upon the beach, with
out opposition or alarm; day had already
broke, and the signal rocket was seen in
the air, while they were still four miles
from the batteries which ought hours AGO
to have been taken (The batteries were
taken, but the failure of the main attack
made them useless, and Thornton's com
mand recrossed the river later in the day.
In the meantime the main body armed and
moved forward some way in front of the
pickets. There they stood waiting for
daylight, and listening with the greatest
anxiety for the firing which ought now be
heard on the opposite bank. But their
attention was exerted in vain, and day
dawned upon them long before they desir-
ed its appearance. Nor was Sir Edward
Pakenham disappointed in this part of his
plan alone Instead of perceiving every
thing in readiness for the assault, he saw
his troops in battle array, but not ladder
or fascine upon the field. The Forty
fourth, which was appointed to carry them,
had either misunderstood or neglected their
orders, and now headed the column of at
tack, without any means being provided for
crossing the enemys ditch, or scaling his
rampant. The indignation of our brave
leader on this occasion may be imagined,
but cannot be described. Galloping toward
Col, Mullens, who led the Forty fourth, he.
commanded him instantly to return with
his regiment for the ladders; but the OPP
portunity for planting them was lost, and
though they were brought up, it was only
to be scattered over the field by the fright
ened bearers. For our troops by this time
were visible to the enemy. A dreadful
firing was accordingly opened upon them;
and they were moved down by hun
dreds, while they stood waiting for orders,
Seeing that all his well-laid plans were thus
frustrated, Pakenham gave the word to
advance, and the other regiments, leaving
the Forty-fourth with the ladders and
fascines behind them, rushed on to the
assault. On the left detachment of the
Ninety fifth, Twenty first and Fourth storm
ed a three-gun battery and took it. Here
they remained for some time in the expee-
tation of support; but none arriving, and
strong column of the enemy forming for its
recovery, they determined to anticipate the
attack and pushed on. The battery which
they had taken was in advance of the body
of the works, being cut off from it by
ditch, across which only 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 battery, at length succeeded
in recapturing it, with immense slaughter.
On the right again, the Twenty-frst and
Fourth supported by the Ninety-third,
though thrown into some confusion by the
enemy's fire, pushed on with desperate
gallantry to the ditch; but to scale the
parapet without ladders was work of no
slight difficulty, Some few, indeed, by
mounting upon one another's shoulders
succeeded in entering the works. but these
were speedily overpowered; most of them
killed, and the rest taken, whilst as many
as stood without were exposed to sweep
ing fire, which cut them down by whole
companies 1t was in vain that the most
obstinate courage was displayed. They
fell by the hands of men whom they abso-
lutely did not see; for the Americans, with
out so much as lifting their faces above
the rampant, swung their flre-loeks by one
arm over the wall and discharged them
directly upon their heads. The whole of
the guns, likewise, from the opposite bank,
kept up welkdirected and deadly cannon
ade upon their flank, and thus they were
destroyed without an opportunity being
given of displaying their valoY OF obtaining
so much as revenge, Sir Edward saw how
things were going and did all that a general
could do to rally his broken troops. Rid
ing toward the Forty-fourth, which had
returned to the ground, but IN great dis
order, he called out for Col. Mullens to-
advance, but that officer had disappeared
and was not to be found He therefore
prepared to lead them on himself, and had
put himself at their head for that purpose,
when he received slight wound in the
knee from a musket ball which killed his
horse. Mounting another, he again headed
the Forty-fourth, when second ball took
effect more fatally, and he dropped hfeless
into the arms of his aide-de- camp. Nor
were Generals Gibbs and Keane inactive,
Riding through the ranks, they strove by
all means to encourage the assailants and
recall the fugitives, till at length both were
wounded and borne from the field. Gibbs
died next day. All was now confusion and
dismay Without leaders, ignorant of
what was to be done, the troops first halted
and then began to retire, till finally the re-
treat was changed into fight, and they
quilted the ground in the utmost disorder,
But the retreat was covered in gallant style
by the reserve. Making a forward move-
ment, the Seventh and Forty-thTd present
ed the appearance of renewed attack; by
which the enemy were so much awed that
they did not venture beyond their lines IN
pursuit of the fugitives' .
Such was the battle of New Orleans, as
told by one of the vanquished. 1t was all
over in twenty-five minutes, and the Brit
ish lost 700 killed, 400 wounded and
SEQ prisoners, The Americans had eight
killed and thirteen wounded. They were
however, too weak to follow up the victory
which Jackson was very anxioust to do
and Gen. Lambert was allowed to carry off
the remains of his army ten days later, for
which he received the honor of knighthood.
The whole of the bloody business might
and would have been prevented had there
been transatlantic telegraph line; for the
preliminary treaty of peace between Eng
land and the United States was signed at
Ghent on the oath of December, fifteen
days before the battle occurred. Two
words flashed across the sea would have
saved the lives of Pakenham and the heroes
who persisted with him, and-perhaps-
lost Andrew jackson the Presidency,
The production of Stag wool and the in
dustrial applications of the article appear
to be largely on the increase. By the ac-
ton of strong jets of steam the Stag is
transformed into a fibrous, whitish silicate