The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-01-05
British lost thirty killed and forty
wounded, the Americans eleven killed
and twenty-three wounded.


wounded, the Americans eleven killed
and twenty-three wounded.
Gen Packcnham now decided on an as.
sault in force Six days passed in prepa-
ration, and ar dawn on the Sth Of Janu-
ary, 1918, the situation was as follows:
On the right bank Of the Mississippi
Gen. Morgan commanded Sl2 men, in
Guiding Pattersons marines The Brit
ish colonel, Thornton, confronted him
with larger force and gained u success
which might have proved serious If he
had not been Withdrawn.
On the high road within the lcvee was
Battery No. 1.-TWO brass twelve pound
vrs and n six inch howit2Cr-Commando
by Capt. Humphrey and manned 10y
artillery regulars and men Of the New
O leans Dragons. Ninety yards on was
Battery ., one twCnty-ioT FOUNDER,
served hy sailors from the Carolina and
commanded ly Lieut.. Norris. On both
sides Of it, TO the next batteries, was the
Seventh United States infantry, 1870 men,
commanded 10y Maj PCire. Fifty yards
farther was Battery 3, two twenty-iour
FOUNDERS worked by the Barratariansun-
der command Of DOMINIQUE and Bluche.
| Twenty yards ON WAS Battery i, a thirty
two FOUNDER. worked by sailors from the
Carolina and commanded by Lieut..
Crowley. Between it and No. 8 stood
ESQ fathers of families" from New Or
leans, commanded by Maj, Planche, and
$50 COloTCd ireemen, commanded by
Mai. IaCostc. On the other side of A
Maj Dacquiu's colorCd frecmon, $50
strong, defended 100 yards, to Battery g.,
two six-pouuGcrs, under Col. Perry and
Lieut.. Kerr, of the regulars. Ihirty-siX
yards on was Battery Is, Il brass twelve
FOUNDER, served 10y Il creole gun squad,
commanded by Gen. Garrigue Flaujac.
Between 5 and 6 was the Forty-fourth
United States infantry, 2l0 muskets,
Capt. Baker; $50 yards on was No. Z, a
long brass eighteen and II eiX-pounder,
served by volunteers under LIcuts. Spots
and Chaveau. Sixty yards beyond was
| No s, a small brass CarTonade, to be
worked as occasion might serve by Gen.
| CAROLS militia mon, who defended all
this part Of the line. Beyond, as far
| into the swamp rs man could keep his
upper parts above water, were Coiloe's
death dealing rillCmon. M the adjacent
batteries raECd the approach 10 this sec
ton, and there, deceived by a dcserter,
| the British were 10 make their main at
tack. II was Il death trap
Behind Coffee and Carroll, ready to
help either, was Gen Adair with the
! Kentucky reserve. Near the center the
| American flag hOated from atall pole.
Behind the croolos two New Orleans
bands discoursed inspiring music A little
to the left of the center was jackson.
On the British side all the center of the
field was nearly bare Of troops. Gen.
Gibbs led 5000 men along the edge of
the woods Along the river bank came
Col. Rennie with goo. Between and to
the rear were the Iiighlanders. The ne
grocs and the Forty-fourth were to bring
up the scaling ladders, but failed to do
So Behind Gibbs came the reserves
under Gen. Lambert. The British Off
GERS were sadly depressed. Many sent
their farewell messages to their wives on
the fleet. Just before dawn the signal
rocket was fred and the army advanced
to the assault, still concealed by the fog.
Lieut. Spots, of Battery 6, was the
first American to see the coming line,
and at once fred his big gun. The Bat
tie of New Orleans had begun.
On came the brave British. The bat
terics on the left plowed great gaps
through them, yet on they came till
Carroll could see their white frontod
bclts-thcn he gave the word Fire.
Cr-r-a-sh! From 1900 rifles poured
leaden death, and then for ten minutes
it was Load and fire at will" The APP
preaching column reclcd, staggered and
melted away The heroic Packonham
rallied them and they came on again. "A
rifle ball shattered his right arm. He
took his sword in the left. His horse fell
dead and disemboweled. He mounted u
creole pony. at the instant mass of
grape shot cut the pony in two and
crushed the riders thigh. Capt Mac
Dougal lifted him flom the ground and
asked for orders. As he opened his
mouth TO reply rifle ball struck him in
I the groin and he swooned. He was car
ried back and laid behind live oak tree,
gasped few times and was dead. At
the same instant Gibbs received his
mortal wound, but fingered a day il the
utmost agony.
On the edge of the swamp Maj. Wilkin-
son, Lieut.. Lavack and twenty men
reached the ditch; the men turnblcd into
it and lay there, safe. Layack sur
rendered Wilkinson climbed to the
Eunmt of the breastwork, riddled with
balls, and was lifted over it.
{fglsags C,N-