The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-01-06

also to enfilade the outer front OF the
breastwork. In this four guns were
mounted, under command of Lieu
tenant Spots, of the regular artillery,
and manned by regular troops. Four
more guns were mounted about the
centre of the work, and two more on
tie left next the swamp, all belonging
to the regular artillery, though some
of them were manned by sailors from
the flotilla.
RIFLEMEN THAT DEFEATED PAKENHAM.
On the extreme right Carrolls
Tennessee rihemen, about 45o strong,
with Beale's company of New Orleans
City Rifles, about 80 in number, also
mainly Tennesseeans. In reserve to
these, or rather supporting Spots
Battery, was the Seventh United
States Regular Infantry consolidated
in four companies, about 22o alto
gether.
To Carroll's left were Adair's Ken
lucky rlhemen, less two companies
detached on the other side of the
river. Adair had about 600 rifles,
actually In line. To Adair's left were
Coffee's Tennesseeans, holding the
line thence to the swamp, with a
strong skirmish line thrown out into
the swamp itself to guard that flank.
Coffee had also about 600 rifles in
position. In rear Of the centre was a
reserve composed of the Forty fourth
United States Infantry consolidated
in two companies, about 200 Ken
lucky and Tennessee rifemen, and
some picked companies of the Louis
lana contingent, with Kinds COM
pany of Mississippi Mounted Rifles.
The whole force, main line and re-
serve, was about $500 effective, and
of these the rifemen and the artillery,
about 1900 strong, did the actual
work of destroying the British army
of more than 5000 men, who actually
charged them.
sCoFFED AT "BACKwooDs RABBLE."
Admonished by the terrible execu-
ton done in the preliminary skirm-
isnes and fearing that coup de main
would result in "similar MURDER" as
he called it, son a much larger scale, "
Pakenham called a council of war the
night of January 6 and asked the
opinions of his principal subordinates
on the question as between assault
and siege. Colonel Mullen, of the
Forty-fourth Essex Regiment, advo,
Gated siege by approaches. He was
a grizzled veteran of the Revolution
AIRY war, and as young subaltern IS
years before had faced the rifles OF
Morgan and Marion. Generals Gibbs
and Keane and Colonel Lambert were
for assault. They said that the men
who had scaled the breaches of Bad,
ajos and Ciudad Rodrigo, defended
by French regulars, would not stop at
low log breastwork manned by a
backwoods rabble. Rumors of I'M
pending peace had already reached
the British camp, and they feared that
the war would end before they could
reduce Jackson's works by approaches.
Pakenham himself was inclined to
agree with Colonel Mullen, but he did
not feel like antagonizing the views OF
three officers of the rank and reputa-
ton that Gibbs, Keane and Lambert
held. Dismissing the council, he said :
"Gentler1en, we will assault at day
light, the 9Th. Tomorrow (the 7th)
will be devoted to preparation"
MULLEN TO LEAD A FoRLoRN HOPE.
Colonel Mullen said: every well,
gentlemen, you are aware that the
order OF the day will give to my regi-
ment the head CT column on the
Eighth. I am ready to be ordered at
the head of my men to indiscriminate
execution"
During the 9TH complete prepara-
tions were made. Fascines for filling
up the ditch and ladders for scaling if
necessary were provided, and the
order of columns in attack arranged.
Daylight, January 8, came in with
thick fog, which obscured the Brit
ish formation. The few cannon that
Jackson had, manned partly by artil-
lerymen and partly by sailors from the
fiotilla, were loaded with musket balls
In bags. Behind the breastwork, in
two ranks and open-file order lay
about 1000 to 1900 Kentucky and
Tennessee rifemen, each armed with
his own rifle, his powder horn full and
hundred bullets in his pouch.
About 800 more of the same breed,
together with the Forth fourth United
States Regulars and Louisiana con-
tingent, were massed close in rear of
the centre in reserve.