The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-01-16


aides, 1--WE have slept enough. The
enemy will be upon us in few min
utes."
Pakenham had sent a detachment
across the river to march up the west
bank, attack a force of 800 militia
there and flank Jackson's main army,
which was on the east side OF the riv-
er. He lost track of this force, but
went on without paying attention
to its apparent absence. 1t is said
he had been irritated by a taunt of
Admiral Cochrane, who had said that
ifthe army could not take those mud
banks, defended by ragged militia,
would do it with 1000 sailors, arm
ed only with cutlasses and pistols.
When the sun arose it glinted on
the scarlet ranks of the main force of
English drawn up only 400 yards
from Jackson's lines Some of the
older men under Pakenham feared
the army behind the mud breast
works. Colonel Mullens, in the ad-
vance, openly expressed his dissatis-
faction.
"My regiment, said he, "has been
ordered to execution. Their dead
bodies are to be used as a bridge for
the rest of the army to march over.
A mist settled over the field. When
it lifted the plain in front of the
American redoubts seemed covered
with scarlet figures. They advanced
without wavering, although the can
non shot, a witness said, "cut green
lanes in the column from front to
rear" AS they came within rifle shot
they broke into "a run, From the
breastworksin front the white smoke
curled in the air, Rank after rank of
Tennessee sharpshooters rose, fired,
fell back, loaded and again rose to
pour volley after volley into the red
column.
Jackson walked along the left OF
the lines, speaking few words OF
cheer to the men as he passed.
"Stand to yourguns," he said. Don't
waste your ammunition. See that
leyery- shot tells.-GiYe- it To them.
boys. Let's finish the business to-
day"
Uuder that murderous fire the col
umn reeled, as an observer put it,
"like a red ship on tempestuous
sea-" Then the men broke and fled.
Pakenham galloped up and strove to
rally them.
"For shame, men," he cried. "1ou
are British soldiers! Forward"
General Gibbs, in command OF the
assault, rode up.
THE troops won't follow me- he
shouted.
Waving his hat, Pakenham spur
red forward. A ball shattered his
right arm. His horse fell dead. He
mounted another, apparently uncon-
scious OF his dangling arm, and rode
after the retreating men, calling to
them to halt and reform. Out Of
rifle shot he rallied them and he and
Gibbs led another charge. As he saw
the reserve Highlanders advancing
to his support he waved his hat with
his left hand and cried:
"Hurrah! Brave Highlanders.'
A moment later he fell, mortally
wounded. Gibbs was soon shot.
Then General keane was borne to
the rear. The Highlanders plunged
forward until within 100 yards of the
redoubt. Then, for some inexplicable
reason, they halted, a huge and gilt
tering target, and the Tennesseeans
shot them to pieces. When 544 had
fallen the survivors fled. Two Of
ficers and a few men reached the ditch.
One of them climbed the parapet I'M
harmed. Thinking the army at his
back be demanded the swords OF two
American officers. He could hardly
believe them when they told him he
was alone.
Conceive my Indignation" he
said, in telling of it later, con look
ing around to find that the two lead
ing regiments had vanished as if the
earth had opened and swallowed
them up"
The battle lasted just twenty-five
minutes: When the smoke lifted the
American army was appalled, and
silenced at the scene before it.
1.-The field" says a witness, twas
so thickly strewn with the dead that,
L., +Lo A,,ar;oan ditch Won could