El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-09

would be victorious march in the
morning. The British hailed the Caro-
line, but got no answer, and in the un-
certain light for a time thought her
one of their own craft
ship Opens Fire.
Becoming fearful, however Ihey
fired some muskets at her. and then
at s o'clock. a voice from the schooner
called out: GIVE them this for the
honor of America" and a brOadside OF
grape followed which threw the in
vaders' camp into confusion. The best
the foe could do was to hide below
the crest of the levee while listening
impotently lin painful silence to the
iron hail among the boats and to the
shrfeks and groans of those that were
wounded" At the same time a de-
tachment of Jackson's soldiers added
to the confusion among the British
forces.
The attack for the time disabled
them completely, compelled them 10
suspend their operations, and afforded
leisure for the construction Of lines
across the levee which insured success
in the final action.
Five days later the invaders, re
paired by repOse and reinforcements
that had since arrived" decided to at
tack the Americans but when a turn
in the road brought them within sight
and reach of JacksOn's batteries a fire
was opened upon the British that
threw them into disorder and forced
them to retire in haste and confusion
This resolution on the part of the
Americans decided Sir Edward Paken-
ham to make the attempt to silence
the defending batteries by means OF
a superior force of the same sort.
British Rally.
He set about erecting three batter
les for that purpose, one upon the high
road and two in front of Jackson
lines at a distance of about 600 yards.
With these the British commander
opened fire on New Years day, and
the vigOr of that assault was such that
more than 100 balls and shell struck
the house in which Gen. Jackson had
established his headquarters and which
he was actually occupying at the be-
ginning of the artillery attack.
Inferior as their own guns were in
some particulars, the Americans re-
piled with so much skill and effect
that in less than an hour the British
fire slackened and not long afterward
was completely silenced. An English
officer present at the time sad; we
soon found that it was in vain to think
of surprising the Americans in this
kind Of fighting
Sir Edward Pakenham was in pre-
dicament. Finally he elected, as the
only remaining course to pursue, to at
tempt to carry the American lines by
storm and superior numbers OF the
details we are told by an orator of long
ago: His plan was to send a detach-
ment of 1900 men across the river to
take possession of a battery which had
been erected by order Of Gen. Jackson
and to turn it against the line, while
at the same time the rest Of the army
were to attack it in the front. In
order to carry into effect the former
part of the plan it was necessary to
bring the barges into the river, and
for this purpose to cut a canal across
the leyee behind the British camp. This
the British with immense labor and
indefatigable perseverance finally &C
complished on the evening of the sixth
Of January. Meanwhile Gen. Lambert
had arrived in camp with another re-
enforcement of two regiments, which
inspired all with fresh confidence.
The Final Assault.
On the eighth Of January daylight
broke at o'clock and then dimly the
Americans saw the oncoming British
about 1900 strong, marching in three
columns and covering nearly two
! thirds of the breadth of the levee be-
tween the woods and the Missippi
river Jackson had behind his earth
works less than 1000 men to engage
the foe. and many of these lacked that
training and experience which prom