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seventy. From prisoners, however, and information derived through other sources, it must have been even greater than is stated by either. Among them was the commander-in-chief, and Major-General Gibbs, who died of his wounds the next day, besides many of their most valuable and distinguished officers.

The loss of the Americans in killed and wounded was but thirteen.

On the right bank the British loss was one hundred and twenty men killed or wounded; whilst that of the Americans was one killed, five wounded, and nineteen missing.

The events of this day afford abundant evidence of the liberality of the American soldiers, and show a striking difference in the troops of the two nations. While the British soldier was allured to acts of bravery and duty, by the promised pillage and plunder of the inhabitants, and the commission of crimes abhorrent in the sight of earth and heaven, the American fought but for his country; and, having repelled her assailants, instantly forgot all enmity, viewed his fallen foe as a brother, and hastened to assist him, even at the hazard of his own life. The gallantry of the British soldiers, and no people could have displayed greater, had brought many of them even to the American ramparts, where, shot down by their opponents, they were lying, badly wounded. When the firing had ceased, and the columns had retired, Jackson's troops, with generous benevolence, advanced over their lines to assist and bring in the wounded, who lay under and near the walls; when, strange to tell, the enemy, from - a ditch they occupied, opened a fire upon them, and

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GENERAL JACKSON RELIEVING THE WOUNDED BRITISH AFTER THE BATTLE.

THE EIGHTH OF JANUARY.

389

though at a considerable distance, succeeded in wounding several. It was enough for the Americans that they were doing an act which the benevolence of their hearts approved; and, with charitable perseverance, they continued to administer to the wants of these suffering men, and to carry them within their lines, although in their efforts they were continually exposed to danger. Let the apologist for crime say wherefore were acts thus unpardonable committed against men who were administering to the wants, and relieving the sufferings of the dying countrymen of those who thus repaid the most laudable humanity with wanton and useless cruelty.

A communication was shortly after received from Major-General Lambert, on whom in consequence of the fall of Generals Packenham, Gibbs, and Keane, the command had devolved, acknowledging the kindness of the soldiers, and requesting permission to send an unarmed party to bury the dead lying before his lines, and to bring off such of them as were dangerously wounded. The request to bury the dead was granted; though General Jackson refused to permit a near approach to his line, but consented that the wounded who were at a greater distance than three hundred yards from the intrenchments should be relieved, and the dead buried: those nearer were to be delivered over by his own men, that the enemy might not have an opportunity to inspect, or know anything of his situation.

General Lambert, desirous of administering to the relief of the wounded, and that he might be relieved from his apprehensions of an attack, proposed about

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noon that hostilities should cease until the same hour the next day. General Jackson, cherishing the hope of being able to secure an important advantage by his apparent willingness to accede to the proposal, drew up an armistice and forwarded it to General Lambert, with directions for it to be immediately returned, if approved. It contained a stipulation to this effect:— That hostilities on the left bank of the river should be discontinued from its ratification, but on the right bank they should not cease; and, in the interim, that under no circumstances were reinforcements to be sent across by either party. This was a bold stroke at stratagem; and although it succeeded even to the extent desired, was yet attended with considerable hazard. Reinforcements had been ordered over to retake the position lost by Morgan in the morning, and the general presumed they had arrived at their point of destination; but at this time they had not passed the river; nor could it be expected to be retaken with the same troops who had just yielded it, when possessed of advantages which gave them a decided superiority. This the commanding general well knew; yet, to spare the sacrifice of his men, which, in regaining it he saw must be considerable, he was disposed to venture upon a course which might possibly succeed. It was impossible that his object could be discovered; while he confidently believed the British commander would infer, from the prompt and ready manner in which his proposal had been met, that such additional troops were already thrown over as would be fully adequate to the purposes of attack, and greatly to endanger, if not wholly cut off, Colonel Thornton's retreat. Gen

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