vide against an attack from that quarter. Coffee was directed to turn their right, which rested on the wood, at the distance of half a mile from the river, while the general assailed their strongest position near it. Commodore Patterson, who had gone on board the Caroline, dropped down at the same time, and was to open his fire upon the enemy as a signal of attack. The first intimation of the approach of the Americans was a raking broadside from the schooner; their fires extending from the river, enabled the assailants to take deliberate aim. Coffee's men, with their usual impetuosity, rushed upon the right, and entered their camp, while Jackson's troops in front, advanced upon them with great ardour.

The enemy, although taken by surprise, and having several hundreds suddenly killed and wounded, soon formed, and their fires being extinguished, came into action.— A thick fog, which arose shortly after, producing some confusion in the different American corps, Jackson prudently called off his troops, lay on the field that night, and at four in the morning took a position on the other side of the canal of Rodrigue, which formerly had been a mill-race.

The American loss was twenty-four killed, one hundred and fifteen wounded, and seventy-four prisoners, among whom were many of the principal inhabitants of the city. Colonel Lauderdale, of Tennessee, a brave soldier, fell, much lamented. That of the British was estimated at four hundred, in killed, wounded, and missing. They had intended to proceed to New-Orleans the next day, but were induced to be more cautious, having estimated Jackson's force at fifteen thousand men.

The general set to work immediately to fortify his position. This was effected by a simple breastwork, from the river to the swamp, with a ditch in front. To hasten the construction of these works, cotton bags were used, as the cheeks of the embrazures. As the enemy was still annoyed by the Caroline, they set to work in constructing batteries to attack her, and on the twenty-seventh, threw hot shot, by which she was set on fire and blown up, about an hour after she was abandoned by her

crew.

The Louisiana, which then took her station, sus

tained the fire of all the batteries, until in imminent danger. In losing her, the whole co-operative naval force would be lost. Her commander, Lieutenant Thompson, after, encountering many obstacles, finally succeeded in bringing her near Jackson's position.

After the destruction of the Caroline, Sir Edward Packenham, the British commander in chief, having landed the main body of his army, with a sufficient train of artillery, superintended in person the arrangements for fortifying his position.

On the twenty-eighth, the British general advanced up the levee in force, with the intention of driving Jackson from his entrenchments; and at the distance of half a mile, commenced an attack with rockets, bombs, and a heavy cannonade, as he approached the American works, which were yet unfinished. The Louisiana, discharging her broadside upon the enemy's column, caused great destruction; the fire from the American batteries was not less destructive; and after a violent struggle of seven hours, the British general retired.

The loss of the Americans was seven killed and eight wounded; among the former, Colonel Henderson, of Tennessee. That of the British, much more considerable. On the morning of the first of January, 1815, Sir Edward Packenham was discovered to have constructed batteries near the American works, and at daylight commenced a heavy fire from them, which was well returned by Jackson. A bold attempt was, at the same time, made to turn the left of the Americans; but in this the enemy was completely repulsed. The British retired in the evening from their batteries, having spiked their guns, and leaving behind a quantity of ammunition. The loss of the Americans, on this occasion, was eleven killed and twentythree wounded.

On the fourth, General Jackson was joined by two thousand five hundred Kentuckians, under General Adair ; and on the sixth, the British were joined by General Lambert, at the head of four thousand men. The British force now amounted to little short of fifteen thousand of the finest troops; that of the Americans to about six thousand, chiefly raw militia, a considerable portion un

armed, and, from the haste of their departure, badly supplied with clothing. All the private arms which the inhabitants possessed were collected, and the ladies of NewOrleans occupied themselves continually in making different articles of clothing. The mayor of the city, Mr. Girod, was particularly active at this trying moment.

The British general now prepared for a serious attempt on the American works. With great labour he had completed, by the seventh, a canal from the swamp to the Mississippi, by which he was enabled to transport a number of his boats to the river. It was his intention to make a simultaneous attack on the main force of General Jackson on the left bank, and crossing the river to attack the batteries on the right.

The works of the American general were by this time completed. His front was a straight line of one thousand yards, defended by upwards of three thousand infantry and artillerists. The ditch contained five feet water, and his front, from having been flooded by opening the levees and frequent rains, was rendered slippery and muddy. Eight distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, mounting, in all, twelve guns, of different calibres. On the opposite side of the river there was a strong battery of fifteen guns, and the entrenchments were occupied by General Morgan, with the Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops. To guard against an attack from any other quarter, Colonel Reuben Kemper, with a few men, encountering infinite difficulties, had explored every pass and bayou, and, on this subject, had placed at ease the mind of the commander in chief.

On the memorable morning of the eighth of January, General Packenham, having detached Colonel Thornton, with a considerable force, to attack the works on the right bank of the river, moved, with his whole force, exceeding twelve thousand men, in two divisions, under Major Generals Gibbs and Keane, and a reserve under General Lambert. The first of these officers was to make the principal attack; the two columns were supplied with scaling ladders and fascines.

Thus prepared, the Americans patiently waited the*

attack, which would decide the fate of New-Orleans, and perhaps of Louisiana.

The British deliberately advanced in solid columns, over an even plain, in front of the American entrenchments; the men carrying, besides their muskets, fascines, and some of them ladders.

A dead silence prevailed until they approached within reach of the batteries, which commenced an incessant and destructive cannonade; they, notwithstanding, continued to advance in tolerable order, closing up their ranks as fast as they were opened by the fire of the Americans. When they came within reach, however, of the musketry and rifles, these joined with the artillery, and produced such dreadful havoc that they were instantly thrown into confusion.

Never was there so tremendous a fire as that kept up from the American lines; it was a continued stream; those behind loading for the men in front, enabled them to fire with scarcely an intermission. The British columns were literally swept away; hundreds fell at every discharge. The British officers were now making an effort to rally their men, and, in this attempt, their commander, a gallant officer, General Packenham, was killed.

The two generals, Gibbs and Keane, succeeded in pusning forward their columns a second time; but the second approach was more fatal than the first; the continued rolling fire of the Americans resembled peals of thunder. It was such as no troops could withstand. The advancing columns broke, and no effort to rally them could avail; a few platoons only advanced to the edge of the ditch, to meet a more certain destruction. An una

vailing attempt was made to rally them a third time, by their officers, whose gallantry, on this occasion, deserved a better fate, in a better cause. Generals Gibbs and Keane were carried away, severely wounded, the former mortally.

The plain between the front of the British, and the American lines, was strewed with dead; so dreadful a carnage, considering the length of time, and the numbers engaged, was perhaps never witnessed. Two thousand, at the lowest estimate, pressed the earth, besides a num

ber of the wounded, who were not able to escape. The loss of the Americans did not exceed seven killed and six wounded. General Lambert was the only general officer left upon the field; being unable to check the flight of the British columns, he retired to his encamp

ment.

In the meantime, the detachment under Colonel Thornton succeeded in landing on the right bank, and immediately attacked the intrenchment of General Morgan. The American right, believing itself outflanked, abandoned its position, while the left maintained its ground for some time; but finding itself deserted by those on the right, and being outnumbered by the enemy, they spiked their guns and retired. Colonel Thornton was severely wounded, and the command devolved on Colonel Gobbins, who, seeing the fate of the assault on the left bank, and receiving orders from General Lambert, recrossed the river.

On the return of General Lambert to his camp, it was resolved, in consultation with Admiral Cochrane, to retire to their shipping. This was effected with great secrecy; and during the night of the eighteenth, their camp was entirely evacuated. From the nature of the country, it was found impossible to pursue them; they left eight of their wounded, and fourteen pieces of artillery. Their loss in this fatal expedition was immense; besides their generals, and a number of valuable officers, their force was diminished by at least five thousand men.

It was in vain, as in other instances, to conceal the truth of this affair; and the sensations which it produced in Great Britain, are not easily described; the conduct of the ministry was regarded as shamefully dishonourable, in thus stretching forth one hand to receive the olive, which was tendered by America, and at the same time secretly wielding a dagger with the other.

Commodore Patterson despatched five boats, under Mr. Shields, purser on the New-Orleans station, in order to annoy the retreat of the British. This active and spirited officer succeeded in capturing several of their boats, and in taking a number of prisoners.

The glorious defence of New-Orleans, produced the most lively joy throughout the United States, mingled,