NO. XXXII. Letter from major-general Jackson to the secretary at war, dated H. Q. camp, four miles below N. Orleans, January 19, 1815. SIR, Last night at twelve o'clock the enemy precipitately decamped, leaving behind him, under medical attendance, eighty of his wounded, including two officers, fourteen pieces of artillery, and a considerable quantity of shot, having destroyed much of his powder. Such was the situation of the ground which he abandoned, and that through which he retired, protected by canals, redoubts, and intrenchments on his right, and the river on his left, that I could not, without encountering a risk which true, policy did not seem to require or authorize, annoy him much on his retreat. We took only eight prisoners. Whether it is the purpose of the enemy to abandon the expedition altogether, or renew his efforts at some other point, I shall not pretend to decide with positiveness; in my own mind, however, there is very little doubt but his last exertions have been made in this quarter, at any rate for the present season, and by the next, if he shall choose to revisit us, I hope we shall be fully prepared for him. In this belief I am strengthened, not only by the prodigious loss he sustained at the position he has just quitted, but by the failure of his fleet to pass fort St. Philip. His loss since the debarkation of his troops, as stated by all the last prisoners and deserters, and as confirmed by many additional circumstances, exceed in the whole four thousand men, and was greater in the action of the 8th, than from the most correct data then in his power, was estimated by the inspector-general, whose report has been forwarded you. I am more and more satisfied in the belief, that had the arms reached us which was destined for us, the whole British army in this quarter would, before this time, have been captured or destroyed. We succeeded, however, on that day, in getting from the enemy about one thousand stand of arms of various descriptions. Since that action I have allowed the enemy very little respite. My artillery from both sides of the river, being constantly employed till the night and the hour of their re treat, in annoying them. It was time to quit a position in which so little rest could be enjoyed. I am advised by major Overton, who commands fort St. Philip, in a letter of the 18th, that the enemy having bombarded his fort for eight or nine days, with some thirteen-inch shells, without 'producing any important effect, had on the morning of that day retired. Giving the proper weight to all these considerations, I believe you will not think me too sanguine in the belief that Louisiana is now clear of its enemy. I hope I need not assure you, however, that wherever I command, such a belief shall not occasion any relaxation in the preparations for resistance. I am but too sensible, that the moment when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most proper for making any preparation. I have the honour to be, &c. NO. XXXIII. Letter from major-general Jackson to the Rev. Abbé Dubourg. H. Q. seventh military district, January 19, 1815. REVEREND SIR, The signal interposition of Heaven, in giving success to our arms against the enemy, who so lately landed on our shores; an enemy as powerful as inveterate in his hatred; while it must excite in every bosom attached to the happy government under which we live, emotions of the liveliest gratitude, requires at the same time some external manifestation of those feelings. Permit me, therefore, to entreat, that you will cause the service of public thanksgiving to be performed in the cathedral, in token of the great assistance we have received from the Ruler of all events, and of our humble sense of it. With the greatest respect, NO. XXXIV. DEFENCE OF FORT ST. PHILIP. Extract of a letter from major-general Andrew Jackson, to the secretary of war, dated Head Quarters, Seventh Military District, New Orleans, 17th February, 1815. I have the honour to enclose you major Overton's report of the attack of fort St. Philip, and of the manner in which it was defended. The conduct of that officer and of those who acted under him, merits, I think, great praise. They nailed their own colours to the standard and placed those of the enemy underneath them, determined never to surrender the fort. Copy of a letter from major Overton, commanding fort St. Philip, during the late bombardment of it, to major-general Jackson. SIR, Fort St. Philip, January 19th, 1815. On the 1st of the present month, I received information that the enemy intended passing this fort to co-operate with their land forces, in the subjugation of Louisiana, and the destruction of the city of New Orleans. To effect this with more facility, they were first with their heavy bomb-vessels to bombard this place into compliance. On the grounds of this information, I turned my attention to the security of my command: I erected small magazines in different parts of the garrison, that if one blew up I could resort to another; built covers for my men to secure them from the explosion of the shells, and removed the combustible matter without the work. Early in the day of the 8th instant, I was advised of their approach, and on the 9th at a quarter past ten A. M. hove in sight two bomb-vessels, one sloop, one brig, and one schooner; they anchored two and a quarter miles below. At half past eleven, and at half past twelve they advanced two barges, apparently for the purpose of sounding within one and a half mile of the fort; at this moment I ordered my water battery, under the command of lieutenant Cunningham, of the navy, to open upon them; its well directed shot caused a precipitate re treat. At half past three o'clock, P. M. the enemy's bomb-vessels opened their fire from four sea-mortars, two of thirteen inches, two of ten, and to my great mortification I found they were with-__ out the effective range of my shot, as many subsequent experiments proved; they continued their fire with little intermission during the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th. I occasionally opened my batteries on them with great vivacity, particularly when they showed a disposition to change their position. On the 17th in the evening, our heavy mortar was said to be in readiness. I ordered that excellent officer captain Wolstonecraft of the artillerists, who previously had charge of it, to open a fire, which was done with great effect, as the enemy from that moment became disordered, and at daylight on the 18th commenced their retreat, after having thrown upwards of a thousand heavy shells, besides small shells from howitzers, round shot and grape, which he discharged from boats under cover of the night. Our loss in this affair has been uncommonly small, owing entirely to the great pains that was taken by the different officers to keep their men under cover; as the enemy left scarcely ten feet of this garrison untouched. The officers and soldiers through this whole affair, although nine days and nights under arms in the different batteries, the consequent fatigue and loss of sleep, have manifested the greatest firmness and the most zealous warmth to be at the enemy. To distinguish individuals would be a delicate task as merit was conspicuous every where. Lieutenant Cunningham of the navy, whe commanded my water battery, with his brave crew, evinced the most determined bravery and uncommon activity throughout; and in fact, sir, the only thing to be regretted is that the enemy was too timid to give us an opportunity of destroying him. I herewith enclose you a list of the killed and wounded. W. H. OVERTON. A list of the killed and wounded during the bombardment of fort St. Philip, commencing on the 9th and ending on the 18th of January, 1815. Captain Wolstonecraft's artillery-Wounded 3. Captain Murry's artillery-Killed 2; wounded 1 Captain Bronten's infantry-Wounded 1. NO. XXXV. An address delivered to the commander-in-chief of the seventh military district, major-general Andrew Jackson, at the ceremony of solemn thanksgiving, after his brilliant defence of New Orleans. By the reverend W. Dubourg, administrator apostolic of the diocese of Louisiana. GENERAL, Whilst the state of Louisiana, in the joyful transports of her gratitude, hails you as her deliverer, and the asserter of her menaced liberties whilst grateful America, so lately wrapped up in anxious suspense, on the fate of this important city, the emporium of the wealth of one half of her territory, and the true bulwark of its independence, is now re-echoing from shore to shore your splendid achievements, and preparing to inscribe your name on her immortal rolls, among those of her Washingtons-whilst history, poetry, and the monumental arts will vie in consigning to the admiration of the latest posterity, a triumph perhaps unparalleled in their records-whilst thus raised by universal accla mation to the very pinnacle of fame and ascending clouds of incense, how easy it had been for you, general, to forget the prime Mover of your wonderful successes, and to assume to yourself a praise which must essentially return to that exalted source whence every sort of merit is derived. But better acquainted with the nature of true glory, and justly placing the summit of your ambition in approving yourself the worthy instrument of Heaven's merciful designs, the first impulse of your religious heart was to acknowledge the signal interposition of Providence-your first step is a solemn display of your humble sense of His favours. Still agitated at the remembrance of those dreadful agonies from which we have been so miraculously rescued, it is our pride also to acknowledge that the Almighty has truly had the principal hand in our deliverance, and to follow you, general, in attributing to his infinite goodness the homage of our unfeigned |