not exceeding in all 1500. I arrived near the enemy's encamp ment about 7, and immediately made my dispositions for the attack. His forces amounting, at that time, on land to about 3000, extended half a mile on that river, and in the rear nearly to the wood. General Coffee was ordered to turn their right, while with the residue of the force I attacked his strongest position on the left near the river. Commodore Patterson having dropped down the river in the schooner Caroline, was directed to open a fire upon their camp, which he executed at about half past seven. This being a signal of attack, general Coffee's men, with their usual impetuosity, rushed on the enemy's right and entered their camp, while our right advanced with equal ardour. There can be but little doubt, that we should have succeeded on that occasion with our inferior force, in destroying or capturing the enemy, had not a thick fog which arose about 8 o'clock, occasioned some confusion among the different corps. Fearing the consequence, under this circumstance, of the further prosecution of a night attack with troops, then acting together for the first time, I contented myself with lying on the field that night; and at four in the morning, assumed a stronger position, about two miles nearer the city. At this position I remained encamped, waiting the arrival of the Kentucky militia, and other reinforcements. As the safety of the city will depend on the fate of this army, it must not be incautiously exposed. In this affair the whole corps under my command, deserve the greatest credit. The best compliment I can pay to general Coffee and his brigade, is to say, they have behaved as they have always done while under my command. The 7th, led by major Pierre, and 44th, commanded by colonel Ross, distinguished themselves. The battalion of city militia, commanded by major Planche, realized my anticipations, and behaved like veterans. Savary's volunteers manifested great bravery and the company of city riflemen having penetrated into the midst of the enemy's camp, were surrounded, and fought their way out with the greatest heroism, bringing with them a number of prisoners. The two field pieces were well served by the officers commanding them. All my officers in the line did their duty, and I have every rea son to be satisfied with the whole of my field and staff. Colonels Butler and Platt and major Chotard, by their intrepidity, saved the artillery. Colonel Haynes was every where that duty or danger called. I was deprived of the services of one of my aids, captain Butler, whom I was obliged to station, to his great regret, in town. Captain Reid, my other aid, and Messrs, Livingston, Duplis and Davizac, who had volunteered their services, faced danger wherever it was to be met, and carried my orders with the utmost promptitude. We made one major, two subalterns and sixty-three privates prisoners; and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded must have been at least My own loss, I have not as yet been able to ascertain with exactness, but suppose it to amount to 100 in killed, wounded, and missing. Among the former, I have to lament the loss of colonel Lauderdale, of general Coffee's brigade, who fell while bravely fighting. Colonels Dyer and Gibson, of the same corps, were wounded, and major Kavenaugh taken pri soner. Colonel De Laronde, major Villere, of the Louisiana militia, major Latour, of engineers, having no command, volunteered their services, as did doctors Kerr and Hood, and were of great assistance to me. Hon. James Monroe, acting Secretary of War. I have the honour to be, &c. SIR, HEAD QUARTERS, 7th MILITARY DISTRICT, The enemy succeeded on the 27th, in blowing up the Caroline, (she being becalmed) by means of hot shot from a land battery which he had erected in the night. Emboldened by this event, he marched his whole force the next day, up the level, in the hope of driving us from our position, and with this view opened upon us, at the distance of about half a mile, his bombs and rockets, He was repulsed, however, with considerable loss-not less, it is believed, than 120 in killed, Ours was inconsiderable, not exceeding half a dozen in killed, and a dozen wounded. Since then, he has not ventured to repeat his attempt, though lying close together. There has been frequent skirmishing between our pickets. I lament that I have not the means of carrying on more offensive operations. The Kentucky troops have not arrived, and my effective force at this point, does not exceed 3000. Theirs must be at least double-both prisoners and deserters agreeing in the statement that 7000 landed from their boats. The Hon. Secretary of War, I have the honour to be, &c. SIR, CAMP, FOUR MILES BELOW NEW ORLEANS. January 9th, 1815, During the days of the 6th and 7th, the enemy had been actively employed in making preparations for an attack on my lines. With infinite labour they had succeeded on the night of the 7th, in getting their boats across from the lake to the river, by widening and deepening the canal on which they had effected their disembarkation. It had not been in my power to impede these operations by a general attack: added to other reasons, the nature of the troops under my command, mostly militia, rendered it too hazardous to attempt extensive offensive movements in an open country, against a numerous and well disciplined army. Although my forces, as to number, had been increased by the arrival of the Kentucky division, my strength had received very little addition; a small portion only of that detachment being provided with arms. Compelled thus to wait the attack of the enemy, 1 took every measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the object he had in view. General Morgan, with the New Orleans contingent, the Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops, occupied an entrenched camp on the opposite side of the river, protected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and superintended by commodore Patterson. In my encampment every thing was ready for action, when, early in the morning of the 8th, the enemy after throwing a heavy shower of bombs and congreve rockets, advanced their columns on my right and left, to storm my entrenchments. I cannot speak sufficiently in praise of the firmness and deliberation with which my whole line received their approach-more could not have been expected from veterans inured to war. For an hour the fire of the small arms was as incessant and severe as can be imagined. The artillery, too, directed by officers who displayed equal skill and courage, did great execution. Yet the columns of the enemy continued to advance with a firmness which reflects upon them the greatest credit. Twice the column which approached me on my left, was repulsed by the troops of general Carroll, those of general Coffee, and a division of the Kentucky militia, and twice they formed again and renewed the assault. At length, however, cut to pieces, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it covered with their dead and wounded. The loss which the enemy sustained on this occasion, cannot be estimated at less than 1500 in killed, wounded and prisoners. Upwards of three hundred have already been delivered over for burial; and my men are still engaged in picking them up within my lines and carrying them to the point where the enemy are to receive them. This is in addition to the dead and wounded whom the enemy have been enabled to carry from the field, during and since the action, and to those who have since died of the wounds they received. We have taken about 500 prisoners, upwards of 300 of whom are wounded, and a great part of them mortally. My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not amounted to, 10 killed and as many wounded. The entire destruction of the enemy's army was now inevitable, had it not been for an unfortunate occurrence which at this moment took place on the other side of the river. Simultaneously with his advance upon my lines, he had thrown over in his boats a considerable force to the other side of the river. These having landed, were hardy enough to advance against the works of general Morgan; and what is strange and difficult to account for, at the very moment when their entire discomfiture was looked for with a confidence approaching to certainty, the Kentucky reinforcements ingloriously fled, drawing after them, by their example, the remainder of the forces; and thus yielding to the enemy that most fortunate position. The batteries which had rendered me for many days, the most important service, though bravely defended, were of course now abandoned; not, however, until the guns had been spiked. This unfortunate route had totally changed the aspect of affairs. The enemy now occupied a position from which they might annoy us without hazard, and by means of which, they might have been enabled to defeat, in great measure, the effect of our success on this side the river. It became, therefore, an object of the first consequence to dislodge him as soon as possi ble. For this object, all the means in my power, which I could with any safety use, were immediately put in preparation. Perhaps, however, it was somewhat owing to another cause that I succeeded beyond my expectations. In negotiating the terms of a temporary suspension of hostilities to enable the enemy to bury their dead and provide for their wounded, I had required certain propositions to be acceded to as a basis; among which, this was one: that although hostilities should cease on this side the river until 12 o'clock of this day, yet it was not to be understood that they should cease on the other side; but that no reinforcements should be sent across by either army until the expiration of that day. His excellency major general Lambert begged time to consider of those propositions until 10 o'clock of to-day, and in the mean time re-crossed his troops. I need not tell you with how much eagerness. I immediately regained possession of the position he had thus hastily quitted. The enemy having concentrated his forces, may again attempt to drive me from my position by storm. Whenever he does, I have no doubt my men will act with their usual firmness, and sustain a character now become dear to them. Hon. Secretary of War. I have the honour to be, &c. SIR, CAMP BELOW NEW ORLEANS, January 10th, 1815. I have the honour to make the following report of the killed, wounded, and prisoners, taken at the battle at Larond's plantation, on the left bank of the Mississippi, on the night of the 23d December, 1814, seven miles below New Orleans. Killed-left on the field of battle-100 Prisoners taken-One major, 2 lieutenants, 1 midshipman, 66 non-commissioned officers and privates, making a grand total of 400. Major general Andrew Jackson. SIR, I have the honour to be, &c.. A. P. HAYNE, Inspct. Gen. HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP, 4 MILES BELOW NEW ORLEANS, At such a crisis, I conceive it my duty to keep you constantly advised of my situation. On the 10th instant I forwarded you an account of the bold attempt made by the enemy, on the morning of the 8th, to take possession of my works by storm, and of the severe repulse which be met with. That report having been sent by the mail which crosses the lake, may possibly have miscarried; for which reason, I think it the more necessary briefly to repeat the substance of it. Early on the morning of the 8th, the enemy having been actively employed the two preceding days in making preparations for a storm, advanced in two strong columns on my right and left. They were received, however, with a firmness which it seems they' little expected, and which defeated all their hopes. My men, undisturbed by their approach, which indeed they long anxiously wished for, opened upon them a fire so deliberate and certain, as rendered their scaling ladders and fascines, as well as their more direct implements of warfare, perfectly useless. For upwards of an hour, it was continued with a briskness of which there have been but few instances, perhaps in any country. In justice to the enemy, it must be said, they withstood it as long as could beexpected from the most determined bravery. At length, however, when all prospect of success became hopeless, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it covered with their dead and wounded. Their loss was immense. I had at first computed it at 1500; but it is since ascertained to have been much greater. Upon information, which is believed to be correct, colonel Haynes, the inspector general, reports it to be in total 2600. His report. I enclose you. My loss was inconsiderable, being only seven killed and six wounded. Such a disproportion in loss, when we consider the number and kind of troops engaged, must, I know, excite astonishment, and may not every where be fully credited:" yet I am perfectly satisfied that the account is not exaggerated on the one part, nor underrated on the other. The enemy having hastily quitted a post which they had gained. possession of on the other side of the river, and we having immediately returned to it, both armies at present occupy their former positions. Whether, after the severe losses he has sustained, he is preparing to return to his shipping, or to make still mightier |