Total-3 midshipmen, 13 seamen, 1 private marine, kilied; I captain, 4 lieutenants, 1 lieutenant of marines, 3 master's-mates, 7 midshipmen, 50 seamen, 11 marines, wounded. Letter from major-general Keane to major-general Packenham. SIR, I HAVE the honour to inform you, that between the 17th and 22d inst. the troops destined for the attack of New Orleans, were collected at Isle aux Poix, which is at the entrance of the Pearl river. Having learnt that it was possible to effect a landing at the head of the bayou Catalan, which runs into lake Borgne, I directed major Forrest, assistant quarter-master-general, to have it reconnoitered. Lieutenant Peddie, of that department, accompanied by the hon. captain Spenser, of the navy, ascertained on the night of the 18th, that boats could reach the head of the bayou, from which a communication might be made to the high road on the left bank of the Mississippi, leading to New Orleans. On the morning of the 23d, every arrangement being made by vice-admiral the hon. sir Alexander Cochrane, I determined to attempt it. The light brigade, composed of the 85th and 95th regiments, captain Lane's rocketeers, one hundred sappers and miners, and the 4th regiment as a support, the whole under the command of colonel Thornton, were placed in the boats, and the 21st, 44th, and 93d regiments, under colonel Brooke, and a large proportion of artillery, under major Munro, were embarked in small vessels. At ten A. M. on the 22d, we sailed from Pearl river, and reached the head of the bayou at day-light next morning. A landing was immediately effected without any other opposition than the country presented. Captain Blanchard, of the royal engineers, in the course of two hours opened a communication through several fields of reeds, intersected by deep muddy ditches, bordered by a low swampy wood. Colonel Thornton then advanced and gained the high road, taking up a position with the right resting 1 on the road, and the left on the Mississippi. In this situation I intended to remain until the boats returned for the rest of the troops to the vessels, some of which grounded at a great distance. At about eight o'clock in the evening, when the men, much fatigued by the length of time they had been in the boats, were asleep in their bivouac, a heavy flanking fire of round and grape shot was opened upon them, by a large schooner and two gun-vessels, which had dropped down the river from the town, and anchored abreast of our fires;-immediate steps were necessary to cover the men, and colonel Thornton in the most prompt and judicious manner, placed his brigade under the inward slope of the bank of the river, as did also lieutenant-colonel Brooke, of the 4th regiment, behind some buildings which were near that corps. This movement was so rapid that the troops suffered no more than a single casualty. The three-pounders, being the only guns up, the success of a few twelve-pound rockets, directed by captain Lane, was tried against these vessels; but the ground on which it was necessary to lay them not being even, they were found not to answer, and their firing was ceased. A most vigorous attack was then made on the advanced front and right flank picquets, the former of the 95th under captain Hallan, the latter the 85th under captain Schaw; these officers and their respective picquets, conducted themselves with firmness, and checked the enemy for a considerable time; but renewing their attack with a large force, and pressing at these points, colonel Thornton judged it necessary to move up the remainder of both corps. The 85th regiment was commanded by brevet major Gubbins, whose conduct cannot be too much commended; on the approach of his regiment to the point of attack, the enemy, favoured by the darkness of the night, concealed themselves under a high fence which separated the fields, and calling to the men as friends, under pretence of being part of their own force, offered to assist them in getting over, which was no sooner accomplished, than the 85th found itself in the midst of very superior numbers, who, discovering themselves, called on the regiment immediately to surrender the answer was an instantaneous attack; a more extraor dinary conflict has perhaps never occurred, absolutely hand to hand both officers and men. It terminated in the repulse of the enemy, with the capture of thirty prisoners. A similar finesse was attempted with the 95th regiment, which met the same treatment. The enemy finding his reiterated attacks were repulsed by colonel Thornton, at half past ten o'clock advanced a large column against our centre; perceiving his intention, I directed colonel Stovin to order lieutenant-colonel Dale, with one hundred and thirty men of the 93d regiment, who had just reached the camp, to move forward and use the bayonet, holding the 4th regiment in hand, formed in line, as my last reserve. Colonel Dale endeavoured to execute the orders, but the crafty enemy would not meet him, seeing the steadiness of his small body, gave it a heavy fire, and quickly retired. Colonel Brooke, with four companies of the 21st regiment, fortunately appeared at that moment on our right flank, and sufficiently secured it from further attack. The enemy now determined on making a last effort, and collecting the whole of his force, formed an extensive line, and moved directly against the light brigade. At first this line drove in all the advanced posts, but colonel Thornton, whose noble exertions had guaranteed all former success, was at hand; he rallied his brave comrades round him, and moving forward with a firm determination of charging, appalled the enemy, who, from the lesson he had received on the same ground in the early part of the evening, thought it prudent to retire, and did not again dare to advance. It was now twelve o'clock, and the firing ceased on both sides. From the best information I can obtain, the enemy's force amounted to five thousand men, and was commanded by maj‹ ›rgeneral Jackson; judging from the number left on the field, tis loss must have been severe. I now beg leave to enclose a list of our casualties on that night, and have only to hope it will appe ar to you that every officer and soldier on shore did his duty.` To sir Alexander Cochrane I feel particularly obliged for his very friendly counsel and ready compliance with every wish. I expressed respecting the service or welfare of the troops. To rear-admiral Malcom, and the several captains employed in the landing, &c. I confess the greatest obligation. I must leave it to the vice-admiral to do them the justice they so much deserve, for I cannot find words to express the exertions made by every branch of the navy, since the period of our arrival on this coast. t In the attack made on the centre, lieutenant-colonel Stovin, assistant adjutant-general, received a severe wound, which deprived me of his able services; to him and major Forrest, assistant quarter-master-general, I feel greatly indebted; they are both officers of great merit; colonel Brooke is entitled to every praise for securing our right flank. To colonel Thornton I feel particularly grateful; his conduct on the night of the 23d, I shall ever admire and honour. He headed his brigade in the most spirited manner, and afforded it a brilliant example of active courage and cool determination. I have every reason to be satisfied with lieutenant-colonel Brooke, commanding the 4th regiment; as also with major Mitchell, of the 95th, who was unfortunately taken prisoner at the close of the affair. The exertions of major Monro of the royal artillery, were unremitting; to him, and the officers under his command, I feel every obligation. The assistance given by captain Blanchard, and the officers of the royal engineers, was most conspicuous, and entitle them to my best thanks. Brevet major Hooper, acting deputy-assistant adjutant-general, was attached to the light brigade. Colonel Thornton states, that he derived the greatest benefit from his activity, zeal, and judgment. I regret to have to add, that he was very severely wounded, and had his leg amputated in the course of the night. The indefatigable zeal and intelligence displayed by lieutenants Peddie and Evans, of the quarter-master-general's department, entitle them to the most favourable consideration. Assistant commissary-general Wemyss's arrangements were satisfactory, and deputy-inspector Thompson claims my best acknowledgments, for the care and attention shown the wounded, the whole of whom were collected, dressed, and comfortably lodged before two in the morning. Major Mills, of the 14th light dragoons, accompanied me on shore; from him, captain Persse, my aid-de-camp, and the hon. lieutenant Curzon, naval aid-de-camp, I received every assistance. Trusting that the steps I pursued, while in command, will meet your approbation, (Signed) I have the honour to be, &c. JOHN KEANE, major-general. No. 3. Extract from the Journal of the movements of the army employed on the southern coast of North America. On the evening of the 25th December, 1814, major-general sir E. Pakenham arrived and assumed the command of the army. On the 26th at daylight our batteries opened on the enemy's schooner, then lying on the opposite bank of the river, and which had occasionally cannonaded our line the preceding days. The effect was such as to set her on fire, and at 9 A. M. she blew up. A ship armed with sixteen long twenty-four pounders, which came down the day before to a position abreast of our advance, no sooper saw the fate of the schooner than she got under way and ran up the river. On the 27th at daylight the troops moved forward in two columns, driving in the enemy's pickets to within six miles of the town, where their main body was discovered strongly posted behind a canal, having a breastwork in their front, the extent from right to left being about one thousand yards; their right rested on the Mississippi, and was further protected by the armed ship moored in a position to enfilade our columns as they advancedtheir left touched the wood. This wood extends in a parallel direction with the river, and is, in general, distant from it one thousand to fifteen hundred yards. The intermediate space is intersected by strong horizontal railings and a wet ditch or drain, and is principally planted with sugar-canes. Considerable houses, with large out-buildings and negro huts attached, are scattered at irregular distances along this tract. The left column, under major-general Keane, advanced along the main road to within about eight hundred yards of the enemy's right, when he opened from two guns upon the head of our column; upon this it was moved off the road to the right, under cover of some houses. The ship at the same time opened an enfilading fire upon our left, and kept up an incessant cannonade for above an hour. The columns were now deployed, and the line ordered to lie down, our right pickets touching the wood. The enemy cannonaded us from four guns in his line, and from the ship |