town, and the troops put in motion; I repaired on board the United States' schooner Carolina, with captain Henley, and after ordering the Louisiana, commanded by lieutenant-commandant C. B. Thompson, to follow me, at 4 P. M. weighed, and it being calm, dropped down with the current; at about half past six I received a request from general Jackson, through Mr. Edward Livingston, his aid-de-camp, to anchor abreast of the enemy's camp, which he pointed out, and open a fire upon them. It continuing calm, got out sweeps, and a few minutes after, having been frequently hailed by the enemy's sentinels, anchored, veered out a long scope of cable, sheered close in shore abreast of their camp, and commenced a heavy (and as I have since learned most destructive) fire from our starboard battery and small arins, which was returned most spiritedly by the enemy with congreve rockets and musketry from their whole force, when after about forty minutes of most incessant fire, the enemy was silenced; the fire from our battery was continued till nine o'clock upon the enemy's flank while engaged in the field with our army, at which hour ceased firing, supposing from the distance of the enemy's fire (for it was too dark to see any thing on shore) that they had retreated beyond the range of our guns-weighed and swept across the river, in hopes of a breeze the next morning to enable me to renew the attack upon the enemy, should they be returned to their encampment; but was disappointed on the 24th by a light air from north-northwest, which towards the evening, hauled toward northwest, and blew a heavy gale, compelling me to remain during the 24th, 25th, and 26th at anchor in a position abreast of the enemy, although every possible exertion was made by captain Henley to warp the schooner up, without success, from the extreme rapidity of the current occasioned by the very uncommon rise of the river. On the afternoon of the 26th, at the request of general Jackson, I visited him at his head-quarters, and went from thence to town to equip and arm with two thirty-two-pounders, such merchant vessels in port, as I might find capable of supporting them. During the 24th, 25th, and 26th, fired at the enemy whenever they could be seen. Owing to the calmness of the night of the 23d, the Louisiana could not join me till the morning of the 24th, when she fortunately anchored about one mile above the Carolina. By the fire from the enemy on the night of the 23d, one man only was wounded, and very little injury done to the hull, sails, and rigging; in her bulwarks were a great number of musket balls, several in her masts and topmasts, and through her mainsail. Nothing could exceed the incessant fire from the Carolina, which alone can be attributed to the high state of discipline to which captain Henley has brought her crew. Of him, lieutenants Norris and Crawley, and sailing master Haller, I cannot speak in too high terms; the petty officers and crew behaved with that cool determined courage and zeal which has so strongly characterized the American tars in the present war. I have the honour to be, &c. D. T. PATTERSON. NO. XXV. Copy of a letter from general Andrew Jackson to the secretary of war, dated Camp near New Orleans, 26th December, 1814. THE enemy having, by the capture of our gun-boats, obtained command of the lakes, were enabled to effect a passage to the Mississippi at a point on the side of New Orleans, and about nine miles below it. The moment I received the intelligence, I hastened to attack him in his first position. It was brought on in the night and resulted very honourably to our arms. The heavy smoke, occasioned by an excessive fire, rendered it necessary that I should draw off my troops, after a severe conflict of upwards of an hour. The attack was made on the night of the 23d. Since then both armies have remained near the battle-ground, making preparations for something more decisive. The enemy's force exceeded ours by double, and their loss was proportionably greater. The moment I can spare the time, I will forward you a detailed account. In the meantime I expect something far more important will take place. I hope to be able to sustain the honour of our arms and to secure the safety of this country. I have the honour to be, &c. Major-general Jackson to the secretary of war. Head-quarters, 7th military district, camp below New Orleans, 27th December, A. M. SIR, THE loss of our gun-boats near the pass of the Rigolets, having given the enemy command of lake Borgne, he was enabled to choose his point of attack. It became therefore an object of importance to obstruct the numerous bayous and canals leading from that lake to the highlands on the Mississippi. This important service was committed, in the first instance, to a detachment from the 7th regiment, afterwards to colonel Delaronde of the Louisiana militia, and lastly, to make all sure, to major-general Villeré, commanding the district between the river and the lakes, and who, being a native of the country, was presumed to be best acquainted with all those passes. Unfortunately, however, a picquet which the general had established at the mouth of the bayou Bienvenu, and which, notwithstanding my orders, had been left unobstructed, was completely surprised, and the enemy penetrated through a canal leading to his farm about two leagues below the city, and succeeded in cutting off a company of militia stationed there. The intelligence was communicated to me about 2 o'clock of the 23d. My force, at this time, consisted of parts of the 7th and 44th regiments, not exceeding six hundred together, the city militia, a part of general Coffee's brigade of mounted gun-men, and the detached militia from the western division of Tennessee, under the command of major-general Carrol-these two last corps were stationed four miles above the city. Apprehending a double attack by the way of Chef-Menteur, I left general Carroll's force, and the militia of the city, posted on the Gentilly road; and at 5 o'clock P. M. marched to meet the enemy, whom I was resolved to attack in his first position, with major Hind's dragoons, general Coffee's brigade, parts of the 7th and 44th regiments, the uniform companies of militia under the command of major Plauche, two hundred men of colour (chiefly from St. Domingo) raised by colonel Savary and acting under the command of major Daquin, and a detachment of artillery under the direction of colonel M'Rea, with two six-pounders under the command of lieut. Spots-not exceeding in all fifteen hundred. I arrived near the enemy's encampment about 7, and immediately made my dispositions for the attack. His forces amounting at that time on land to about three thousand, extended half a mile on the 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 Ca rolina, was directed to open a fire upon their camp, which he executed at about half after 7. This being the signal of attack, general Coffee's men, with their usual impetuosity, rushed on the encmy'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 consequences, 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 4 in the morning assumed a stronger position about two miles nearer to the city. At this position I remain encamped, waiting the arrival of the Kentucky militia and other re-enforcements. 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 behaved as they have always done while under my command. The 7th, led by major Peire, and the 44th, commanded by colonel Ross, distinguished themselves. The battalion of city militia, commanded by major Plauche, realized my anticipations, and behaved like veteransSavary'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 officer commanding them. All my officers in the line did their duty, and I have every reason to be satisfied with the whole of my field and staff.-Colo nels Butler and Piatt, 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, Duplessis and Davezac, 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 one hundred in killed, wounded and missing. Among the former I have to lament the loss of coloned 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 Delaronde, major Villeré of the Louisiana militia, major Latour of engineers, having no command, volunteered their services, as did Drs. Kerr and Flood, and were of great assist ance to me. I have the honour to be, &c. NO. XXVI-XXVII. Copy of a letter from captain Henley, commanding late United States' schooner Carolina, to commodore Patterson, dated SIR, New Orleans, December 28, 1814. I HAVE the honour to inform you, that after you left here on the 26th instant, in pursuance to your order, every possible exertion was made to move the schooner Carolina higher up the river and near general Jackson's camp, without success; the wind being at N. N. W. and blowing fresh and too scant to get under way, and the current too rapid to move her by warping, which I had endeavoured to do with my crew. At daylight, on the morning of the 27th, the enemy opened upon the Carolina a battery of five guns, from which they threw |