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, however, I need not assure you, that wherever I command, such a belief shall never occasion any relaxation in the measures for resistance. I am but too sensible that the moment when the enemy is opposing us, is not the most proper to provide for them. I have the honour to be, &c. P. S. On the 18th our prisoners on shore were delivered to us, an exchange having been previously agreed to. Those who are on board the fleet will be delivered at Petit Coquille-after which I shall still have in my hands an excess of several hundred. 20th-Mr. Shields, purser in the navy, has to-day taken fiftyfour prisoners; among them are four officers. A. J. Letter from adjutant-general Robert Butler, to brigadier-general Parker, dated Head-quarters, 7th Military district, Adjutant-general's office, Jackson's Lines, below Orleans, Jan. 16, 1815. SIR, I HAVE the honour herewith to enclose for the information of the war department, a report of the killed, wounded, and missing of the army under the command of major-general Jackson, in the different actions with the enemy since their landing. I have the honour to be, &c. - Report of the killed, wounded, and missing, of the army under the command of major-general Andrew Jackson, in the actions of the 23d and 28th of December 1814, and 1st and 8th of January, 1815, with the enemy. ACTION OF DECEMBER 28d, 1814. Killed--Artillerymen, 1; 7th United States' infantry, I lieutenant (M'Clellan), 1 sergeant, I corporal, 4 privates; 44th do. 7 privates; general Coffee's brigade volunteer mounted gun-men, 1 Jieutenant-colonel (Lauderdale), 1 captain (Pace), 1 lieutenant (Samuel Brooks), 2 sergeants, 4 privates.-Total 24. Wounded-General staff, 1 colonel (col. Piatt)-7th United States' infantry, 1 captain (A. A. White), 1 ensign, 1 sergeant, corporals, 23 privates; 44th do. 2 lieutenants, 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, 19 privates; general Coffee's brigade, 1 colonel, 2 lieutenant-colonels, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 quarter-master sergeant, 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, I musician, 30 privates; New Orleans volunteer corps, 1 captain, 2 sergeants, 7 privates; volunteers of colour, 1 adjutant and 6 privates.-Total wounded, 115. Missing--General Coffee's brigade; 1 major, 2 captains, 3 lieutenants, 1 quarter-master, 3 ensigns or cornets, 4 sergeants, 1 corporal, 2 musicians, 57 privates.-Total missing 74. Total killed, wounded, and missing on the 23d--213. ACTION OF DECEMBER 28th, 1814. Killed--General Coffee's brigade, 1 private; New Orleans volunteer company, 1 private; general Carroll's division of Tennessee militia, 1 colonel (Henderson), 1 sergeant, 5 privates-Total 9. Wounded Marines, 1 major (Carmick); New Orleans volunteer company, 3 privates; general Carroll's division, 1 lieutenant, 3 privates.Total wounded, 8. Missing-None." Total killed, wounded, and missing on this day, 17. ACTION OF 1st JANUARY, 1815. 'Killed-Artillery, navy, and volunteers at batteries, 8 privates; 44th ditto, 1 private; general Coffee's brigade, 1 sergeant; general Carroll's division, 1 private.--Total 11. Wounded-Artillery, navy, and volunteers at batteries, 8, 7th United States' infantry, I private; 44th do. 3; general Coffee's brigade, 2; New Orleans volunteers, 3 privates; general Carroll's division, 1 sergeant, 2 privates; volunteers of colour, 1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant, 1 private.-Total 23. Missing-None. Total of killed, wounded, and missing this day, 34. ACTION ON BOTH SIDES THE RIVER, 8th JANUARY, 1815, Killed-Artillery, navy, and volunteers at batteries, 3 privates; 7th United States' infantry, I sergeant, 1 corporal; general Coffee's brigade, 1 private; Carroll's division, 1 sergeant, 3 privates; Kentucky militia 1 private; majors Lacoste's and Dacquin's volunteers of colour, 1 private; general Morgan's militia, 1 private. Total killed, 13. Wounded Artillery, &c. one private; 7th United States' infantry, one private; general Carroll's division, one ensign, one sergeant, six privates; Kentucky militia, one adjutant, one corporal, and ten privates; volunteers of colour, one ensign, three sergeants, one corporal, eight privates; general Morgan's militia, two sergeants, two privates.-Total wounded, thirty-nine. Missing.-Kentucky militia, four privates; Morgan's militia, fifteen privates-Total nineteen. Total killed, wounded and missing this day, seventy-one. NOTE Of the killed, wounded and missing on this day, but six killed and seven wounded in the action on the east bank of the river, the residue in a sortie after the action, and in the action on the west bank. Truly reported from those on file in this office, ROBERT BUTLER. Letter from Commodore Patterson to the Secretary of the Navy. Marine battery, five miles below New Orleans, 13th January, 1815. SIR, I HAVE the honour to inform you, that during the 2d and 3d instant, I landed from the ship and mounted, as the former ones, on the banks of the river, four more twelve-pounders, and erected a furnace for heating shot, to destroy a number of buildings which intervened between general Jackson's lines and the camp of the enemy and occupied by him. On the evening of the 4th I succeeded in firing a number of them, and some rice stacks by my hot shot, which the enemy attempted to extinguish, notwithstanding the heavy fire I kept up, but which at length compelled them to desist. On the 6th and 7th I erected another furnace, and mounted on the banks of the river two more twenty-four pound ers, which had been brought up from the English Turn, by the exertions of colonel Caldwell, of the drafted militia of this state, and brought within and mounted on the intrenchments on this side the river, one twelve-pounder; in addition to which, general Morgan, commanding the militia on this side, planted two brass six-pound field pieces in his lines, which were incomplete, having been commenced only on the 4th; these three pieces were the only cannon on the lines, all the others being mounted on the bank of the river, with a view to aid the right of general Jackson's lines on the opposite shore, and to flank the enemy should they attempt to march up the road leading along the levee, or erect batteries on the same, of course could render no aid in defence of general Morgan's lines. My battery was manned in part from the crew of the ship, and in part by militia detailed for that service by general Morgan, as I had not seamen enough to fully man them. During greater part of the 7th, reconnoitred the enemy at Villeré's plantation, whose canal, I was informed, they were deepening and opening to the river, for the purpose of getting their lanches in, which upon examination with my glass I found to be true, and informed general Jackson of my observations by letters, copies of which I enclose herewith; a re-enforcement to general Morgan's militia was made in consequence, consisting of about four hundred militia from Kentucky, very badly armed or equipped, the general not having arms to furnish them, who arrived on this side on the morning of the 8th much fatigued. At 1 A. M. finding that the enemy had succeeded in lanching their barges into the river, I despatched my aid-de-camp, Mr. R. D. Shepherd, to inform general Jackson of the circumstance, and that a very uncommon stir was observed in the enemy's camp and batteries on the banks of the river, and stating again the extreme weakness of this side the river, and urging a re-enforcement. I would have immediately dropped down with the Louisiana upon their barges; but to do so I must have withdrawn all the men from the battery on shore, which I deemed of the greatest importance, and exposed the vessel to fire by hot shot from the enemy's batteries, mounting six long eighteen-pounders, which protected their barges; and at this time she had on board a large quantity of powder, for the supply of her own guns, and those on shore, most of which was above the surface of the water, consequently expos ed to their hot shot. General Morgan despatched the Kentuckians immediately on their arrival, about 5 A. M. to re-enforce a party which had been sent out early on the night of the 7th, to watch and oppose the landing of the enemy, but who retreated after a few shot from the enemy within the lines, where they were immediately posted in their station on the extreme right. At daylight, the enemy opened a heavy cannonade upon general Jackson's lines and my battery, leading their troops under cover of their cannon to the assault of the lines, which they attempted on the right and left, but principally on the latter wing; they were met by a most tremendous and incessant fire of artillery and musketry, which compelled them to retreat with precipitation; leaving the ditch filled, and the field strewed with their dead and wounded. My battery was opened upon them simultaneously with those from our lines, flanking the enemy both in his advance and retreat with round, grape and canister, which must have proved extremély destructive, as in their haste and confusion to retreat they crowded the top of the levee, affording us a most advantageous opportunity for the use of grape and canister, which I used to the greatest advantage. While thus engaged with the enemy on the opposite shore, I was informed that they had effected their landing on this side, and were advancing to general Morgan's breast work. I immediately ordered the officers in command of my guns to turn them in their embrazures, and point them to protect general Morgan's right wing, whose lines not extending to the swamp, and those weakly manned, I apprehended the enemy's outflanking him on that wing; which order was promptly executed by captain Henley and the officers stationed at the battery, under a heavy and well directed fire of shot and shells from the enemy on the opposite bank of the river. At this time the enemy's force had.approach-ed general Morgan's lines, under the cover of a shower of rockets, and charged in despite of the fire from the twelve-pounder and field-pieces mounted on the lines as before stated; when in a few minutes I had the extreme mortification and chagrin to observe general Morgan's right wing, composed as herein mentioned |