tion; nor, indeed, come within the reach of our cannon by day, and was deprived of all repose during the night."*

On the 4th of January general Jackson re ceived the long-expected reinforcement of 2250 Kentuckians; and, on the 6th, the British received their expected reinforcement of the 7th and 43d regiments. On that very day a deserter informed general Jackson of the intended attack; as well as that the British were digging out Villeré's canal, and extending it, in order to get their boats into the river, ready for a simultaneous attack on the opposite side. In the meanwhile major-general Morgan had thrown up two fresh lines, in advance of his works at Boisgervais canal. Upon these, and commodore Patterson's battery on the river-side, were mounted 16 guns. The last-named officer actually saw, and reported, contrary to the belief of sir Alexander Cochrane, § the operations on Villeré's canal:|| in short, the Americans were fully apprized, that their works on both sides of the river would be attacked on the morning of the 8th. "In our camp," says major La tour, all was composure; the officers were ordered to direct their subalterns to be ready on the first signal. Half the troops passed the

* Latour's War in Louisiana, p. 143.

+ Eaton's Life of Jackson, p. 332.

§ App. No. 99.

See Plate VII.

App. No. 102.

night behind the breastwork; relieving each other occasionally. Every one waited for day with anxiety and impatience, but with calm intrepidity; expecting to be vigorously attacked, and knowing that the enemy had then from 12 to 15,000 bayonets to bring into action, besides 2000 sailors, and some marines."* This preliminary puff might pass, but for the statement about the strength of the British forces. We will first point out where the major contradicts himself. His "list of the several corps com. posing the British army, at the time of its landing on the shores of the Mississippi, with an estimate of their respective force," wherein we find the 40th regiment," and a "detachment of the 62d regiment," that did not land till the 11th of January, stated, together, at "1360 men," the rocket-brigade, artillery, drivers, engineers, sappers and miners," at " 1500," and the "royal marines, and sailors taken from the fleet," as high as 3500,"-makes a total of only "14450;"† less, by 2000 and upwards, than the amount which he had previously told us was " ready for action." Again; the numbers upon the major's diagram, or plan of the battle of the 8th, run thus: "Main attack of the British, supposed to be between 8 and 9000 strong;"-" Left column of the British,

.1.

*』,

:66

66

*Latour's War in Louisiana, p. 154.

+. Ibid. his Appendix, No. 44. ....

supposed 1200 strong." Add to this number the 800 stated as the British force upon the right bank; and we have, as the total upon both sides of the river, 12500, instead of" from 12 to 15000, besides 2000 sailors, and some marines."

This is the enemy's, now for the British, account of our force. Previously to the attack on the morning of the 8th, we had, includ ing fatigue-parties and piquets, and every description of force on shore, the following rank and file: 14th light dragoons, 295; royal artillery, 570; sappers and miners, 98; staff corps, 57; 4th foot, 747; 7th, 750; 21st, 800; 43d, 820; 44th, 427; 85th, 298; 93d, 775; 95th, 276; and 1st and 5th West India regiments, (blacks,) 1040; total, 6953 men; just 2643 less than major Latour's estimated strength of those 14 corps. By adding 1200, for the seamen and marines from the fleet, we have 8153 for the total amount of the British on shore. Deducting 853 [men for the fatigueparties, piquets, guards at the hospitals, &c. leaves 7300 men for the British force, " ready for action," on both sides of the river, at or before day-light, on the morning of the 8th of January. To this force was added a battery, hastily thrown up, of six 18-pounders; besides a brigade of 9, 6, and 3-pounders, and one howitzer. With the details of the force at general Jackson's lines, we have nothing to do. The following extract from Mr. O'Connor's

book will suffice. "From an official account," says he, "it appeared, that the number of men under command of general Jackson, and actually engaged against the enemy, on the 8th of January, amounted to 4698." This was on the left bank on the right bank, we have 400 men, sent across, on the morning of the 8th, under the celebrated French general, Humbert, and 1500, † already on that side, under majorgeneral Morgan and commodore Patterson; making a total force, on both sides of the river, of 6198 men. The American artillery, including the batteries on the opposite bank, and only half the guns of the Louisiana, consisted of upwards of 30 pieces.

3. For the order of attack, and the disposition of the different corps, we must refer the reader to major-general Lambert's letter.‡ An unavoidable delay had occurred in getting the boats into the Mississippi; where they were required to earry across troops, in order to attack general Morgan's lines: and then a circumstance, which happened at the very onset, gave a fatal turn to the first misfortune. The 44th regiment, owing chiefly to the negligence of its commander, failed to be in readiness with the fascines and ladders. These had been placed in a redoubt, 1200 yards from the enemy's lines; by which

* Hist. of the War, p. 291.

+ Eaton's Life of Jackson, p. 336; vide Erratum.

App. No. 96.

redoubt the 44th, in its way from camp to its station, passed, till it arrived at the advanced battery, about 300 yards nearer to the enemy's line. The misunderstanding, for such it was, being now, for the first time, cleared up, the commanding officer of the 44th, lieutenant-colonel Mullins, (only a captain in the regiment,) sent back 300 men, under lieutentant-colonel Debbeig, to bring up the fascines and ladders. Before the 44th returned, the firing had commenced; and many of the men threw down their "heavy" loads, and took to their muskets. There was not one ladder placed; although some were thrown in the ditch. What followed we cannot describe better, than in the sworn depositions of two distinguished officers, examined at colonel Mullins's court-martial. Major sir John Tylden, of the 43d regiment, says :-" On the morning of the 8th of January, I was in the field, as senior officer on the adjutant-general's department. I accompanied sir E. Pakenham, shortly after four o'clock, to the house of major-general Gibbs. Immediately on his arrival, general Gibbs reported to sir E. Pakenham, in my presence, that colonel Mullins had neglected to obey the order given him the evening before, in not having his regiment at the head of the column, with the fascines and ladders, but that he had immediately, on finding it out, sent an officer to the regiment to hurry them on; that the mistake

* Court-martial on lieutenant-colonel Mullins, p. 26.