the bayou, a distance of eight miles, and landed within a mile and a half of the high road to, and about six miles below New Orleans, where they crossed the road without meeting with any interruption, or perceiving the least preparation on the part of the enemy.

The severe changes of the weather, from rain to fresh gales and hard frost, retarding the boats in their repeated passages to and from the shipping, it was not until the 21st that (leaving on board the greater part of the two black regiments, and the dragoons) we could assemble troops and supplies sufficient to admit of our proceeding; and, on that day, we commenced the embarkation of the second division in the gun-vessels, such of the hired craft as could be brought into the lakes, and the Anaconda, which, by the greatest exertions, had been got over the shoal passages.

On the 22d, these vessels being filled with about 2400 men, the advance, consisting of about 1600 men, got into the boats, and, at eleven o'clock, the whole started, with a fair wind, to cross Lac Borgne. We had not, however, proceeded above two miles when the Anaconda grounded, and the hired craft and gun-vessels taking the ground in succession before they had got within ten miles of the bayou; the advance pushed on, and at about midnight reached the entrance.

A piquet, which the enemy had taken the precaution to place there, being surprised and cut off, major-general Keane, with rear-admiral Malcolm and the advance, moved up the bayou, and having effected a landing at day-break, in the course of the day was enabled to take up a position across the main road to New Orleans, between the river Mississippi and the bayou.

In this situation, about an hour after sun-set, and before the boats could return with the second division, an enemy's schooner of 14 guns, and an armed ship of 16-guns, having dropped down the Mississippi, the former commenced a brisk cannonading, which was followed up by an attack of the whole of the American army. Their troops were, however, beaten back, and obliged to retire with considerable loss, and major-general Keane advanced somewhat beyond his former position. As soon as the second division was brought up, the gun-vessels and boats returned for the remainder of the troops, the small-armed seamen and marines of the squadron, and such supplies as were required.

On the 25th, major-general sir E. Pakenham and majorgeneral Gibbs arrived at head-quarters, when the former took command of the army.

The schooner which had continued at intervals to annoy the troops having been burnt, on the 27th, by hot shot from our

artillery, and the ship having warped farther up the river, the following day the general moved forward to within gun-shot of an entrenchment which the enemy had newly thrown up, extending across the cultivated ground from the Mississippi to an impassable swampy wood on his left, a distance of about 1000 yards.

It being thought necessary to bring heavy artillery against this work, and also against the ship which had cannonaded the army when advancing, guns were brought up from the shipping, and on the 1st instant batteries were opened; but our fire not having the desired effect, the attack was defered until the arrival of the troops under major-general Lambert, which were daily expected.

Major-general Lambert, in the Vengeur, with a convoy of transports, having on board the 7th and 43d regiments, reached the outer anchorage on the 1st, and this reinforcement was all brought up to the advance on the 6th instant, while preparations were making for a second attack, in the proposed plan for which, it was decided to throw a body of men across the river to gain possession of the enemy's guns on the right bank. For this purpose the canal by which we were enabled to conduct provisions and stores towards the camp, was widened and extended to the river, and about 50 barges, pinnaces, and cutters, having, in the day-time of the 7th, been tracked under cover and unperceived, close up to the bank, at night the whole were dragged into the Mississippi, and placed under the command of captain Roberts of the Meteor.

The boats having grounded in the canal, a distance of 350 yards from the river, and the bank being composed of wet clay thrown out of the canal, it was not until nearly day-light that with the utmost possible exertions, this service was completed.

The 85th regiment, with a division of seamen under captain Money, and a division of marines under major Adair, the whole amounting to about 600 men, commanded by colonel Thornton, of the 85th regiment, were embarked and landed on the right bank of the river without opposition, just after day-light; and the armed boats moving up the river as the troops advanced, this part of the operations succeeded perfectly; the enemy having been driven from every position, leaving behind him 17 pieces of cannon.

The great loss, however, sustained by the principal attack having induced general Lambert to send orders to colonel Thornton to retire, after spiking the guns and destroying the carriages, the whole were re-embarked and brought back, and the boats by a similar process of hard labor were again dragged into the canal, and from thence to the bayou, conveying at

the same time such of the wounded as it was thought requisite to send off to the ships.

Major-general Lambert having determined to withdraw the army, measures were taken to re-embark the whole of the sick and wounded, that it was possible to move, and the stores, ammunition, ordnance, &c. with such detachments of the army, seamen, and marines, as were not immediately wanted; in order that the remainder of the army may retire unincumbered, and the last division be furnished with sufficient means of transport.

This arrangement being in a forward state of execution, I quitted head-quarters on the 14th instant, leaving rear-admiral Malcolm to conduct the naval part of the operations in that quarter, and I arrived at this anchorage on the 16th, where I am arranging for the reception of the army, and preparing the fleet for further operations.

I must, in common with the nation, lament the loss which the service has sustained by the death of major-general the honorable sir Edward Pakenham, and major-general Gibbs. Their great military qualities were justly estimated while living, and their zealous devotion to our country's welfare, will be cherished as an example to future generations.

In justice to the officers and men of the squadron under my command, who have been employed upon this expedition, I cannot omit to call the attention of my lords commissioners of the Admiralty to the laborious exertions aud great privations which have been willingly and cheerfully borne, by every class, for a period of nearly six weeks.

From the 12th of December, when the boats proceeded to the attack of the enemy's gun-vessels, to the present time, but very few of the officers or men have ever slept one night on board their ships.

The whole of the army, with the principal part of its provisions, its stores, artillery, ammunition, and the numerous necessary appendages, have been all transported from the shipping to the head of the bayon, a distance of 70 miles, chiefly in open boats, and are now re-embarking by the same process. The hardships, therefore, which the boats' crews have undergone, from their being kept day and night continually passing and repassing in the most changeable and severe weather, bave rarely been equalled; and it has been highly honorable to both services, and most gratifying to myself, to observe the emulation and unanimity which has pervaded the whole.

Rear-admiral Malcolm superintended the disembarkation of the army, and the various services performed by the boats; and it is a duty that I fulfil with much pleasure, assuring their lordships that his zeal and exertions upon every occasion could not.

be surpassed by any one. I beg leave also to offer my testimony to the unwearied and cheerful assistance afforded to the rear-admiral by captains sir Thomas M. Hardy, Dashwood, and Gordon, and the several captains and other officers. Rearadmiral Codrington accompanied me throughout this service; and I feel much indebted for his able advice and assistance.

Captain sir Thomas Troubridge, and the officers and seamen attached under his command to the army, have conducted themselves much to the satisfaction of the generals commanding. Sir Thomas Troubridge speaks in the highest terms of the captains and other officers employed under him, as named in his letter, (a copy of which is enclosed,) reporting their services. He particularly mentions captain Money, of the Trave, who, I am much concerned to say, had both bones of his leg broken by a musket-shot, advancing under a heavy fire to the attack of a battery that was afterwards carried. The conduct of captain Money at Washington, and near Baltimore, where he was employed with the army, having before occasioned my noticing him to their lordships, I beg leave now to recommend him most strongly to their protection. The wound that he has received not affording him any probability of his being able to return to his duty for a considerable time, I have given him leave of absence to go to England; and shall intrust to him my despatches.

I have not yet received any official report from the captain of the Nymphe, which ship, with the vessels named in the margin, were sent into the Mississippi, to create a diversion in that quarter.

*

The bombs have been for some days past throwing shells into fort Placquemain, but I fear without much effect.—I have sent to recall such of them as are not required for the blockade of the river. I have the honor to be, &c.

ALEXANDER COCHRANE, vice-admiral, and commander in chief.

J. Wilson Croker, esq. &c.

No. 100.

Return of casualties on the 8th of Janúary, 1815.

General staff-1 major-general, 1 captain, killed; 2 major-generals, 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, wounded.

Royal artillery-5 rank and file, killed; 10 rank and file, wounded. Royal engineers, suppers, and miners;-3 rank and file, wounded.

* Nymphe, Herald, Ætna, Meteor, Thistle, Pigmy.,

4th foot-1 ensign, 2 serjeants, 39 rank and file, killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 5 captains, 11 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, 1 staff, 9 serjeants, 222 rank and file, wounded; 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 53 rank and file, missing.

7th foot;-1 major, 1 captain, I serjeant, 38 rank and file, killed; 2 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 serjeants, 47 rank and and file, wounded.

21st foot-1 major, I captain, 1 lieutenant, 2 serjeants, 65 rank and file, killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 2 lieutenants, 6 serjeants, 1 drummer, 144 rank and file, wounded; 2 captains, 7 lieutenants, 8 serjeants, 2 drummers, 217 rank and file, missing.

43d foot;-2 serjeants, 1 drummer, 8 rank and file, killed; 2 lieutenants, 3 serjeants, 3 drummers, 34 rank and file, wounded; 1 captain, 5 rank and file, missing.

44th foot-1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 1 serjeant, 32 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 5 lieutenants, 3 ensigns, 5 serjeants, 149 rank and file, wounded; lieutenant, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, 76 rank and file, missing.

85th foot ;-2 rank and file, killed; 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 lieutenant, 3 serjeants, 2 drummers, 34 rank and file, wounded; 1 rank and file, missing.

93d foot-1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 captains, 2 serjeants, 58 rank and file, killed; 4 captains, 5 lieutenants, 17 serjeants, 3 drummers, 348 rank and file, wounded; 3 lieutenants, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, 99 rauk and file, missing.

95th foot;-1 serjeant, 10 rank and file, killed; 2 captains, 5 lieutenants, 5 serjeants, 89 rank and file, wounded.

Royal marines;-2 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 serjeant, 12 rank and tile, wounded.

Royal navy-2 seamen, killed; 1 captain, 18 seamen, wounded.

1st West India regiment ;-5 rank and file, killed; 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 2 serjeants, 16 rank and file, wounded; I rank and file, missing.

5th West India regiment ;-1 serjeant, wounded.

Total loss-1 major-general, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, 5 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 11 serjeants, 1 drummer, 266 rank and file, killed; 2 major-generals, 3 lieutenant colonels, 2 majors, 18 captains, 58 lieutenants, 9 ensigns, 1 staff, 5 4serjeants, 9 drummers, 1126 rank and file, wounded; 3 captains, 12 lieutenants, 13 serjeants, 4 drummers, 452 rank and file, missing.

Names of the officers killed, wounded, and missing.

Killed.

General staff;-Major-general the honorable sir Edward Pakenham, K. B. commander of the forces; captain Thomas Wilkinson, 85th regiment, major of brigade.

4th foot;-Ensign William Crowe.

7th foot-Major George King; captain George Henry.

21st foot-Major John Anthony Whittaker; captain Robert Renny; (fieutenant-colonel ;) and dieutenant Donald M'Donald.

44th foot-Lieutenant Rowland Davies, ensign M. M'Loskey.

93d foot-Lieutenant-colonel Robert Dale; captain Thomas Hickins, and captain Alexander Muirhead.