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to ascertain with exactness, but suppose it to amount to 100 in killed, wounded, and missing. Among the former, I have to lament the loss of colonel Lauderdale, of general Coffee's brigade, who fell while bravely fighting. Colonels Dyer and Gibson, of the same corps, were wounded, and major Kavedaugh taken pri

Colonel De Laronde, major Villere, of the Louisiana militia, major Latour, of engineers, having no command, volunteered their services, as did doctors Kerr and Hood,

and were

of great assistance to me.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ANDREW JACKSON. Hon. James Monroe,

acting Secretary of War.

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HEAD QUARTERS, 7th MILITARY DISTRICT,

Camp below New Orleans, December 29th, 1814. SIR,

The enemy succeeded on the 27th, in blowing up the Caroline, (she being becalmed) by means of hot shot from a land bat. tery which he had erected in the night. Emboldened by this event, he marched his whole force the next day, up the level, in the hope of driving us from our position, and with this view opened upon us, at the distance of about half a mile, his bombs and rockets. He was repulsed, however, with considerable lossnot less, it is believed, than 120 in killed, Ours was inconsiderable, not exceeding half a dozen in killed, and a dozen wounded.

Since then, he has not ventured to repeat his attempt, though lying close together. There has been frequent skirmishing between our pickets.

I lament that I have not the means of carrying on more offensive operations. The Kentucky troops have not arrived, and my effective force at this point, does not exceed 3000. Theirs must be at least double-both prisoners and deserters agreeing in the statement that 7000 landed from their boats.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ANDREW JACKSON, The Hon. Secretary of War.

CAMP, FOUR MILES BELOW NEW ORLEANS.

January 9th, 1813.

SIR,

During the days of the 6th and 7th, the enemy had been actively employed in making preparations for an attack on my lines. With infinite labour they had succeeded on the night of the 7th, in getting their boats across from the lake to the river, by widening and deepening the canal on which they had effected their disembarkation. It had not been in my power to impede these operations by a general attack: added to other reasons, the nature of the troops under my command, mostly militia, rendered it too hazardous to attempt extensive offensive movements in an open country, against a numerous and well disciplined army. Al. though my forces, as to number, had been increased by the arrival of the Kentucky division, my strength had received very little addition; a small portion only of that detachment being provided with arms. Compelled thus to wait the attack of the enemy, I took every measure to repel it when it should be made, and to defeat the object he had in view. General Morgan, with the New Orleans contingent, the Louisiana militia, and a strong detachment of the Kentucky troops, occupied an entrenched camp on the opposite side of the river, protected by strong batteries on the bank, erected and superintended by commodore Patterson.

In my encampment every thing was ready for action, when, early in the morning of the 8th, the enemy after throwing a heavy shower of bombs and congreve rockets, advanced their columns on my right and left, to storm my entrenchments. I cannot speak suficiently in praise of the firmness and deliberation with which my whole line received their approach--more could not have been expected from veterans inured to war. For an hour the fire of the small arms was as incessant and severe as can be imagined. The artillery, too, directed by officers who displayed equal skill and courage, did great execution. Yet the columns of the enemy continued to advance with a firmness which reflects upon them the greatest credit. Twice the column which approached me on my left, was repulsed by the troops of general Carroll, those of general Coffee, and a division of the Kentucky militia, and twice they formed again and renewed the assault. At length, however, cut to pieces, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it covered with their dead and wounded. The loss which the enemy sustained on this occasion, cannot be estimated at less than 1500 in killed, wounded and prisoners. Upwards of three hundred have already been delivered over for burial ; and my men are still engaged in picking them up within my lines and carrying them to the point where the enemy are to receive them. This is in addition to the dead and wounded whom the enemy have been enabled to carry from the field, during and since the action, and to those who have since died of the wounds they received. We have taken about 500 prisoners, upwards of 300 of whom are wounded, and a great part of them mortally. My loss has not exceeded, and I believe has not amounted to, 10 kil. led and as many wounded. The entire destruction of the enemy's army was now inevitable, had it not been for an unfortunate occurrence which at this moment took place on the other side of the river. Simultaneously with his advance upon my lines, he had hrown over in his ats a considerable force to the other side of the river. These having landed, were hardy enough to advance

against the works of general Morgan; and what is strange and difficult to account for, at the very moment when their entire discomfiture was looked for with a confidence approaching to certainty, the Kentucky reinforcements ingloriously fled, drawing after them, by their example, the remainder of the forces; and thus yielding to the enemy that most fortunate position. The batteries which had rendered me for many days, the most important service, though bravely defended, were of course now abandoned; not, however, until the guns had been spiked.

This unfortunate route had totally changed the aspect of affairs. The enemy now occupied a position from which they inight annoy us without hazard, and by means of which, they might have been enabled to defeat, in a great measure, the effect of our success oh this side the river. It became, therefore, an object of the first consequence to dislodge him as soon as possi, ble. For this object, all the means in my power, which I could with any safety use, were immediately put in preparation. Perhaps, however, it was somewhat owing to another cause that I succeeded beyond my expectations. In negotiating the terms of a temporary suspension of hostilities to enable the enemy to bury their dead and provide for their wounded, I had required certain propositions to be acceded to as a basis ; among which, this was one: that although hostilities should cease on this side the river until 12 o'clock of this day, yet it was not to be understood that they should cease on the other side; but that no reinforcements should be sent across by either army until the expiration of that day. His excellency major general Lambert begged time to consider of those propositions until 10 o'clock of to-day, and in the mean time re-crossed his troops. I need not tell you

with how much eagerness I immediately regained possession of the position he had thus hastily quitted.

The enemy having concentrated his forces, may again attempt to drive me from my position by storm. Whenever he does, I have no doubt my men will act with their usual firmness, and sustain a character now become dear to them.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ANDREW JACKSON. Hon. Secretary of War.

CAMP BELOW NEW ORLEANS, January 10th, 1815. SIR.

I have the honour to make the following report of the killed, wounded, and prisoners, taken at the battle at Larond's plantation, on the left bank of the Mississippi, on the night of the 23d December, 1814, seven miles below New Orleans.

Killed-left on the field of battle-100
Wounded-left on the field of battle-230

Prisoners taken-One major, 2 lieutenants, 1 midshipmati, 66 non-commissioned officers and privates, making a grand total of 400.

I have the honour to be, &c.

A. P. HAYNE, Inspct. Gen. Major general Andrew Jackson.

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HEAD QUARTERS, CAMP, 4 MILES BELOW NEW ORLEANS,

January 13th, 1815. SIR,

At such a crisis, I conceive it my duty to keep you constantly advised of my situation.

On the 10th instant I forwarded you an account of the bold attempt made by the enemy, on the morning of the 8th, to take possession of my works by storm, and of the severe repulse which he met with. That report having been sent by the mail which crosses the lake, may possibly have miscarried; for which reason, I think it the more necessary briefly to repeat the substance of it.

Early on the morning of the 8th, the enemy having been actively employed the two preceding days in making preparations for a storm, advanced in two strong columns on my right and left. They were received, however, with a firinness which it seems they little expected, and which defeated all their hopes. My men, undisturbed by their approach, which indeed they long anxiously wished for, opened upon them a fire so deliberate and certain, as rendered their scaling ladders and fascines, as well as their more direct implements of warfare, perfectly useless. Por upwards of an hour, it was continued with a briskness of which there have been but few instances, perhaps in any country. In justice to the enemy, it must be said, they withstood it as long as could be expected from the most determined bravery. At length, however, when all prospect of success became hopeless, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it covered with their dead and wounded. Their loss was immense. I had at first computed it at 1500; but it is since ascertained to have been much greater. Upon information, which is believed to be correct, colonel Haynes, the inspector general, reports it to be in total 2600. His report I enclose you. My loss was inconsiderable, being only seven killed and six wounded. Such a disproportion in loss, when we consider the number and kind of troops engaged, must, I know, excite astonishment, and may not every where be fully credited; yet I am perfectly satisfied that the account is not exaggerated on the one part, nor underrated on the other.

The enemy having hastily quitted a post which they had gained possession of on the other side of the river, and we having immediately returned to it, both armies at present occupy their for mer positions. Whether, after the severe losses he has sustained, he is preparing to return to his shipping, or to make still mightier

efforts to attain his first object, I do not pretend to determine. It becomes me to act as though the latter were his intention. One thing, however, seems certain, that if he still calculates on effecting what he has hitherto been unable to accomplish, he must expect considerable reinforcements; as the force with which_he landed must undoubtedly be diminished by at least 3000. Besides the loss which he sustained on the night of the 23d ultimo, which is estimated at 400, he cannot have suffered less between that period and the morning of the 18th instant than 3000—having, within that time, been repulsed in two general attempts to drive us from our position, and there having been continual cannonading and skirmishing, during the whole of it. Yet he is still able to show a very formidable force.

There is little doubt that the commanding general, sir Edward Packenham, was killed in the action of the 8th, and that major generals Keane and Gibbs were badly wounded.

Whenever a more leisure moment shall occur, I will take the liberty to make and forward you a more circumstantial account of the several actions, and particularly that of the 8th ; in doing which my chief motive will be to render justice to those brave men I have the honour to cominand, and who have so remarkably distinguished themselves.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ANDREW JACKSON. Hon. Secretary of War.

CAMP BELOW NEW ORLEANS, January 13th, 1815. SIR,

I have the honour to make the following report of the killed, wounded and prisoners, taken at the battle of Mac Prardie's plantation, on the left bank of the Mississippi, on the morning of the 8th of January, 1815, and five miles below the city of New Orleans. Killed,

700 Wounded,

1,400 Prisoners taken-1 major, 4 captains, 11 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 483 camp officers and privates, making a grand total of 2,600.

I have the honour to be, &c.

A. P. HAYNE, Inspector General. Major General Andrew Jackson.

CAMP BELOW NEW ORLEANS, January 19th, 1815. SIR,

Last night at 12 o'clock, the enemy precipitately decamped and returned to their boats, leaving behind him, under medical attendance, eighty of his wounded including two officers, 14 pieces of his heavy artillery, and a quantity of shot, having der

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