Battle of New Orlean.

The British troops storming the Redoubt on the right of the American Lines.- Page 237.

of representatives, or hold any civil office under the authority of the United States; and, seventhly, that no person shall be elected twice to the presidency, nor the president be elected from the same state two terms in succession.

"The report of the convention concluded with a resolution, providing for the calling of another convention, should the United States refuse their consent to some arrangement whereby the New England states, separately, or in concert, might be empowered to assume upon themselves the defence of their territory against the enemy,' appropriating a reasonable proportion of the public taxes for this purpose; or 'should peace not be concluded, and the defence of the New England states be neglected as it has been since the commencement of the war.'"*

The committee appointed to communicate these resolutions to congress, met at Washington the news of peace: and owing to this event another convention was not called. The proposed amendments of the constitution were submitted to the several states, and rejected by all except Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

118. Gen. Jackson's Victory at New Orleans.

In the month of December, 1814, fifteen thousand British troops, under Sir Edward Packenham, were landed for the attack of New Orleans. The defence of this place was intrusted to Gen. Andrew Jackson, whose force was about 6000 men, chiefly raw militia. Several slight skirmishes occurred before the enemy arrived before the city during this time, Gen. Jackson was employed in making preparation for his defence. His front was a straight line of 1000 yards, defended by upwards of three thousand infantry and artillerists. The ditch contained five feet of water, and his front, from having been flooded by opening the levees, and by frequent rams, was rendered slippery and muddy. Eight distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, mounting in all

* Goodrich.

12 guns of different calibres. On the opposite side of the river was a strong battery of 15 guns.

"At daylight, on the morning of the 8th of January, the main body of the British, under their commander-inchief, General Packenham, were seen advancing from their encampment to storm the American lines. On the preceding evening they had erected a battery within eight hundred yards, which now opened a brisk fire to protect their advance. The British came on in two columns, the left along the levee on the bank of the river, directed against the American right, while their right advanced to the swamp, with a view to turn General Jackson's left. The country being a perfect level, and the view unobstructed, their march was observed from its commencement. They were suffered to approach in silence, and unmolested, until within three hundred yards of the lines. This period of suspense and expectation was employed by General Jackson and his officers, in stationing every man at his post, and arranging every thing for the decisive event. When the British columns had advanced within three hundred yards of the lines, the whole artillery at once opened upon them a most deadly fire. Forty pieces of cannon, deeply charged with grape, canister, and musket balls, mowed them down by hundreds, at the same time the batteries on the west bank opened their fire, while the riflemen, in perfect security behind their works, as the British advanced, took deliberate aim, and nearly every shot took effect. Through this destructive fire, the British left column, under the immediate orders of the commander-in-chief, rushed on with their fascines and scaling ladders, to the advance bastion on the American right, and succeeded in mounting the parapet; here, after a close conflict wita the bayonet, they succeeded in obtaining possession of the bastion; when the battery, planted in the rear for its protection, opened its fire, and drove the British from the ground. On the American left, the British attempted to pass the swamp, and gain the rear, but the works had been extended as far into the swamp as the ground would permit. Some who attempted it, sunk in the mire

and disappeared; those behind, seeing the fate of their companions, seasonably retreated, and gained the hard ground. The assault continued an hour and a quarter; during the whole time, the British were exposed to the deliberate and destructive fire of the American artillery and musketry, which lay in perfect security behind their breastworks of cotton bales, which no balls coula penetrate. At eight o'clock, the British columns drew off in confusion, and retreated behind their works. Flushed

with success, the militia were eager to pursue the British troops to their intrenchments, and drive them immediately from the island. A less prudent and accomplished general might have been induced to yield to the indiscreet ardour of his troops; but General Jackson understood too well the nature of his own and his enemy's force, to hazard such an attempt. Defeat must inevitably have attended an assault made by raw militia, upon an intrenched camp of British regulars. The defence of New Orleans was the object; nothing was to be hazarded which would jeopardize the city. The British were suffered to retire behind their works without molestation. The result was such as might have been expected from the different positions of the two armies. General Packenham, near the crest of the glacis, received a ball in his knee. Still continuing to lead on his men, another shot pierced his body, and he was carried off the field. Nearly at this time, Major General Gibbs, the second in command, within a few yards of the lines, received a mortal wound, and was removed. The third in command, Major General Keane, at the head of his troops near the glacis, was severely wounded. The three commanding generals, on marshalling their troops at five o'clock in the morning, promised them a plentiful dinner in New Orleans, and gave them booty and beauty as the parole and countersign of the day. Before eight o'clock, the three generals were carried off the field, two in the agonies of death, and

The giving of this countersign has been denied by Gen. Lambert, and four other superior officers of the British army, who were engaged in this expedition, in a published communication signed by them, and sent to this country during the present year, (1833.)