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346 British repulse at New Orleans. [isis behind this canal was excessively slippery; the ground in front of it was as bad ; the physical obstacles were thus of a serious nature. The British artillery attack on the southernmost line was a complete failure. The American gunners obtained the upper hand and drove the British from their guns. Nothing therefore remained but to try a night assault, in which it was reasonable to suppose that the discipline of regular troops would stand them in good stead. But to deliver an assault with success on the east bank it was necessary to capture a small advanced American work on the west bank of the river, which enfiladed the front of the line of entrenchment. It was finally decided to attack simultaneously on both banks of the stream at dawn of January 8, 1815. Twelve hundred men, under Colonel Thornton, were to cross in the course of the night to the west bank. But the difficulties encountered in moving this detachment across were greater than had been anticipated. The boats conveying it had to pass from Lake Borgne, up a canal into the Mississippi ; and the journey occupied far more time than had been allowed for it, mainly by reason of a fall in the level of the river and the strong current. The troops on the east bank waited till day was breaking, and then, though the force on the west bank was not yet ready for the attack, moved forward to the assault. From their works the Americans saw, not without emotion, this gallant army form up in all the glory of Old World uniforms and advance in admirable order to the attack. Forthwith there burst forth from their line of entrenchments a storm of fire, more vehement than any that the British troops had hitherto experienced. The roll of musketry was so terrible, so continuous, that it dwelt in the memory of the assailants as most like to the unceasing roar of tropical thunder. Under the hail of bullets, in the growing light, the British troops went down in hundreds. The ladder- bearers and fascine-bearers, who were in front, were the first to fall, but the assailants closed on the work splendidly and determinedly. They reached the edge of the ditch, where they staggered, under the fire, and recoiled. Pakenham recklessly exposed himself in the front, a gallant figure, mounted on horseback, and waving his hat ; but he was instantly shot down. At the same moment two other generals were wounded, whereupon the whole force retired in great confusion, leaving behind it 2037 killed, wounded, and prisoners. The loss of the Americans was only 333. It is possible that the repulse would have had even more disastrous results but for the fact that on the west bank of the river Thornton had now carried the detached American work. He was recalled, and the army re-embarked without molestation. It proceeded to Mobile, where it seized Fort Bowyer, and was preparing to attack Savannah when peace put an end to its operations. The naval actions of this closing period of the war were unimportant. The American frigate Essex, 32, after harrying the British whalers in the southern Pacific, was attacked by the British ships Phoebe, 36, and