Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/508

490 ANDREW JACKSON American gunboats and a schooner, which gave the enemy command of the route to New Or- leans, had they known how to use it. The next day Jackson declared martial law, having already called out the whole of the state mili- tia. The forces under his orders consisted of Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Missis- sippi militia, a few regulars, Baratarian pri- vateersmen, and a battalion of colored men. The vanguard of the British army, under Gen. Keane, was landed on Dec. 16, and marched to within 9 m. of New Orleans on the morning of the 23d. Jackson heard of their arrival be- fore 2 P. M., assembled a motley force 2,131 strong, of whom only about 1,800 were en- gaged, and, aided by Lieut. Henley in the schooner Carolina, attacked the enemy. A very hot action was fought, with decided ad- vantage to the Americans, as it prevented the enemy's advance upon the city; and the victory might have been made complete had not large British reinforcements arrived du- ring the night. New Orleans was really saved on the night of Dec. 23, as the enemy were made over-cautious by the result of that bat- tle. Jackson fell back to a canal 4 m. from the city, where his famous line was construct- ed, and provided against attacks from other directions. Sir E. Pakenham arrived on the 25th, and made new arrangements in the Brit- ish army. The Carolina was destroyed by his batteries that evening. He attacked Jackson on the 28th, and was repulsed. On Jan. 1, 1815, another attack was made, principally with artillery, and again the enemy were signally beaten. These results were owing to the skil- ful manner in which Jackson managed the re- sources at his command, and to the enthusiasm with which he had inspired his inexperienced troops. He caused the invaders to be con- stantly harassed by night attacks. On Jan. 1 he was reenforced by the arrival of 2,250 Ken- tucky militia, mostly unarmed, the arms that had been ordered from Pittsburgh to New Or- leans having failed to reach that place. Eetn- forced on Jan. 6, the entire British army, in- cluding seamen and marines, probably consist- ed of 14,000 effective men ; but British authori- ties place it as low as 8,000, and greatly ex- aggerate Jackson's numbers, placing them as high as 25,000. His line on the left bank of the Mississippi was about a mile long, with 12 guns, and was defended by only 3,200 men, while 800 more were distributed in positions hard by. It was a strong position ; the can- non were well served by Lieut, (afterward Gen.) Armstrong, and by the Baratarians; and so slippery was the soil that, according to Major Latour, an eye-witness, a man uuincurn- bered and unopposed would have found it dif- ficult to mount the breastwork at leisure and carefully. Its weakness was, that it was com- manded from the right bank, where were American batteries, manned by seamen, and supported by Kentucky militia. The English enlarged the Viller6 canal, and prepared to throw a force upon the right bank of the river, to storm the American position there before commencing their attack on Jackson's line. Col. Thornton was despatched, at the head of two regiments and 600 marines and seamen, across the river, on the night of the 7th ; but delays were experienced, and it was not until the event of the campaign had been decided on the left bank that he was able to advance. Meantime, on the left bank the Brit- ish columns were directed against the Ameri- can line ; but they were received with a severe fire and beaten back, Gen, Pakenham being killed, Gen. Gibbs mortally wounded, and Gen. Keane severely wounded. The attack was re- peated, but with no success. The weight and precision of the American fire were irresistible. A small British force succeeded in carrying a battery near the river, after losing three fourths of its number, but abandoned it. One regiment, the 93d highlanders, distinguished for its services in many parts of the world, lost more than half its men, having been brought to a point where it could do no good, but where it could be most effectually ope- rated upon by the Americans. The British troops never behaved better, but they were badly handled; and it is the evidence of one of their own officers that Sir E. Pakenham's impatience in giving the signal of attack too soon, instead of waiting for the development of Thornton's movement, was the cause of his severe loss. The merit of Jackson consisted mainly in the fact that he adapted his means of defence most shrewdly to the character of his own forces no less than to that of the ene- my. His opponents have never hesitated to admit his merits in the strongest language. The number of the British engaged on the left bank is variously stated, the lowest figure on the British side being 5,195. On the right bank Col. Thornton's attack was entirely suc- cessful, owing to one of Gen. Morgan's aids having directed a retreat that was rapidly con- verted into a flight. The seamen, under Capt. Patterson and Lieut. Henley, who served a heavy battery on the right bank, though com- pelled to abandon it, spiked their guns and threw their ammunition into the river. Their success on that side gave the British virtual command of the left bank and of New Or- leans ; but they had been so roughly handled before Jackson's line that they had no heart to pursue the signal advantage they had gain- ed over his lieutenant. Gen. Lambert, who had succeeded to the command of the British army, proposed an armistice. Jackson con- sented, on condition that while hostilities should be suspended on the left bank, they should not be so on the right bank, and that neither party should send reinforcements there. Gen. Lambert ordered Col. Thornton to return to the left bank, and the British gave up their solitary advantage. The ene- my's loss on the left bank was about 2,000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners; the American