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of the Kentucky militia, commanded by major Davis, abandon their breastwork and flying in a most shameful and dastardly manner, almost without a shot; which disgraceful example, after firing a few rounds, was soon followed by the whole of general Morgan's command, notwithstanding every exertion was made by him, his staff and several officers of the city militia, to keep them to their posts. By the great exertions of those officers a short stand was effected on the field, when a discharge of rockets from the enemy, caused them again to retreat in such a manner that no efforts could stop them.

Finding myself thus abandoned by the force I relied upon to protect my battery, I was most reluctantly and with inexpressible pain, after destroying my powder and spiking my cannon, compelled to abandon them, having only thirty officers and seamen with me. A part of the militia were rallied at a saw-mill canal, about two miles above the lines from which they had fled, and there encamped. I ordered the Louisiana to be warped up for the purpose of procuring a supply of ammunition, and mounting other cannon, remaining myself to aid general Morgan. A large re-enforcement of militia having been immediately despatched by general Jackson to this side, every arrangement was made by general Morgan to dislodge the enemy from his position, when he precipitately retreated, carrying with him the two field pieces and a brass howitz, after having first set fire to the platforms and gun-carriages on my battery, two saw-mills, and all the bridges between him and general Morgan's troops, and recrossed the river, and secured his boats by hauling them into his canal. On the 9th we re-occupied our former ground, and recovered all the cannon in my battery, which I immediately commenced drilling and remounting; and on the evening of the 10th had two twenty-four-pounders mounted and ready for service, on the left flank of a new and more advantageous position. From the 10th to the present date I have been much engaged in mounting my twelvepounders along the breastwork erected by general Morgan on this new position, having three twenty-four pounders (with a furnace) to front the river, and flank general Jackson's lines on the opposite bank, from which we fired upon the enemy wherever he appeared. Our present position is now so strong that there is no

thing to apprehend should the enemy make another attempt on this side.

To captain Henley, who has been with me since the destruction of his schooner, and who was wounded on the 8th, I am much indebted for his aid on every occasion, and to the officers commanding the different guns in my battery, for their great exertions at all times, but particularly on the trying event of the 8th. The exertions of general Morgan, his staff, and several of the officers of the city militia, excited my highest respect, and I deem it my duty to say that had the drafted and city militia been alone on that day, that I believe they would have done much better; but the flight of the Kentuckians paralized their exertions and produced a retreat, which could not be checked. The two brass field pieces, manned entirely by militia of the city, were admirably served, nor were they abandoned till deserted by their comrades, one of which was commanded by Mr. Hosmer, of captain Simpson's company, the other by a Frenchman, whose name I know not. The twelve-pounder under the direction of acting midshipman Philibert, was served till the last moment, did great execution, and is highly extolled by general Morgan. The force of the enemy on this side amounted to one thousand men, and from the best authority I can obtain, their loss on this side, I have since learned, was ninety-seven killed and wounded; among the latter is colonel Thornton who commanded; of the former five or six have been discovered buried, and lying upon the field; our loss was one man killed and several wounded.

I have the honour to be, &c.

DANIEL T. PATTERSON.

NO. XXX.

Address of the major-general commanding the 7th military district, to the troops stationed on the right bank of the Mississippi. January 8, 1815.

WHILE by the blessing of Heaven directing the valour of the troops under my command, one of the most brilliant victories in the annals of the war, was obtained by my immediate command; no words can express the mortification I felt at witnessing the

scene exhibited on the opposite bank. I will spare your feelings and my own by entering into no detail on the subject; to all who reflect, it must be a source of eternal regret, that a few moments exertion of that courage you certainly possess, was alone wanting to have rendered your success more complete than that of your fellow citizens in this camp, by the defeat of the detachment which was rash enough to cross the river to attack you. To what cause was the abandonment of your lines owing? To fear? No! You are the countrymen, the friends, the brothers of those who have secured to themselves by their courage, the gratitude of their country; who have been prodigal of their blood in its defence, and who are strangers to any other fear than that of disgrace--to disaffection to our glorious cause? No, my countrymen, your general does justice to the pure sentiments by which you are inspired. How then could brave men, firm in the cause in which they were enrolled, neglect their first duty, and abandon the post committed to their care? The want of discipline, the want of order, a total disregard to obedience, and a spirit of insubordination, not less destructive than cowardice itself, this appears to be the cause which led to the disaster, and the causes must be eradicated, or I must cease to command; and I desire to be distinctly understood, that every breach of orders, all want of discipline, every inattention of duty will be seriously and promptly punished, that the attentive officers, and good soldiers may not be mentioned in the disgrace and danger which the negligence of a few may produce. Soldiers! you want only the will, in order to emulate the glory of your fellow citizens on this bank of the river-you have the same motives for action; the same interest; the same country to protect, and you have an additional interest from past events, to wipe off the stain and show, what, no doubt, is the fact, that you will not be inferior in the day of trial to any of your countrymen.

But remember, that without obedience, without order, without discipline, all your efforts are vain, and the brave man, inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country than the

coward who deserts her in the hour of danger.

Private opinions,

as to the competency of officers, must not be indulged, and still less expressed; it is impossible that the measure of those who command should satisfy all who are bound to obey, and one of the

most dangerous faults in a soldier is a disposition to criticise and blame the orders and characters of his superiors. Soldiers! I know that many of you have done your duty; and I trust in my next address, I shall have no reason to make any exception. Officers! I have the fullest confidence that you will enforce obedience to your commands, and above all, that by subordination in your different grades, you will set the example of it to your men; and that hereafter the army of the right will yield to none in the essential qualities which characterize good soldiers; and that they will earn their share of those honours and rewards, which their country will prepare for its deliverers.

ANDREW JACKSON.

NO. XXXI.

Provisional articles agreed on between major Smith, authorized by major-general Lambert, and Edward Livingston, an aid-decamp to major-general Jackson, authorized by him for that purhose, subject to the ratification of the respective commanders of the two armies between the lines. January 17, 1815. Article 1st. It being understood that admiral sir Alexander Cochrane has sent, or will immediately send the American prisoners, as well of the army as of the navy, now on board the British fleet, to the mouth of the Rigolets, it is agreed that a nominal and descriptive receipt shall be given for the same upon honour, and that on the receipt of the said prisoners a number of British prisoners equal in rank and number to those so sent to the Rigolets, together with those confined in the British camp, shall be sent to the mouth of the river and be received by ships appointed for that purpose by the admiral.

Art. 2d. At the same time all the prisoners now in the British camp, shall be sent to the American lines, and receipted for as above, not to serve until an equal number of English prisoners shall be delivered.

Art. 3rd. Officers of equal rank shall be exchanged for equal rank, and wounded for wounded, as far as circumstances will permit.

EDWARD LIVINGSTON.
H. SMITH, Major.

I approve and ratify the above arrangement.

ANDREW JACKSON.

NO. XXXII.

Letter from major-general Jackson to the secretary at war, dated H. Q. camp, four miles below N. Orleans, January 19, 1815.

SIR,

Last night at twelve o'clock the enemy precipitately decamped, leaving behind him, under medical attendance, eighty of his wounded, including two officers, fourteen pieces of artillery, and a considerable quantity of shot, having destroyed much of his powder.

Such was the situation of the ground which he abandoned, and that through which he retired, protected by canals, redoubts, and intrenchments on his right, and the river on his left, that I could not, without encountering a risk which true policy did not seem to require or authorize, annoy him much on his retreat. We took only eight prisoners.

Whether it is the purpose of the enemy to abandon the expedition altogether, or renew his efforts at some other point, I shall not pretend to decide with positiveness; in my own mind, however, there is very little doubt but his last exertions have been made in this quarter, at any rate for the present season, and by the next, if he shall choose to revisit us, I hope we shall be fully prepared for him. In this belief I am strengthened, not only by the prodigious loss he sustained at the position he has just quitted, but by the failure of his fleet to pass fort St. Philip. His loss since the debarkation of his troops, as stated by all the last prisoners and deserters, and as confirmed by many additional circumstances, exceed in the whole four thousand men, and was greater in the action of the 8th, than from the most correct data then in his power, was estimated by the inspector-general, whose report has been forwarded you. I am more and more satisfied in the belief, that had the arms reached us which was destined for us, the whole British army in this quarter would, before this time, have been captured or destroyed. We succeeded, however, on that day, in getting from the enemy about one thousand stand of arms of various descriptions. Since that action I have allowed the enemy very little respite. My artillery from both sides of the river being constantly employed till the night and the hour of their re

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