The Great Republic by the Master Historians The Defence of New Orleans byBancroft, Hubert H.
[As a preliminary to the subject of this article a review of the principal naval
events of the years 1813 and 1814 may be given. Many desperate ocean-fights took
place during these years, though not with the uniform success for the Americans
of those of 1812. The conflict between the Hornet and the Peacock, on February
24, 1813, we have already mentioned. On June I, the Chesapeake, lying in Boston
harbor, accepted the challenge to battle to the British frigate Shannon, and put
to sea, though in no proper condition for fighting. In the battle that ensued
the Chesapeake suffered severely; all her higher officers were killed and
wounded, Lawrence, the captain, being mortally wounded early in the action. His
dying words, "Don't give up the ship," were afterwards displayed on Captain
Perry's standard in the battle of Lake Erie, and have become the motto of the
American navy. The Chesapeake was, after being disabled, boarded and forced to
surrender. In August the British brig Pelican captured the American brig Argus,
which had previously captured more than twenty vessels in the English Channel.
In September the Americans gained a naval victory, the brig Enterprise capturing
the brig Boxer, after a severe battle of forty minutes' duration. During the
summer the frigate Essex, under Captain Porter, cruised in the Pacific, and
captured a great number of British vessels. Early in the succeeding year she was
attacked in the harbor of Valparaiso by the frigate Phoebe and the sloop Cherub,
the two being superior to her in force. The Essex was desperately defended, and
did not yield till almost cut to pieces.
During the year the ocean swarmed with American privateers, which occasionally
did not hestitate to attack war-vessels. The privateer Decatur captured the war-
schooner Dominica, and the fishing-smack Yankee, with forty men, surprised and
captured, off Sandy Hook, the sloop-of-war Eagle. In March, 1813, the blockade
of the coast was extended from Montauk Point, Long Island, to the mouth of the
Mississippi, through the British squadron under Admiral Warren was inadequate to
make this more than a "paper blockade." The Macedonian, United States, and
Hornet were chased into New London harbor by a British squadron, and so
diligently blockaded that they were not able to put to sea again. Meanwhile,
Admiral Cockburn, Warren's second in command, raided the coast from Delaware to
North Carolina, making piratical descents and destroying the property of the
defenceless inhabitants with cruel and useless barbarity.
In 1814 the American navy achieved some brilliant successes. The sloop Peacock
captured the brig Epervier, while the Wasp captured the Reindeer and sunk the
Avon. The privateer General Armstrong was attacked in the port of Fayal by a
British fleet, and an attempt made to cut her out by boats. The result was
disastrous to her enemies, who were driven off with a loss of one hundred and
twenty killed and ninety wounded, while the loss on the privateer was only two
killed and nine wounded. Seeing that it would be impossible to save her, the
captain and crew left the Armstrong, setting her on fire, and took refuge in a
deserted convent on shore, in anticipation of an attack. This, however, the
protest of the authorities prevented the British from making. Several hard-
fought naval battles took place after peace was declared, but before the ships
at sea could be informed of this fact. The President fought the Endymion to a
wreck, but before she could take possession of her as a prize she was herself
captured by a British squadron. In February, 1815, the Constitution captured the
Cyane and Levant off the island of Madeira, and in March the Hornet captured the
Penguin off the coast of Brazil. In both these cases the captured vessels were
stronger than their captors.
In addition to these naval contests, one of the most notable land-battles of the
war, that of New Orleans, was fought after the declaration of peace. This severe
conflict we may more particularly describe. After the destruction of Washington
and the assault on Baltimore, the British fleet sailed south, and in December
appeared off Pensacola, which city General Jackson had previously taken by storm
and prevented its being made a harbor for British ships of war. As it appeared
that an attack on New Orleans was intended, Jackson hastened to this city. Here
he found the utmost confusion and alarm prevailing. By stringent exertions,
however, order was restored, the militia organized, fortifications built, and
finally martial law proclaimed. On December 10 the British fleet entered lake
Borgne, where a squadron of gunboats was captured. After much difficulty, a
portion of the British army reached the Mississippi at a point nine miles below
New Orleans, where, on the 23d of December, a night-attack was made on them.
This they repelled, losing four hundred men in killed and wounded. Jackson then
withdrew to his intrenchments, four miles below the city. These works, partly
made of cotton-bales, were unsuccessfully cannonaded by the enemy on December 28
and January I. Finally, on January 8, the British army, twelve thousand strong
(or six thousand, as stated by the British author of the following article),
under General Packenham, advanced to the assault of these works, which were
defended by six thousand militia, most of them adepts in the use of the rifle.
The story of Jackson's gallant defence of New Orleans has been so often told
from the American point of view that we select a description of it from a
British author, who himself took part in the battle. His story is picturesque
and impartial, and his work as a while a highly interesting personal narrative
of the later events of the war. The work in question is "The Campaigns of the
British Army at Washington and New Orleans," by Rev. G. R. Gleig.]
It was a clear frosty morning, the mists had dispersed, and the sun shone
brightly upon our arms when we began our march. The enemy's corps of observation
fell back as we advanced, without offering in any way to impede our progress,
and it was impossible to guess, ignorant as we were of the position of his main
body, at what moment opposition might be expected. Nor, in truth, was it matter
of much anxiety. Our spirits, in spite of the troubles of the night, were good,
and our expectations of success were high, consequently many rude jests were
bandied about, and many careless words spoken; for soldiers are, of all classes
of men, the freest from care, and on that account, perhaps, the most happy. By
being continually exposed to it, danger, with them, ceases to be frightful; of
death they have no more terror than the beasts that perish; and even hardships,
such as cold, wet, hunger, and broken rest, lose at least part of their
disagreeableness by the frequency of their recurrence
Moving on in this merry mood, we advanced about four or five miles without the
smallest check or hindrance; when, at length, we found ourselves in view of the
enemy's army, posted in a very advantageous manner. About forty yards in their
front was a canal, which extended from the morass to within a short distance of
the high-road. Along their line were thrown up breastworks, not indeed
completed, but even now formidable. Upon the road and at several other points
were erected powerful batteries; whilst the ship, with a large flotilla of
gunboats, flanked the whole position from the river.
When I say that we came in sight of the enemy, I do not mean that he was
gradually exposed to us in such a manner as to leave time for cool examination
and reflection. On the right, indeed, he was seen for some time, but on the left
a few houses built at a turning in the road entirely concealed him; nor was it
till they had gained that turning, and beheld the muzzles of his guns pointed
towards them, that those who moved in this direction were aware of their
proximity to danger. But that danger was indeed near they were quickly taught;
for scarcely had the head of the column passed the houses when a deadly fire was
opened from both the battery and the shipping. That the Americans are excellent
marksmen, as well with artillery as with rifles, we have had frequent cause to
acknowledge; but perhaps on no occasion did they assert their claim to the title
of good artillerymen more effectually than on the present. Scarcely a ball
passed over or fell short of its mark, but all, striking full into the midst of
our ranks, occasioned terrible havoc. The shrieks of the wounded, therefore, the
crash of firelocks, and the fall of such as were killed, caused at first some
little confusion; and what added to the panic was, that from the houses beside
which we stood bright flames suddenly burst out. The Americans, expecting this
attack, had filled them with combustibles for the purpose, and, directing
against them one or two guns loaded with red-hot shot, in an instant set them on
fire. The scene was altogether very sublime. A tremendous cannonade mowed down
our ranks and deafened us with its roar; whilst two large chateaux and their
outbuildings almost scorched us with the flames and blinded us with the smoke
which they emitted.
The infantry, however, was not long suffered to remain thus exposed; but, being
ordered to quit the path and to form line in the fields, the artillery was
brought up, and opposed to that of the enemy. But the contest was in every
respect unequal, since their artillery far exceeded ours, both in numerical
strength and weight of metal. The consequence was that in half an hour two of
our field-pieces and one field-mortar were dismounted; many of the gunners were
killed; and the rest, after an ineffectual attempt to silence the fire of the
shipping, were obliged to retire.
In the mean time the infantry, having formed line, advanced under a heavy
discharge of round and grape shot, till they were checked by the appearance of
the canal. Of its depth they were of course ignorant, and to attempt its passage
without having ascertained whether it could be forded might have been productive
of fatal consequences. A halt was accordingly ordered, and the men were
commanded to shelter themselves as well as they could from the enemy's fire. For
this purpose they were hurried into a wet ditch, of sufficient depth to cover
the knees, where, leaning forward, they concealed themselves behind some high
rushes which grew upon its brink, and thus escaped many bullets which fell
around them in all directions.
Thus fared it with the left of the army, whilst the right, though less exposed
to the cannonade, was not more successful in its object. The same impediment
which checked one column forced the other likewise to pause; and after having
driven in an advanced body of the enemy, and endeavored, without effect, to
penetrate through the marsh, it also was commanded to halt. In a word, all
thought of attacking was for this day abandoned; and it now only remained to
withdraw the troops from their present perilous position with as little loss as
possible.
The first thing to be done was to remove the dismounted guns. Upon this
enterprise a party of seamen were employed, who, running forward to the spot
where they lay, lifted them, in spite of the whole of the enemy's fire, and bore
them off in triumph. As soon as this was effected, regiment after regiment stole
away, not in a body, but one by one, under the same discharge which saluted
their approach. But a retreat thus conducted necessarily occupied much time.
Noon had therefore long passed before the last corps was brought off; and when
we again began to muster, twilight was approaching. We did not, however, retire
to our former position; but, having fallen back only about two miles from the
canal, where it was supposed that we should be beyond reach of annoyance from
the American artillery, we there established ourselves for the night, having
suffered less during the day than, from our exposed position and the enemy's
heavy fire, might have been expected.
[During the succeeding days, December 29 and 30, the army lay encamped, some
unsuccessful efforts being made to find a path through the morass by which the
American left might be turned. Meanwhile, Jackson actively strengthened his
position, and by elevating his guns managed to throw balls into the British
camp. It was evident that every day's delay decreased the chances of success.
Yet what to do was not apparent. An endeavor to storm the American lines seemed
too desperate to be undertaken. It was impossible to turn them, and the
Americans were not to be drawn from their intrenchments. But one course
remained, - to erect breaching-batteries and attempt to silence some of their
guns.]
To this plan, therefore, our leader had recourse; and, in consequence, the whole
of these three days were employed in landing heavy cannon, bringing up
ammunition, and making such preparations as might have sufficed for a siege.
At length, having completed his arrangements, and provided such means as were
considered sufficient to insure success, General Packenham determined to
commence operations without delay. One-half of the army was accordingly ordered
out on the night of the 31st, and marched to the front, passing the pickets, and
halting about three hundred yards from the enemy's line. Here it was resolved to
throw up a chain of works, and here the greater part of this detachment, laying
down their firelocks, applied themselves vigorously to their tasks, whilst the
rest stood armed and prepared for their defence.
The night was dark, and our people maintained a profound silence; by which
means, not an idea of what was going on existed in the American camp. As we
labored, too, with all diligence, six batteries were completed long before dawn,
in which were mounted thirty pieces of heavy cannon; when, falling back a little
way, we united ourselves to the remainder of the infantry, and lay down behind
some rushes, in readiness to act as soon as we should be wanted.
In the erection of these batteries a circumstance occurred worthy of notice, on
account of its singularity. I have already stated that the whole of this
district was covered with the stubble of sugar-cane; and I might have added that
every storehouse and barn attached to the different mansions scattered over it
was filled with barrels of sugar. In throwing up these works the sugar was used
instead of earth. Rolling the hogsheads towards the front, they were placed
upright in the parapets of the batteries; and it was computed that sugar to the
value of many thousand pounds sterling was thus disposed of.
[It was a singular circumstance that batteries of cotton-bales on the one side
should be opposed by batteries of sugar-hogsheads on the other; though neither
proved very suitable for the purpose. Jackson's cotton-bales proved so
inefficient that it became necessary to replace them with a bank of river mud.
The morning of the Ist of January was misty. As the mist rose, the American
regiments were discovered on parade, and were so taken by surprise on the
opening of the British cannonade as to be thrown into utter confusion. A charge
in force at that moment might have proved successful.]
Whilst this consternation prevailed among the infantry, their artillery remained
silent; but as soon as the former rallied they also recovered confidence, and
answered our salute with great rapidity and precision. A heavy cannonade quickly
commenced on both sides, and continued during the whole of the day, till,
towards evening, our ammunition began to fail, and our fire in consequence to
slacken. The fire of the Americans, on the other hand, was redoubled: landing a
number of guns from the flotilla, they increased their artillery to a prodigious
amount; and, directing at the same time the whole force of their cannon on the
opposite bank against the flank of our batteries, they soon convinced us that
all endeavors to surpass them in this mode of fighting would be useless. Once
more, therefore, were we obliged to retire, leaving our heavy guns to their
fate; but, as no attempt was made by the Americans to secure them, working
parties were again sent out after dark, and such as had not been destroyed were
removed.
[So far all efforts had proved abortive. The army was worn out with fatigue,
provisions, which had to be derived from the distant ships, were coarse and
scanty, and murmurs of discouragement were heard throughout the camp. Not only
were they annoyed by the constant play of the American guns, which was kept up
day and night, but they were exposed to a deadly fire from the opposite side of
the river, where a battery of eighteen pieces of artillery had been mounted
which swept the British camp. The affair was growing daily more desperate, and
success or retreat would soon be necessary. Under these circumstances, Packenham
determined to cut a canal by which boats might be brought up from the lake, to
send a detachment over the river and take the battery there placed, and to turn
its guns on the American works at the same moment that he assailed them in
front. It was a well devised scheme, but proved unsuccessful. The canal was
finished by the 6th of January, but in taking the boats through part of the
banks caved in, so that only the light boats could pass. Thus, instead of the
designed fourteen hundred men, only three hundred and forty crossed the river,
and these were so late in starting that day was dawning when they rowed out on
the Mississippi.
The 8th of January was the day fixed on for the assault, and at day-break the
signal-rocket was fired. But the boat-party was yet four miles from the battery
which it should have been in possession of hours before had all gone well. The
attack on the battery was successful, but it was too late to be of service to
the main body.]
In the mean time, the main body arrived and moved forward some way in front of
the pickets. There they stood waiting for daylight, and listening with the
greatest anxiety for the firing which ought now to be heard on the opposite
bank. But their attention was exerted in vain, and day dawned upon them long
before they desired it appearance. Nor was Sir Edward Packenham disappointed in
this part of his plan alone. Instead of perceiving everything in readiness for
the assault, he saw his troops in battle-array, but not a ladder or fascine upon
the field: The 44th, which was appointed to carry them, had either misunderstood
or neglected their orders, and now headed the column of attack without any means
being provided for crossing the enemy's ditch or scaling his rampart.
The indignation of our brave leader on this occasion may be imagined, but cannot
be described. Galloping towards Colonel Mullens, who led the 44th, he commanded
him instantly to return with his regiment for the ladders; but the opportunity
of planting them was lost, and though they were brought up, it was only to be
scattered over the field by the frightened bearers. For our troops were by this
time visible to the enemy. A dreadful fire was accordingly opened upon them, and
they were mowed down by hundreds, while they stood waiting for orders.
Seeing that all his well-laid plans were frustrated, Packenham gave the word to
advance, and the other regiments, leaving the 44th with the ladders and fascines
behind them, rushed on to the assault. On the left, a detachment under Colonel
Rennie, of the 21st regiment, stormed a three-gun battery, and took it. Here
they remained for some time in expectation of support; but, none arriving, and a
strong column of the enemy forming for its recovery, they determined to
anticipate the attack, and pushed on. The battery which they had taken was in
advance of the body of the works, being cut off from it by a ditch, across which
only a single plank was thrown. Along this plank did these brave men attempt to
pass; but, being opposed by overpowering numbers, they were repulsed; and the
Americans, in turn, forcing their way into the battery, at length succeeded in
recapturing it with immense slaughter. On the right, again, the 21st and 4th,
supported by the 93d, though thrown into some confusion by the enemy's fire,
pushed on with desperate gallantry to the ditch; but to scale the parapet
without ladders was a work of no slight difficulty. Some few, indeed, by
mounting upon one another's shoulders, succeeded in entering the works, but
these were speedily overpowered, most of them killed, and the rest taken; whilst
as many as stood without were exposed to a sweeping fire, which cut them down by
whole companies. It was in vain that the most obstinate courage was displayed.
They fell by the hands of men whom they absolutely did not see; for the
Americans, without so much as lifting their faces above the rampart, swung their
firelocks by one arm over the wall, and discharged them directly upon their
heads. The whole of the guns, likewise, from the opposite bank, kept up a well-
directed and deadly cannonade upon their flank; and thus were they destroyed
without an opportunity being given of displaying their valor or obtaining as
much as revenge.
Sir Edward saw how things were going, and did all that a general could do to
rally his broken troops. Riding towards the 44th, which had returned to the
ground, but in great disorder, he called out for Colonel Mullens to advance; but
that officer had disappeared, and was not to be found. He therefore prepared to
lead them on himself, and had put himself at their head for that purpose, when
he received a slight wound in the knee from a musket-ball, which killed his
horse. Mounting another, he again headed the 44th, when a second ball took
effect more fatally, and he dropped lifeless into the arms of his aide-de-camp.
Nor were Generals Gibbs and Keane inactive. Riding through the ranks, they
strove by all means to encourage the assailants and recall the fugitives; till
at length both were wounded, and borne off the field. All was now confusion and
dismay. Without leaders, ignorant of what was to be done, the troops first
halted and then began to retire, till finally the retreat was changed into a
flight, and they quitted the ground in the utmost disorder. But the retreat was
covered in gallant style by the reserve. Making a forward movement, the 7th and
43d presented the appearance of a renewed attack; by which the enemy were so
much awed that they did not venture beyond their lines in pursuit of the
fugitives.
[Meanwhile, the assault on the batteries on the opposite side of the river
proved successful; but it was made too late to be of service to the charging
army. The Americans, surprised and dismayed by this unexpected attack upon their
rear, yielded to a smaller force, and deserted their cannon.]
In this affair our loss amounted to only three men killed and about forty
wounded, among the latter of whom was Colonel Thornton Nor could the loss on the
part of the enemy greatly exceed our own. Had they stood firm, indeed, it is
hardly conceivable that so small a force could have wrested an intrenched
position from numbers so superior; at least it could not have done so without
much bloodshed. But they were completely surprised. An attack on this side was a
circumstance of which they had not dreamed; and when men are assaulted in a
point which they deem beyond the reach of danger it is well known that they
defend themselves with less vigor than where such an event was anticipated.
When in the act of storming these lines, the word was passed through our ranks
that all had gone well on the opposite bank. This naturally added to the vigor
of the assault; but we had not followed our flying enemy above two miles when we
were commanded to halt. The real state of the case had now reached us, and the
same messenger who brought the melancholy news brought likewise an order to
return.
The place where we halted was in rear of a canal, across which was thrown a
wooden bridge, furnishing apparently the only means of passing. At the opposite
end of this bridge stood a collection of wooden cottages, and one chateau of
some size. Here a company was stationed to serve the double purpose of a picket
and a rear-guard; whilst the main body, having rested for half an hour, began
their march towards the place where they had landed.
As soon as the column got sufficiently on their way the picket likewise prepared
to follow. But in doing so it was evident that some risk must be run. The enemy,
having rallied, began again to show a front; that is to say, parties of sixty or
a hundred men approached to reconnoitre. These, however, must be deceived,
otherwise a pursuit might be commenced, and the re-embarkation of the whole
corps hindered or prevented. It so happened that the picket in question was this
day under my command: as soon, therefore, as I received information that the
main body had commenced its retreat, I formed my men, and made a show of
advancing. The Americans, perceiving this, fled; when, wheeling about, we set
fire to the chateau, and under cover of the smoke destroyed the bridge and
retreated. Making all haste towards the rear, we over-took our comrades just as
they had begun to embark; when the little corps, being once more united, entered
their boats, and reached the opposite bank without molestation.
[So ended this disjointed affair, which had been rendered futile not only by the
actual difficulties of the enterprise, but by that series of misadventures to
which all military operations are subject. The loss of the British is given by
our author at fifteen hundred, while American authorities state it at seven
hundred killed and more than one thousand wounded, and the American loss at but
seven killed and six wounded. Of their leaders, Packenham was killed, Gibbs
mortally and Keane severely wounded. General Lambert now took command, with no
further thought than to retreat to the shipping with as little loss as possible.
This was a difficult matter. The whole army could not be transported in their
boats, and it was not safe to divide it. It became necessary to construct a road
through several miles of a morass. This took them till the 18th, during which
time many of the soldiers deserted. On the evening of the 18th the camp-fires
were left burning, and the army stole away over its wet and yielding path,
reaching, after the greatest hardships and difficulties, the borders of the
lake. From here the shipping was safely gained, and the fleet stood away for
Mobile Bay, off which, on February 14, word came of the treaty of peace, with
the discouraging reflection that their desperate effort had been in every
respect useless.]
