lere, commanding the district between the river and the lakes, and who being a native of the country, was presumed to be best acquainted with all those passes. Unfortunately, however, a picquet which the general had established at the mouth of the Bayou Bienvenue, and which, notwithstanding my orders, had been left unobstructed, was completely surprised, and the enemy penetrated through a canal leading to his farm, about two leagues below the city, and succeeded in cutting off a company of militia stationed there. This intelligence was communicated to me about twelve o'clock of the twenty-third. My force, at this time, consisted of parts of the seventh and forty-fourth regiments, not exceeding six hundred together, the city militia, a part of General Coffee's brigade of mounted gunmen, and the detached militia from the western division of Tennessee, under the command of Maj. Gen. Carroll. These two last corps were stationed four miles above the city. Apprehending a double attack by the way of Chief-Menteur, I left General Carroll's force and the militia of the city posted on the Gentilly road; and at five o'clock P. M. marched to meet the enemy, whom I was resolved to attack in his first position, with Major Hinds' dragoons, General Coffee's brigade, parts of the seventh and forty-fourth regiments, the uniformed companies of militia, under the command of Major Planche, two hundred men of color, chiefly from St. Domingo, raised by Colonel Savery, and acting under the command of Major Dagwin, and a detachment of artillery under the direction of Colonel M'Rhea, with two six pounders, under the command of Lieutenant Spotts; not exceeding, in all, fifteen hundred. I arrived near the enemy's encampment about seven, and immediately made my dispositions for the attack. His forces, amounting at that time on land to about three thousand, extended half a mile on that river, and in the rear nearly to the wood. General

Coffee was ordered to turn their right, while with the residue of the force, I attacked his strongest position on the left, near the river. Commodore Patterson, having dropped down the river in the schooner Caroline, was directed to open fire a upon their camp, which he executed at about half past seven. This being a signal of attack, General Coffee's men, with their usual impetuosity, rushed on the enemy's right, and entered their camp, while our right advanced with equal ardor. There can be but little doubt, that we should have succeeded on that occasion, with our inferior force, in destroying or capturing the enemy, had not a thick fog, which arose about eight o'clock, occasioned some confusion among the different corps. Fearing the consequence, under this circumstance, of the further prosecution of a night attack, with troops then acting together for the first time, I contented myself with lying on the field that night; and at four in the morning assumed a stronger position, about two miles nearer the city. At this position I remained encamped, waiting the arrival of the Kentucky militia and other reinforcements. As the safety of the city will depend on the fate of this army, it must not be incautiously exposed.

In this affair the whole corps under my command deserve the greatest credit. The best compliment I can pay to General Coffee and his brigade, is to say, they have behaved as they have always done, while under my command. The seventh, led by Major Pierre, and fortyfourth, commanded by Colonel Ross, distinguished themselves. The battalion of city militia, commanded by Major Planche, realized my anticipations, and behaved like veterans. Savary's volunteers manifested great bravery; and the company of city riflemen, having penetrated into the midst of the enemy's camp, were surrounded, and fought their way out with the greatest heroism, bring ing with them a number of prisoners. The two field

pieces were well served by the officers commanding them.

All my officers in the line did their duty, and I have every reason to be satisfied with the whole of my field and staff. Colonels Butler and Platt, and Major Chotard, by their intrepidity, saved the artillery. Colonel Haynes was every where that duty or danger called. I was deprived of the services of one of my aids, Captain Butler, whom I was obliged to station, to his great regret, in town. Captain Reid, my other aid, and Messrs. Livingston, Duplissis, and Davizac, who had volunteered their services, faced danger wherever it was to be met, and carried my orders with the utmost promptitude.

We made one major, two subalterns, and sixty-three privates, prisoners; and the enemy's loss, in killed and wounded, must have been at least My own loss I have not as yet been able to ascertain with exactness, but suppose it to amount to one hundred in killed, wounded, and missing. Among the former, I have to lament the loss of Colonel Lauderdale, of General Coffee's brigade, who fell while bravely fighting. Cols. Dyer and Gibson, of the same corps, were wounded, and Major Kavenaugh taken prisoner.

Col. De Laronde, Major Villere, of the Louisiana militia, Major Latour, of engineers, having no command, volunteered their services, as did Drs. Kerr and Hood, and were of great assistance to me.

This master-stroke of energy and decision, in its consequences, saved the country, and led to the more important result which closed this glorious campaign. None but such a leader would have planned such an attack; none but such troops would have enabled him to execute it with success. This taught the enemy to respect the courage of our troops; it led him to overrate our numbers; and made him wait for his decisive attack, until

the position so judiciously chosen for the action, was placed in a sufficient state of defence, to become the theatre of a future and signal victory. It was a most encouraging example for those who love the institutions of our country. If three thousand three hundred men, with no other discipline than a few weeks could produce, in the simplest line of defence that the art of fortification knows, could prove themselves an over match for four times their number of the best troops in the world, used to conquest, well appointed, and led by experienced officers: to what can we attribute it, but to that moral force which is inspired by love of country, and by that alone? And it will be found that from Thermopyla to Morad, those astonishing efforts in which troops without discipline have successfully contended against superior numbers, have been made in defence of liberty.”

* Livingston's Address.

12*

CHAPTER VIII.

Effects of the battle of the twenty-third-Ladies of New Orleans-Their patriotic exertions—American lines of defence-General Jackson's exertions-Loss of the schooner Caroline-Battle of the 28th December-Battle of the 1st January—Repulsion of the enemy on that occasion-Sir Edward Packenham Discoveries made by time.

The result of the battle of the twenty-third December, though not decisive, produced the happiest effects. It animated the inhabitants, and encouraged them to prosecute with still greater vigor the measures of defence. Nothing could exceed the ardor with which it inspired the army of General Jackson. His soldiers obeyed his orders with the utmost alacrity and promptitude, and held themselves in readiness, at a moment's warning, to face again their invaders, and add fresh laurels to those they had already won.

The patriotic exertions of the ladies of New Orleans to render every assistance in their power to the besieged, do honor to their sex. The modest, unobtruding, virtues and excellencies of woman, are too often forgotten, in times of peril and danger. Man's aims are ambitious and aspiring; he seeks his enemy in the battle-field, and by deeds of desperate daring, in many a fierce encounter, acquires a name that will live till the end of time. But woman acts in a different sphere; hers is the task of soothing the wounded spirit; of binding up the broken heart. There is a point of time in the life of every man,