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The enemy's camp is supplied with a great abundance of provisions, and a very large store of all sorts of ammunition.

On moving to the attack, I received a wound, which shortly after my reaching the redoubt, occasioned me such pain and stiffness, that I have been obliged to give over the command of the troops on this side to Lieut. Col. Gubbins, of the 85th light infantry; but as he has obtained some reinforcement, since the attack, of sailors and marines, and has taken the best precautions to cover and secure his position, I will be answerable, from my knowledge of his judgment and experience, that he will retain it, until your pleasure and further orders shall be communicated to him.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

W. THORNTON,
Colonel, Lieut.-Col. 85th Regt.
To Major-General the Hon.

Sir E. M. Pakenham,
K. B. &c.

that I recommended re-einbarking the army as soon as possible, with a view to carry into effect the other objects of the force employed upon this coast: from the 9th instant, it was determined that the army should retreat, and I have the satisfaction of informing your Lordship, that it was effected on the night of the 18th instant, and ground was taken up on the morning of the 19th, on both sides of the Bayone, or creek, which the troops had entered on their disembarkation, fourteen miles from their position before the enemy's line, covering New Orleans, on the left bank of the Mississippi, and one mile from the entrance into Lac Borgne. The army remained in bivouac until the 27th instant, when the whole were re-embarked,

In stating the circumstances of this retreat to your Lordship, I shall confidently trust that you will see, that good order and discipline ever existed in this army, and that zeal for the service and attention was ever conspicuous in officers of

His Majesty's ship Tonnant, off all ranks. Your Lordship is al

Chandeleur's Island,

Jan. 28, 1815. My Lord,-After maturely deliberating on the situation of this army, after the command had unfortunately devolved upon me, on the 8th instant, and duly considering what probability now re mained of carrying on with success, on the same plan, an attack against New Orleans, it appeared to me that it ought not to be persisted in. I immediately communicated to Vice Admiral Sir A, Cochrane, that I did not think it would be prudent to make any further attempt at present, and

ready acquainted with the position the army occupied, its advanced post close up to the enemy's line, and the greater part of the army were exposed to the fire of his batteries, which was unremitting day and night since the 1st of January, when the position in advance was taken up. The retreat was effected without being harassed in any degree by the enemy, All the sick and wounded (with the exception of eighty whom it was considered dangerous to remove), field artillery, ammunition, hospital and other stores of every description, which had been landed

on

on a very large scale, were brought away, and nothing fell into the cnemy's hands excepting six iron eighteen pounders, mounted on sea carriages, and two carronades which were in position on the left bank of the Mississippi: to bring them off at the moment the army was retiring was impossible, and to have done it previously would have exposed the whole force to any fire the enemy might have sent down the river. These batteries were of course destroyed, and the guns rendered perfectly unserviceable. Only four men were reported absent next morning, and these, I suppose, must have been left behind, and have fallen into the hands of the enemy; but when it is considered the troops were in perfect ignorance of the movement, until a fixed hour during the night, that the battalions were drawn off in succession, and that the picquets did not move off till half past three o'clock in the morning, and that the whole had to retire through the most difficult new made road, cut in marshy ground, impassable for a horse, and where, in many places, the men could only go in single files, and that the absence of men might be accounted for in so many ways, it would be rather a matter of surprise the number was so few.

An exchange of prisoners has been effected with the enemy upon very fair terms, and their attention to the brave prisoners, and wounded, that have fallen into their hands, has been kind and humane, I have every reason to believe.

However unsuccessful the termination of the late service the army and navy have been employed

upon has turned out, it would be injustice not to point out how much praise is due to their exertions, ever since the 13th of December, when the army began to move from the ships; the fatigue of disembarking and bringing up artillery and supplies from such a distance has been incessant: and I must add, that owing to the exertions of the navy, the army has never wanted provisions. The labour and fatigue of the seamen and soldiers were particularly conspicuous on the night of the 7th instant, when fifty boats were dragged through a canal into the Mississippi, in which there were only eighteen inches of water; and I am confident that Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, who suggested the possibility of this operation, will be equally ready to admit this, as well as the hearty cooperation of the troops on all occasions.

From what has come under my own observation since I joined this army, and from official reports that have been made to me, I beg to call your Lordship's attention to individuals, who from their station have rendered themselves peculiarly conspicuous. Major Forrest, at the head of the Quarter-mastergeneral's department, I cannot say too much of. Lieut. Evans and Peddie of the same, have been remarkable for their exertions and indefatigability: Sir John Tylden, who has acted in the field as Assistant Adjutant General with me (Lieut.-Col. Stovin having been wounded on the 23d ult. though doing well, not as yet being permitted to take active service) has been very useful. On the night of the 7th, previous to the attack,

Rear

Rear Admiral Malcolm reports the great assistance he received from him in forwarding the boats into the Mississippi. Captain Wood of the 4th regiment, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, has filled that situation since the first disembarkation of the troops with zeal and attention.

During the action of the 8th instant, the command of the 2d brigade devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Brooke, 4th regiment; that of the 3d upon Colonel Hamilton, 5th West India regiment; and the reserve upon Colonel Blakeney, royal fusiliers ;-to all these officers I feel much indebted for their services. Lieutenant Colonel Dickson, royal artillery, has diplayed his usual abilities and assiduity; he reports to me his general satisfaction with all the officers under his command, especially Major Munro, senior officer of the royal artillery, previous to his arrival, and of the officers commanding companies.

Lieutenant Colonel Burgoyne, royal engineers, afforded me every assistance that could be expected from his known talents and experience: that service lost a very valuable and much esteemed officer Lieutenant Wright, who was killed when reconnoitring on the evening of the 31st ultimo.

Lieutenant Colonel Merin, of the 43d, and Lieutenant Colonel Gubbins, 85th regiments, field officers of the picquets on the 18th, have great credit for the manner in which they withdrew the out-posts on the morning of the 19th, under the direction of Colonel Blakeney, royal fusiliers.

I request in a particular manner to express how much this army is

indebted to the attention and diligence of Mr. Robb, Deputy Inspector of Hospitals: he met the embarrassments of crowded ho9pitals, and their immediate removal, with such excellent arrangements, that the wounded were all brought off with every favourable cirsumstance, except such cases as would have rendered their removal dangerous.

Captain Sir Thomas Troubridge, royal navy, who commanded a battalion of seamen, and who was attached to act with the troops, rendered the greatest service by his exertions in whatever way they were required; Col. Dickson, royal artillery,particularly mentions how much he was indebted to him.

The conduct of the two squadrons of the 14th light dragoons, latterly under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Baker, previously of Major Mills, has been the admiration of every one, by the cheerfulness with which they have performed all descriptions of service. I must also mention the exertions of the royal staff corps under Major Todd, so reported by the Deputy Quarter Master General.

Permit me to add the obligations I am under to my personal staff, Lieutenant the hon. Edward Curzon, of the royal navy, who was selected as naval aide-de-camp to the commanding officer of the troops on their first disembarkation, each of whom have expressed the satisfaction they had in his appointment, to which I confidently add my own.

Major Smith, of the 95th regiment, now acting as Military Secretary, is so well known for his zeal and talents, that I can with

truth

truth say, that I think he possesses every qualification to render him hereafter one of the brightest ornaments of his profession.

I cannot conclude without expressing how much indebted the army is to Rear Admiral Malcolm, who had the immediate charge of landing and re-embarking the troops: he remained on shore to the last, and by his abilities and activity smoothed every difficulty. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed)

JOHN LAMBERT,
Major General Commandant.
To the Right Hon. Earl
Bathurst, &c.

P. S. I regret to have to report, that during the night of the 25th, in very bad weather, a boat containing two officers, viz. Lieutenant Brydges and Cornet Hammond, with thirty-seven of the 14th light dragoons, unfortunately fell into the hands of the enemy, off the mouth of the Regolets: I have not been able to ascertain correctly the particular circumstances.

Return of Casualties in Action with the Enemy near New Orleans, on the 23d and 24th of December,

1814.

Total-4 captains, 1 lieutenant, 7 serjeants, 1 drummer, 33 rank and file, killed; 1 lieutenant colonel, 1 major, 2 captains, 8 lieutenants, 10 serjeants, 4 drummers, 141 rank and file, wounded; 1major, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 3 serjeants, 58 rank and file, missing.

Return of Casualties between the

25th and 31st December, 1814. Total-1 captain, 1 drummer, 14 rank and file, killed; I lieu

tenant, 2 ensigns, 1 serjet, 34 rank and file, wounded; 2 rank and file missing.

Return of Casualties between the 1st

and 5th of January, 1815. Total-3 lieutenants, 2 serjeants, 27 rank and file, killed d; 4 lieutenants, 40 rank and file, wounded; 2 rank and file missing.

Return of Casualties on the 8th of January, 1815.

Total loss-1 major general, 1 lieutenant colonel, 2 majors, 5 captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 11 serjeants, 1 drummer, 266 rank and file, killed; 2 major generals, 8 lieutenant colonels, 2 majors, 18 captains, 38 lieutenants, 9 ensigns, 1 staff, 54 serjeants, 9 drummers, 1126 rank and file, wounded; 3 captains, 12 lieutenants, 13 serjeants, 4 drummers, 452 rank and file missing.

FRED. STOVIN,

Lieut. Col. Dep. Adj. Gen.

Return of Casualties between the 9th and 26th of January, 1815. Total-1 rank and file killed; 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 3 rank and file, wounded.

Return of the Ordnance taken from the enemy by a detachment of the army acting on the Right Bank of the Mississippi under the command of Colonel Thornton.

Redoubt, Right Bank of the
Mississippi, Jan. 8, 1815.

1 brass ten-inch howitzer, 2 brass four-pounder field pieces, 3 twenty-four pounders, 3 twelvepounders, 6 nine-pounders, 1

twelve pounder carronade, not mounted.

On the howitzer is inscribed,
"Taken at the surrender of York
Town, 1781."
(Signed)

J. MITCHEL,
Major, Capt. Royal Artillery.

Admiralty-Office, March 9. Dispatches, of which the following are copies, addressed by Vice-Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexander Cochrane, G. C. P., &c. to John Wilson Croker, Esq. were yesterday brought to this office by the Honourable Captain William Henry Percy, late of his Majesty's ship Hermes.

Armide, off Isle-au-Chat,

Dec. 16, 1814. Sir,-Having arrived at the anchorage off Chandeleur Islands on the 8th instant, Captain Gordon, of the Seahorse (which ship, with the Armide and Sophie, I had sent on from off Pensacola to the anchorage within Isle au Vaisseau), reported to me that two gunvessels of the enemy, apparently large size sloops, of very light draught of water, had fired at the Armide upon her way down, from within the chain of small islands that ran parallel to the coast from Mobile towards Lac Borgne, and having afterwards joined three others cruising in the Lake, were then visible from his mast head.

The Bayone Catalan (or des Pecheurs) at the head of Lac Borgne, being the contemplated point of disembarkation, the distance from the inner anchorage of the frigates and troop ships to the Bayone full sixty miles, and our

principal means of transport open
boats, it became impossible that
any movement of the troops could
take place until this formidable
flotilla was either captured or de-
stroyed.

Real Admiral Malcolm joined me with the fleet upon the 11th instant; and upon the 12th I placed the launches, barges, and pinnaces of the squadron, with Captain Montressor of the Manly, and Captain Roberts, of the Meteor, under the command of Captain Lockyer of the Sophie, and sent them into Lac Borgne in pursuit of the enemy, while the frigates, troop ships, and smaller vessels moved into the inmost anchorage, each vessel proceeding on until she took the ground.

After an arduous row of thirtysix hours, Captain Lockyer had the good fortune to close with the flotilla, which he attacked with such judgment and determined bravery, that notwithstanding their formidable force, their advantage of a chosen position, and their studied and deliberate preparation, he succeeded in capturing the whole of these vessels, in so serviceable a state, as to afford at once the most essential aid to the expedition.

For the particulars of this brilliant affair, I refer their Lordships to the accompanying copy of Captain Lockyer's letter, detailing his proceedings, which I am fully aware their Lordships will duly appreciate.

Captain Lockyer's conduct on this occasion, in which he has been severely wounded, and his long and active services as a commander, justly entitling him to their Lordships' protection, and

finding

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