tillery; also, my aid, Lieut. Root, who have distinguished themselves, by their uncommon zeal and activity, and have been greatly instrumental in producing the happy and glorious result of the siege.

I have the honor, &c.

ALEX. MACOMB.

The loss of the enemy, in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters, since his first appearance, cannot fall short of 2,500, including many officers, among whom is Colonel Wellington, of the Buffs.

Return of killed and wounded, on the American side, during the skirmishing and bombardment above described: Killed, 37-wounded, 66-missing, 20-Total, 123.

The principal officers of the British army, under Sir G. Prevost, are named by Gen. Macomb in the above account; and the particular description of forces, how many of each kind, and the aggregate-which amounts to fourteen thousand.

This action closed the campaign of the North glori⚫usly, and the armies went into winter quarters.

REMARKS.

Soon after the declaration of war in 1812, the government appointed Lieut. Macdonough to create, and command a small naval force, upon lake Champlain, for the defence and protection of our northern frontier. The government and the nation knew the importance of this naval force, upon a lake, that had in all former wars become memorable for its naval actions; they knew and felt also, the high trust committed to Lieut. Macdonough, particularly when opposed to a naval

commander of such experience and distinction as Commodore Downie. They also knew the chivalrous valour Macdonough had displayed, in the naval war of the Mediterranean, particularly in the destruction of the frigate Philadelphia; in that unequal contest with the Tripolitan gun boats, a contest so desperate, so bloedy, and yet so glorious. Although the government and the nation knew this, and had placed the strongest possible confidence in Commodore Macdonough, they also felt the delicacy of his situation, and their feelings were alive to the crisis before them. But when Commodore Macdonough announced the glorious victory of the 11th of Sept. 1814, all hearts expanded with exultation and rapture; and were equally at a loss which most to adinire, the triumph of the hero, or the modesty of his official report.

It is not for me to say that this was one of the most splendid naval actions, ever recorded, when the glorious victories of Copenhagen, Aboukir and Trafalgar have added such lustre to the name of Nelson, and the victory of lake Erie to the name of Perry. But thus much it may be proper for me to say, that by all tacticians it is acknowledged, that, the assailing force has decidedly the advantage in all contests, whether by land or sea, and ceteris fraribus, gives him a fair calculation for success. Let it therefore be understood, that at the victory of Copenhagen, Nelson was the assailant, and the enemy at anchor in the port, and the same was true at the battle of Aboukir. That at the battle of Trafalgar, the enemy were under an easy sail, before the wind, and Nelson the assailant, when he bore down and broke their line, to commence the action; and the same was true of Perry, in the action of lake Erie.

But Commodore Macdonough was at anchor in port, and the enemy the assailant who chose his own time, and distance; yet such was the nautical skill, and superiority of naval tactics of Commodore Macdonough, that with an inferior force he received the assailing enemy,

foiled his attack, and brought the flag of his whole squadron to do homage to that of the United States. Such a victory stands alone in the annals of naval war: it fixed the keystone to the triumphal arch of American naval glory, and added one more laurel to the brow of an American naval hero.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

General Operations Continued.

On the 15th of September, 1814, a small British squadron appeared before fort Bowyer, at Mobile Point, to co-operate with a land force of 100 marines and 400 Indians, in reducing the fortress; but such was the firmness of Captain Lawrence, that with a garrison of 120 men, he resisted the repeated attacks of the enemy, and obliged him to retire with loss, and abandon the enterprise.

On the 5th of November, General Jackson marched to Pensacola, at the head of a force of about 3000 men, to chastise the English and Spaniards, who had kindled and kept alive, the war with the Seminole Indians. After destroying their forts and dispersing the British, he returned to Mobile.

The marauders of the Chesapeake, when they abandoned the enterprise against Baltimore, retired to Bermuda, where they prepared a formidable armament, and sailed to New Orleans' with a fleet of sixty sail, besides transports and barges.

Upon the first intelligence of this movement, General Jackson marched with his whole force, to the defence of this key of the western country. On the 2d of December, he reached New-Orleans, and hastened his

preparations to receive the enemy. The citizens, ast well as the slaves, united with the troops in the arduous labors of constructing works of defence, and the General participated in all their toils.

On the 12th of December, the fleet of the enemy appeared in the bay of St. Louis, and the American. flotilla retired up the river to a more favorable position. On the 14th, the enemy commenced an attack upon the flotilla, and captured the whole.

General Jackson next ordered martial law to be proclaimed, and the whole militia to appear on duty.

The legislature made the necessary appropriation, and laid an embargo on all the vessels then in port.

On the 21st, General Carrol arrived and joined General Jackson, with 4000 brave Tennesseeans, (partially armed,) and the Barratarians arrived at the same time, to join in the general defence.

General Jackson next ordered all the canals leading to the lake, to be closed; but the enemy, about 12,000 strong, reached the high banks of the river, on the 28th, notwithstanding this precaution, where they halted to take refreshment, before they entered the city, then full in their view.

General Jackson assembled his whole force, abont 6000 men, and marched down to meet the enemy; but did not reach them before dark. After reconnoitering their position, he commenced an attack, which surprised the British, and threw them into disorder; but they soon rallied to the combat, and a sharp rencounter ensued. A thick fog arose, that rendered it necessary for General Jackson to withdraw his troops, and he retired about two miles up the river, and took his stand at his fortified position.*

* His lines extended about 1000 yards in front, constructed with bales of cotton, placed along the bank of the ditch, and defended by twelve pieces of cannon, and 6000 men; supported also by a battery of fifteen guns, on the opposite side of the river; the ditch contained five feet of water.

At the dawn of day, the British army (12,000) was in motion, and advanced in columns to the combat. General Jackson reserved his fire until the enemy approached within the reach of his grape, he then opened a destructive fire from his artillery, that mowed down their ranks. These were successively closed, and the enem ycontinued to advance, until they came within musket-shot; the whole lines vomited forth one incessant sheet of flame from the deadly rifle, which strewed the plain with indiscriminate slaughter, and threatened the whole columns with universal ruin. The enemy broke and fled in confusion, except a small detachment that bravely advanced to the line; but these all fell, to a man. Stung with indignation, the British officers rallied their troops, and advanced again to the charge. Again they were overwhelmed with the fire of the deadly rifle, and again they fled; leaving the field strewed. with the carnage of more than 2000 wounded, dead and dying. The General in-chief, sir Edward Packenham, together with several other Generals, and an unusual proportion of officers, were among the slain. About 500 were taken prisoners; total loss of the enemy, about 3000. The loss of the Americans in this action, did not exceed 20 killed and wounded, January 8th, 1815.

The British who survived, retired on board their fleet; descended the river, and proceeded to attack fort Bowyer, which they carried, after a brave resistance ; but the return of peace, soon restored it again to the Americans.

General Jackson had posted his men ten deep in his lines, under the following orders, viz.

1. To receive the enemy at his approach, with a discharge of grape shot.

2. To reserve the fire of the musquetry until special orders, and then for the front rank only to fire, and pass their rifles to the rear to be loaded, the centre and rear to pass their rifles to the front in quick succession, and the front to keep up as quick a fire. The rear ranks only to load.