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Show 29G LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. c~;_P. to ~vaging the battle further, for as yet no communi~ catwn had passed between them. He entertained no 1814. doubt, from the brisk firing in that direction, but that he had been warmly engaged; but this had now near· ly subsided; the Caroline, too, had almost ceased her operations; it being only occasionally, that the noise of her guns disclosed the little opportunity she possessed of acting efficiently. The express despatched to generJJ. Jackson, from the left wing, having reached him, he determined to prosecute the successes he had gained, no further. The darkness of the night,-the confusion into which his own division had been tltrmvn, and a similar one on tl1e part of Coffee, all pointed to the necessity of retiring from tl1e field, and abandoning the contest. The bravery and firmness already displayed by his troops, had induced the belief, that by pressing on he might capture tl1e whole British army : at any rate, he considered it but a game of venture and hazard, which, if unsuccessful, could not occasion his own defeat. If, incompetent to its execution, superior numbers or superior discipline should compel him to recede from the effort, he well knew the enemy would not have te· merity enough to attempt pursuit. The extreme darkness- their entire ignorance of the situation of the country, and an apprehension lest their forces might be greatly outnumbered, afforded him sufficient reasons, on which to ground a belief, tl1at although beaten from his purpose, he would yet have it in his power to retire in safety: but on tl1e arrival of the express from ·general Coffee, learning the strong position to which the enemy had retired, and that a part of the left LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 297 \ving had been detached, and were in all probability CHAP. captured, he determined to retire from the contest ,noIrX. ~ attempt a further p~osecution of his successes. Gene-ral Coffee was accordingly directed to witl1draw, and 1814" take a position at Lorond's plantation, where the line had been first formed : and thither the troops on the right were also ordered I to be marched. The last charge made by the left wing, had separated, from the main body, colonels Dyer and Gibson with two hundred men, and captain Beal's company of riflemen. What might be their fate ; whether captured, or had effected their retreat, was; at this time, altogether uncertain ; be that as it might, Coffee's command was thereby considerably weakened. Colonel Dyer, who commanded the extreme left on clearing the grove, after the enemy had retired, wa: marching in the direction he expected to find general Coffee ; · he very soon discovered a force in front, and hastened towards it; arriving within a short distance he was hailed, ordered to stop, and report to who~ he belonged : Dyer and Gibson advanced, and stated the~ were ?f. Coffee's brigade ; by this . time they had arnved w1thm a short distance of the line and perceiving the name of their brigade was not ~derst~ d, their apprehensions were awakened, lest it ~1ght be a detachment of the enemy; in this opi~ Ion they were immediately confirmed, and wheelmg to return, were fired on and purwed. Gibson had scarcely started when he fell ; before he could r~over, a soldier, quicker than the rest, had reached lnm , an d pm· ne d 11·1 m to the ground with his bayonet; fortunately the stab had but slightly wounded him, p p |
