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Show 288 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. cvAP. The general arrived in view of the enemy, a little ~before dark. Having previously ascertained, from co- 1814. lonel Hayne, their position, and that their strength was about two thousand men,* he immediately concerted the mode of attack, and hastened to execute it. Commodore Patterson, commanding the naval forces, Mode of with captain Henly, on board the Caroline, had :ILttack. been directed to drop down, anchor in front of their line, and open upon them from the guns of the schooner ; which being the signal for attack, was to be waged simultaneously on all sides. The fires from their camp disclosed their position, and showed their encampment, formed with their left resting on the river, and extending at right angles into · the open field. General Coffee, with his brigade, colonel Hinds' dragoons, and captain Beal's company of riflemen, was ordered to oblique to the left, and, by a circuitous route, avoid their piquets, and endeavour to turn their right wing ; having succeeded in this, to form his line, and press the enemy towards the river, where they would be exposed more completely to the fire of the Caroline. The rest of the troops, consisting of the regulars, Plauche's city volunteers, Daquin's coloured troops, the artillery under lieutenant Spoots, supported by a company of marines, commanded by colonel M'Kee, advanced along the bank of thfr'Mississippi, and were commanded by Jackson in person. * This opinion, as it afterwards appeared, was incorrect. Their number, at the commencement of the action, was three thousand, which was shortly afterwards increased by addi· tiona] forces. LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. c289 General Coffee had advanced beyond their piquet~, CJL~P. next the swamp, and nearly reached the point to wl)ich IX. he was ordered, when a broadside from the Caroline~ announced the battle begun. Patterson had proceed- ·1814· ·td slowly, giving time, as he believed, for the elj:ccu-tion of tl1ose arrangements contemplated on tl1e shore. So Sanguine had the British been in tile belief that they would be kindly received, and little oppositio11 attempted, tllat the Caroline floated by the sentinels, and anchored before their camp, without any kind of molestation. On passing the front piquet, she was hailed, in a low tone of voice, but returning no an-swer, no further question was made. This, added to some otl1er attendant circumstances, confirmed tile opinion that they believed her a vessel laden with pro-visions, which had been sent out from New Orleans and was intepded for them. Having reached what' from their fires, appeared to be the centre of tlleir en: campment, her anchors were cast, and her character and business disclosed fi·om her guns. So unexpect- llattle of ed an attack produced a momentary confusion • but the 23d . ' , Decem. r~covermg, ~ey answered her by a discharge of mus- her. k~try, and .flight of congreve rockets, which passed Without injury, while her grape and canister were pou~g desn:notively on them. To take away the eertamty of mm afforded by the light of their fires these · ed. ' 1 were imm mtely extinguished, m1d they retired wo or three hundred yards into the open field if not outofthe reac 11 o f t h e cannon, at least to a di~ stance, where, by the darkness of the night, they would be protected. 0 0 |
