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Show 292 LIFE 011 GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. and protected them from the fatal fire of our riflemen. ~Coffee, umicquainted with their position, for the dark- 1814, ness had greatly increased, already contemplated again to charge tl1em; but major Moulton, who hacl discovered their situation, assured him it was too hazardous; that they could be driven no further, and would, from the point they occupied, resist with the bayonet, and repel, with considerable loss, any attempt to dislodge them. The place of their retirement was covered, in front, by a strong bank, which had been extended into the field, to keep out the river, in consequence of the first being encroached upon, and undermined in several places: the old one, however, was still entire, in many parts, and gave them security from the broadsides of the schooner, which lay off at some distance. A further apprehension, lest, by moving still nearer to the river, he might greatly expose him· self to tl1e fire of the Caroline, which was yet spiritedly maintaining the conflict, induced Coflee to retire until he could hear from the commanding general, and receive his further orders. During this time, the right wing, under Jackson, was no less prompt and active. A detachment of artillery, under lieutenant Spotts, supported by sixty marines, formed the advance, and had moved down the road, next the levee. On their left was the seventh regiment of infantry, led by major Piere. The fortyfourth, commanded by major Baker, was formed on the extreme left; while Plauche's and Daquin's battalions of city guards, were directed to be posted in the centre, between the seventh and forty-fourth. The general had ordered colonel Ross, who, during the Ul'E m' GEN. JACKSON. 295 night, acted in tl1e capacity of brigadier general, on CHAP. hearing the signal from the Caroline, to move off by~ heads of companies, and, having reached the enemy's . 1814. line, to deploy, and seek to unite the left wmg with the right of general Coffee's. This order was omi~ed Confusion to be executed ; and the consequence was an early m- of the traduction of confusion in the ranks, whereby was pre- ::r~~ of vented the important design of uniting the two divi- om· "'"'Y· sions. Instead of marching in colunm from the first position, the troops were wheeled into an extended line, and moved off in tl1is order, except the seventh regiment, next the person of the general, which advanced agreeably to the instructions that had been given. Having sufficient ground to form on at first, no inconvenience was at the moment sustained : but tl1is advantage presently failing, the centre was compressed, and forced in the rear. The river, from where tl1ey were, gradually inclined to the left, and diminished the space originally possessed: farther in, stood Lorond's house, surrounded by a grove of clustered orange trees : this pressing the left, and the river the right wing to the centre, formed a curve, which threw the principal part of Plauche's and Daquin's battalions without the line. This might have been remedied, but for the briskness of the advance, and the darkness of the night. A heavy fire from behind a fence, immediately before them, had brought the enemy to view. Acting in obedience to their orders, not to waste their ammunition at random, our troops had pressed forward against the opposition in tl1eir front, and thereby threw those battalions in the rear. |
