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Show soo LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. for the defence of the Gentilly road, he despatched an IX. d . b ~or _er to Carroll, m the event there had een no ap- 1814. pearance of a force during the night, in the direction of Chef Menteur, to hasten and join him with his command; which order was executed by one o'clock itl the morning. Previously, however, to his arrival, a Arrival ordifferent conclusion was taken. From prisoners who f'.~~~f11., had been brought in, and some deserters, it was ascerdivision. tained, that the strength of the enemy during the bat, tie was four thousru1d, and, with the reinforcements which had reached them, after its commencement, it was then not less than six :-at any rate, it exceeded his own greatly, even after the Tennessee division should be added. Although very decided advantages had been obtained, yet they had been procured under circumstances tl1at might be wholly lost, in a contest vraged in open day, between forces so disproportioned, and by undisciplined troops against veteran soldiers. , Jackson well knew it was incumbent upon him, to act a part entirely defensive: should the attempt to gain ;tnd destroy the city succeed, numerous difficulties would arise, which might be avoided, so long as he could hold tl1e enemy in check, and halt him in his designs. Prompted by these considerations, -that it was important to pursue a course calculated . to assure safety ; and believing it attainable in no way so effectually, as in occupying some point, and by the strength he might give it, make up for the inferiority of his numbers; he determined to forbear all further efforts, until he should more certainly discover the views of th~ enemy, and until the Kentucky troops should reachhitl\, • UFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 301 which had not yet arrived. Pursuing iliis idea, at four CHAP. o'cLock, having ordered colonel Hinds to occupy the~ ground he was then leaving, and to observe the ene- 1814• my closely, he fell back, and formed his line behind a . deep ditch, that ran at right angles from the river. ~';;.';':',~" There were two circumstances, strongly recommend- :;~:·J;~':' ing ilie importance of this place: the swamp, which, from the l)igh lands at Baton Rouge, skirted the river at irregular distances, and was in many places almost impervious, had approached here within four hundred yards of the Mississippi, and hence, from tlu: narrow-ness of tl1e pass, was more easily to be defended; add-ed to which, there was a deep canal, whence the dirt being thrown on the upper side, already formed a to-lerable breast-work. Behind this, his troops were form-ed, and proper measures adopted for increasing its strengili, with a determination never to abandon it ; but there to resist to the last, and defend those rights which were sought to be outraged and destroyed. The soldier who has stood the shock of battle, ancl knows what slight circumstances often produce decided advantages, will be able, properly, to appreciate the events of this night. Altl10ugh the dreadful carnage of the 8th of January, hereafter to be told, was in fact the finishing blow, that struck down the towering hopes of those invaders, and put an end to the contest; yet in the battle of tl1e 23d,)s to be found, abundant cause, why success resultecf to our arm~, and safety was given to tl1e country. The British had reached the Mississippi wiiliout the fire of a gun, and had encamped upon its banks, as composedly, as· if they had been seated on their own soil, and at a dis- • |