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Show 504 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. brave and skilful, he had already afforded evidences ..,I.X,.._ ,of a capac1· ty, wI 1 .1 ch m1. g ht , .m f uture, ha ve b ecomc 1814. useful; his exemplary conduct, both in civil and military life, acquired him a respect, that rendered his fall a subject of general regret. Lieutenant M'Lelland, a valuable young officer, of the 7th, was also among the number of the slain. Coffee's brigade, during the action, imitating the example of their commander, bravely contended, and ably supported the character they had established. The unequal contest, in which they were engaged, never occurred to them ; nor for a moment checked the rapidity of their advance. Had the British known they were mere riflemen, without bayonets, a firm stand would have arrested their progress, and destruction or capture would have been the inevitable consequence; but this circumstance being unknown, every charge they made was crowned with success, producing discomfiture, and routing and driving superior numbers before them. Officers, from the highest, to inferior grades, discharged what had been expected of them. Ensign Leach, of the 7th regiment, being wounded through tl"!,e body, still remained at his post, and in the performance of his duty. Colonel Reuben Kem· per, enterprising and self-collected, amidst the confu· sian introduced on the left wing, found himself at the head of a handful of men, detached from the main body, and in the midst of a party of the enemy; never did any man better exemplify the truth of the position, that discretion is sometimes the better part qf valour: to attempt resistance was idle, and could only eventuate in destruction ; with a mind unclouded by the LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 505 peril that surrounded him, he sought and procured his CHAP. s~fety through stratagem. Calling to a group of sol- IX . diers who were near, he demanded where their regi-~ ment was; lost themselves, tl1ey were unable to an- 1814" swer : but taking him for one of their own officers, they followed, as they were ordered, to his own line, where they were made prisoners. The 7th regiment, commanded by major Piere, and the 44tll, un?er _major Baker, aided by major Butler, gallantly mamtamed tl_": conflict-forced the enemy from every s_ecure [~OSition he attempted to occupy, and drove lum a mile from the first point of attack. Confi.ding in themselves, and their general, who was c~nstantly with them, exposed to danger and in the th1ckest of the fight, inspiring by his ardour, and encouraging by his example, they adv<.~nced to the conftict, nor evince~ a disposition to leave it, until the prudence of the1r commander directed them to retire. From the violence of tl1e assault already made the fears a: the British had been greatly excited : to keep therr apprehensions alive was considered importa~ t, with a view partially to destl·oy the overweenmg confidence with which tl1ey had anived, and compel the~ to act, for a time, upon the defensive. To effect tlus, general Coffee, with his brigade, was . ordde reda kd own on the 24th, to unite with colonel I-I" d Ill s, ~h m e a show in the rear of Lacoste's plantation. e enemy, not yet recovered of the panic produced by the first assault, already believed it was in COil· templation to urge another attack, .and immediately formed _to repel it ; but Coffee having succeeded in recovenng some of his horses, which were wander- |
