OCR Text |
Show SSG LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. to reinforce and protect it. Owing to some delay X. and difficulty in arming them, the latter, amounting, ....,...,...... instead of four hundred, to but one hundred and eighty, 1815. did not arrive until the morning of the 8th. A little before day, they were despatched to aid an advanced party, who, under the command of major Arnaut, had been sent to watch the movements of the enemy, and oppose their landing. The hopes indulged from their opposition were not realized ; and the enemy, unmolested, reached the shore. Morgan's position, besides being strengthened by several brass twelves, was defended by a strong battery, mounting twenty-four pounders, directed by commodore Patterson, which afforded additional strength and security. The line itself was not strong ; yet if properly maintained by the troops selected to defend it, was believed fully adequate to the purposes of successful resistance. Late at night, Patterson ascertained that the enemy had succeeded in passing their boats tlu·ough the canal, and immediately communicated his information to the general. The commodore had already formed the idea of dropping the Louisiana schooner down, to attack and sink them. This thought, though well conceived, was abandoned, from the danger involved, and from an apprehension lest the batteries erected on the river, with which she would come in collision, might, by the aid of hotshot, succeed in blowing her up. It was preferred patiently to await their an·ival, believing it would be practicable, with the bravery of more than eight hundred men, and the ;lender advantages possessed, to maintain our position, and repel th~ assailants. LlFE OF GEN. JACKSON. On the left bank, where the general in person com- CHAP. !handed, every thing was in readiness to meet the as- X • sault, when it should be made. The redoubt on the~ levee, was defended by a company of the seventh re- 1815' giment, under the command of Lieutenant Ross. The regular troops occupied that part of the entrenchment next the river. General Carroll's division was in the centre, supported by the Kentucky troops, under ge-neral John Adair ; while the extreme left, extending for a considerable distance into the swamp, was protected by the brigade of general Coffee. How soon the at-tack should be waged, was uncertain ; at what mo-ment, rested with the enemy,-with us, to be in rea-diness for resistance. There were many circumstances, however, favouring the belief, that the hour of contest was not far distant, and indeed fast approaching ; the bustle of to-day ,-the efforts to carry their boats into the river,-the fascines and scaling-ladders that were preparing, were circumstances pointing to attack, and indicating the hour to be near at hand. General Jack-son, unmoved by appearances, anxiously desired a· contest, which he believed would give a triumph to his ru:ms, and terminate the hardships of his suffering sol-diers. Unremitting in exertion, and constantly vigi-lan. t, his precaution kept pace with the zeal and prepa-rati~ n of the enemy. He seldom slept: he was always at Ius post. His sentinels were doubled, and extend-ed as far as possible, in the direction of the British camp ; while a considerable portion of the troops were tonstantly at the line, with their arms in their hands, >e~dy to act, when the first alarm should be given. uu |