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Show $42 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. when he fell, by the fatal aim of our riflemen. .Press..,.::_ ed by the impetuosity of superior numbers, who were 1815• mounting the wall, and· entering at the embrasures, our troops had retired to the line, in 'rear of the redoubt. A momentary pause ensued, but only to be intermpted, with increased horrors. Captain Beal, with the city riflemen, cool and self-possessed, perceiving the enemy in his front, opened upon them, and at every discharge brought the object to the ground. To advance, or maintain the point gained, was equally impracticable 'for the enemy : to retreat or surrender was the only alternative; for they already perceived the division on the right thrown into confusion, and hastily leaving the fie!<\. General Jackson, being informed of the success of the enemy on the right, and of their being in possession of the redoubt, pressed forward a reinforcement, to regain it. Previously to its arrival, they had abandoned the attempt, and were retiring. They were severely galled by such of our guns as could be brought to bear. The levee afforded them considerable protection ; yet, by commodore Patterson's redoubt, on the right bank, they suffered greatly. Enfiladed by this, on their advance, tl1ey had been greatly annoyed, and now, in their retreat, were no less severely assailed. Numbers found a grave in the ditch, before our line ; and of those who gained the redoubt, not one, it is believed, escaped ;-they were shot down, as fast as ' they entered. The route, along which they had ad- yanced and retired, was strewed with bodies. Affrighted at tl1e carnage, tl1ey moved from the seen:, hastily and in confusion. Our batteries were still LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 343 continuing the slaughter, and cutting them down at CHAP. every step: safety seemed only to be attainable, when X. they should have retired without the range of our shot-...,..,..,_, wh .I Ch , to troops gaI I ed as severely as the y were, was, 1815. too remote a relief. Pressed by this consideration, they fled to the ditch, whither the right division had retreated ; and there remained, until night permitted them to retire. Here was a time, the most auspicious that had appeared during the war, to have gained a complete triumph to our arms. What important events, in a nation's history, are often the result of slight occurrences! and how often are they prevented, by causes no less inconsiderable ! This truth is apparent, in the fate of this grand expedition, which had been fitted out to humble our national pride ; and which would have been· captured or destroyed, but for the ill-timed policy of the government, or its agents, who, as has been shown,_ prevented the arrival of the arms destined for this place, because an inconsiderable sum was thereby saved to the nation. A considerable portion of our troops were inactive and useless, for the want of arms to place in their hands. If this had not been the case' -had they been in a situation to have acted efficiently: ~e whole British army must have submitted. But, Situated as Jackson then was, pursuit would have been rashness ; yet, with the additional force which a suffi. · ciency of arms would have placed at his command, much might have been effected against an enemy whose ranks were thinned by the_ unparalleled slaughter of the day ; and who, panic-struck, and lleeino- from the danger before them, were incompetent to 0resist- |