OCR Text |
Show LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. A communication, shortly after, from major general X. Lambert, on whom, in consequence of the fall of ge· ..,...,..._, nerals Packenham, Gibbs, and Keane, the command 1815. had devolved, ack nowled ges to ha ve w1. tnessed the kindness of our troops to his wounded. He solicits of general Jackson permission to send an unarmed party, to bury the dead, lying before his lines, and to bring off such of the wounded as were dangerous. Though, in all probability, it was unknown to general Lambert, what had been the conduct of his troops, on this occasion, and unquestionably not authorized by him, yet Jackson, in answer to his despatch, did not • omit to bring it to his view, and to express his utter abhorrence of the act. The request to bury his dead was granted, so far as an approach to our lines could be permitted. Jackson consented that all lying at a greater distance than three hundred yards, should be relieved, and the dead buried : those nearer were, by his own men, to be delivered over, to be interred by their countrymen. This precaution was taken, that the enemy might not have an opportunity to inspect, or know any thing of his situation. General General Lambert, desirous of administering to the !;;~~~~~! relief of the wounded, and to be relieved from his ap•. •uspen- prehensions of attack, proposed, about noon, that hos· ~~.~~fties.tilities should cease, until the same hour the next day. General Jackson, greatly in hopes of being able to secure an important advantage, by his apparent w~lli~gness to accede to the proposal, drew up an arm1shce, and forwarded it to general Lambert, with directions to be immediately returned, if approved. It contained a stipulation, tlmt hostilities, on the left bank of the LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 355 river, should be discontinued from its ratification, but CHAP. not on the right; and, in the interim, no reinforce- X . ments were to be sent across, by either party This~ • 1815. was a bold stroke at stratagem ; and, although it succeeded; even to the extent desired, was yet attended with considerable hazard. Reinforcements had been ordered over, to retake the position lost by Morgan in the morning ; but they had not, at this time, passed the river, nor could it be expected to be retaken with the same troops who had yielded it, when possessing advantages which gave them a de-cided superiority : this the commanding general well knew ; yet, to spare the sacrifice of his men, which, in regaining it, he foresaw must be considerable, he was disposed to venture upon a course, which, he felt as. sured, could not fail of success. It was impossible his object could be discovered ; while he confidently believed the British commander would infer from his proposition, that such additional troops were already thrown over, as would be fully adequate to the pur-poses of attack, and greatly to endanger, if not wholly cut off colonel Thornton's retreat. General Lambert's construction was such as had been anticipated. Although the armistice contained a request that it should be immediately signed and returned, it was neglected to be acted upon, until the next day ; and Thornton and his command were, in the interim, under cover of the night, re-crossed, and the ground they occupied left to be peaceably possessed by the original holders. The opportunity thus afforded, of regaining a position, on which, in a great degree, depended the safety of those on the op_posite shore, was accepted with an aviditr |