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Show S60 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. bable event, a~d every preparation was making, to be XI. . . d' l 't ~agam m rea mess to repe 1 • 1815. Of this formidable advance, no certain intelligence was received, until the night of the 11th, when a he-dvy cannonading, supposed to be on Fort St. Philip, was distinctly heard. Jackson entertained no fears for Bombard- tl:e result. The advantages of defence, which his pre;;;~'~[ caution and vigilance had early extended to tl1is pasPhilip. sage, added to his entire confidence in the _skill and bravery of the officer, to whom it had been entrusted, led hiin to believe there was notl1ing to be apprehended ; and tl1at every thing which duty and bravery could, would be done. The enemy's squadron, consisting of two bomb vessels, a brig, sloop, and schooner, were discovered by the videttes, from Fort Bourbon, on the morning of the 9th, directing their course up the river; signals were made,-information communicated, and every tl1ing in readiness to receive them. About ten o'clock, having approached within striking distance, an assault was commenced on the fort, and an immense quantity of bombs and balls tl1rown. A severe and well-directed fire, from our water battery, soon com· pelled them to abandon the attack, and retire about two miles. At this distance, they possessed decided advantages,-having it in their power to reach tbe fort, with the shot from their large mortars, while they were entirely without the range of ours. The assault co~· tinned without much intermission, from the 9th unlll the ni~ht of the 17th. They had hitherto lain beyo~d the efl'ective range of our shot, and although from therr large mortars the fort had b~en constantly reached, and pierced in innumerable places, still, such an effect LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. .5.&1 had not been produced, as to justify a belief, tl1at they CHAP. could now, more tlmn at the moment of their arrival XI. ~ .. ' ._,......,.... venture to pass. A heavy mortar having been prepared, d d 1815. an tume against them on the 17th, the security they hitherto enjoyed, was taken away: their vessels could now be reached, and considerable effect was discover-ed to be produced. This circumstance, and an ineffectual bombardment, which, though continued for eight days, had secured no decided advantage, induced them to suspend all further efforts ; and on the morn-ing of the 18th, they retired. Major Overton, who commanded at this place, his officers, and soldiers, distinguished themselves by t11eir ;lctivity and vigilance. To atTest the epemy's passage up the river, and fi·om uniting witl1 the forces below the city, was of great importance; :u1d to succeed in preventing it, as much as could be expected. So long therefore as they kept at a distance, nor attempted a final accomplishment of their object, no other concern was felt, than to watch their manreuvres, and adopt such a course as should afford safety to tl1e troops in the gatTison; for tl1is purpose, pieces of timber and scantling were used,. which formed a cover, and gave protection from their bombs. The store of ammunition was also divided, and buried in different places in the e:uth, that in the event of accident tl1e whole might not be' lost. During' tl1e period of the bombardment, which lasted witl1 little intermission for n~ne days, sleep was almost a stranger in the fort. Tht> mght was tl1e time, when most of all it was fe."U·ecl, lest the enemy, aided by tl1e darkness, and assisted by liDme fortunate breeze, would have it in their power tf> z ?: |
