en barbette-and they were right. The only place of the circumstances, determined to carry New Orleans at the canal fordable was where Lieutenant-Colonel Renny point of the bayonet, in the face of day, exposing himself crossed; and as it was there cut through the hard road, to showers of cannister, and triple ranks of infantry and running along the levée, it was probably considered unne- riflemen. He was slaughtered, and repulsed; and, as the cessary to employ much labour in completing the line at whole operations were confined to the perpendicular march that spot, it being within point-blank range of Commodore of columns against a straight line, defended by stationary Patterson's batteries on the other side. Whilst the attack batteries and battalions, the subject requires no further lasted, the eneiny wisely never showed more of themselves clucidation, than that the passive resolution of the Amerithan was necessary to level their fire-arms over the para-can citizen vanquished the active courage of the British pet, and consequently few of them were hit; but when our veteran."

columns were retreating, a division of Tennessee riflemen The reader is fully aware that Sir Edward Pakenham made a sortie, under cover of the swampy wood on their intended the attack to be made before day, and simultaleft, with a view of opening a flanking fire on our right. neously with Colonel Thornton's attack on the other side They were repulsed, however, by our light troops and of the river. It was a mistake, however, to make the seamen; and Captain Lawrence, of H. M. S. Alceste, set signal for the advance before a report from the 44th regi fire to the dry canes with which the ground was covered, ment had given assurance that the fascine and ladderand the flames rapidly spreading, the Tennesse men were bearers were in their proper stations; and, indeed, any glad to get back to their fastness, with the loss of some of forward movement, on the left bank, was premature, until their number killed and wounded, a few of the latter being Colonel Thornton had succeeded in alarming Commodore burned to death. Patterson for the safety of General Morgan's position, and The recorded observations and opinions of certain of had drawn off, or at least divided, the fire of his batteries. the enemy's officers, on our attack, are curious composi- True it is, that by the delay that must have been incurred, tions, combining acuteness and inaccuracy blended, some- our assault would have been made in broad daylight times accidentally, but more frequently with prepense. (which, for the most part, in reality it was;) but it had Major Latour (a French Engineer officer already quoted) been far better that it should, than rashly risked when Says:-"It is well known that agility is not the distinctive wanting the indispensable means of success, and exposed quality of British troops. Their movement is, in general, to the whole weight of that destructive fire Colonel Thornsluggish and difficult; steady, but too precise; or, at least, ton was expressly detached to silence. more suitable for a pitched battle, or behind entrenchments, But the great, the fatal blunder, after all, was the withthan for an assault. The British soldiers showed, on this drawal of our troops from the right bank of the river. occasion, that it is not without reason that they are said Our loss on the 8th, in killed, wounded, and missing, was to be deficient in agility. The enormous load they had to indced extremely heavy, amounting to 2237 hors de combat; carry, contributed, indeed, not a little to the difficulty of many of the wounded, however, were only slightly hurt,— their movement. Besides their knapsacks, usually weigh and, even without calling for the services of any of them, ing nearly thirty pounds, and their muskets, too heavy by we could muster 5400 effective men, were in possession of at least one-third, almost all of them had to carry a fascine, the enemy's most redoubtable position, supported by seven. from nine to ten inches in diameter, and four feet long, teen additional pieces of ordnance, mounted on solidly made of sugar-canes, perfectly ripe, and consequently very constructed batteries, commanding the river, and General heavy, or a ladder from ten to twelve feet long." Here is Jackson's lines on its left bank. Add to this, that reina palpable error: one regiment only-the 44th-as the forcements were expected hourly, and that, on the 11th, reader already knows, was destined to carry the fascines the 40th and 62nd regiments actually arrived; and it and ladders. Major Latour, however, is perfectly correct in saying that those were too heavy; particularly when the distance and the swampy nature of the ground to be traversed is considered.

cannot be questioned, that if the advantage we had gained had not been abandoned, our army on that day would have been in a much better position, and better prepared to accomplish the object of the expedition, than at any period "The duty of impartiality," continues Major Latour, from the moment when it was first planned. The early "incumbent on him who relates military events, obliges fall of our best Generals saved New Orleans, as the death me to observe, that the attack made on Jackson's lines, by of General Ross proved the safeguard of Baltimore. the British, on the 8th of January, must have been deter. To those who know how the most effective portion of mined on by their Generals without any consideration of General Jackson's army was composed, it is highly amus. the ground, the weather, or the difficulties to be surmounted, ing to turn over the volumes of rhodomontade published in before they could storm lines-defended by inilitia, indeed, the United States, on the unvaried text of the "superior but militia whose valour they had already witnessed-with valour of the Americans, which had overthrown and driven soldiers bending under the weight of their loads; when a the invaders into the sea." General Wilkinson places the man, unencumbered, would, that day, have found it diffi- affair of an hour, wherein General Jackson's loss (within cult to mount our breast-works, at leisure, and with cir- his lines) is stated at the enormous number of seven killed cumspection, so extremely slippery was the soil. Yet and six wounded! on a par with the greatest battles of those officers had had time, and abundant opportunity, to modern times,-thus: " Marengo, Austerlitz, Leipsig, observe the ground on which the troops were to act. NEW ORLEANS, and Waterloo."t What superlative moSince their arrival on the banks of the Mississippi, they desty! The simple truth is, that valour or no valour, the had sufficiently seen the effects of rainy weather, to form French and Spanish population of New Orleans, Natchez, a just idea of the difficulty their troops must have expe- and the intermediate towns-" people of colour from St. rienced, in climbing up our entrenchments, even had the Domingo," Irish emigrants, and "men of all nations" column been allowed to advance, without opposition, as far as the ditch. But they were blinded by their pride.”+ Major-General Wilkinson, in his utter ignorance of the character and plans of Sir Edward Pakenham, imputes to that gallant and experienced officer a reckless exposure of the Louisiana is composed of men of all nations, (English e ceptYou will have learned, by my former letters, that the crew of himself and his soldiers:-" On this memorable day, Sired.) taken from the streets of New Orleans, not a fortnight before Edward Pakenham, disdaining to avail himself of local the battle; yet I never knew guns better served, or a more ani. mated fire, than was supported from her."-Commodore Patterson's Official Letter to the Secretary of the American Navy, dated De cember 29, 1814.

*Latour's War in Louisiana, p. 161.

Ibid.

* Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i. p 541.

† Wilkinson's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 654.
Latour's War in Louisiana, p. 176.

!

AND AGAINST NEW ORLEANS.

-formed the staple of the "American" army. As for the colonels, 2 majors, 18 captains, 38 lieutenants, 9 ensigns, "Kentuckian" militia,-the "brave but indiscreet Ken- 1 staff, 54 serjeants, 9 drummers, 1126 rank and file, tuckians," after Commodore Patterson's report of their wounded;-3 captains, 12 lieutenants, 13 serjeants, 4 The portion of this loss borne by Colonel conduct, the less said about their valour the better. Among drummers, 452 rank and file, missing; total hors de comseveral French officers, also, who commanded under Ge- bat 2237. Humbert," Thornton's victorious brigade, only amounted to six killed, neral Jackson, besides Major Latour, we find " the "hero of Castlebar, to whom the French government 76 wounded, and one missing. The American loss on the had formerly confided the command of that expedition to same day, as officially reported, was 13 killed, 39 wounded, Ireland, which will ever be recorded in the glorious pages and 19 missing; total, 71. At the foot of the report is the of history."t After the battle of New Orleans, this following note:-" Of the killed, wounded, and missing, "hero," was authorized by General Jackson to "form a on this day, but 6 killed and 7 wounded, in the action on legion, and to enrol in it all the English deserters who the east (the left) bank of the river; the residue in a sortie What a coarse con-after the action, (that of the Tennessee riflemen,) and in were willing to enter the service." trast to the exquisite delicacy which restrained Commo- the action on the west (the right) bank." When Major-General Lambert decided to recall the dore Patterson from including "Englishmen" in his volun. teers "of all nations, taken (martial-law was in force just troops from the right bank of the river, he of course had then,) from the streets of New Orleans!" The "Mexican resolved to abandon the immediate object of the expedition field-marshal, Don Juan D'Anaya," moreover, took the altogether. He, therefore, immediately communicated to Coffee" and Sir Alexander Cochrane, that "he did not think it would field against us, and the names of Generals "Carroll," have something very Irish in them. General be prudent to make any further attempt at present, and Jackson was born in America, but his father and mother recommended re-embarking the army as soon as possible, were both natives of Ireland, from whence they emigrated with a view to carry into effect the other objects of the in the year 1765, and pitched their tent at the "Waxsaw force employed on that coast." Accordingly, at twelve o'clock on the night of the 18th, Settlement," near Camden, in South Carolina, where the embryo General-(no disparagement is intended, for he the battalions were withdrawn in succession, and retired has proved himself an able commander, an honourable and along a passage, cut for the purpose, through the reeds on a courteous foe, a skilful political ruler and a man gifted the marshy ground bordering the bayou Catalan. This with rare decision of character,)-first peeped into "this breathing world," on the 15th of March, (how near St. Patrick's day!) A. D. 1767; he was, consequently, born a British subject.

66

road, "if road it might be called, which road was none,"— was impassable for horses, and our men had, in some places, great difficulty in getting along it, even in single files, and with the aid of planks. The retreat, however, Although General Jackson's despatches never even hint at was accomplished without molestation: our picquets resuch a matter, the "thousand-and-one" American “his-maining in front of the enemy until half-past three in the torians" who have favoured the transatlantic world with morning, and General Jackson,-notwithstanding that he their lucubrations, all agree in charging Sir Edward was informed, by a deserter, on the 15th, "that Major. Pakenham with having, on the night of the 7th of Janu- General Lambert would retreat in a few days"*-prudently ary, given "booty and beauty," for the parole and coun- considering, that he "could not, without encountering a tersign. The answer to this is very plain:-there was risk which true policy did not seem to require, or to neither parole, countersign, nor any thing of the sort, authorize, attempt to annoy the retreat." On the morngiven out to our army before New Orleans. The mili- ing of the 19th, the army took up a position on both sides tary reader will recollect that that old-school custom was of the bayou, at about fourteen miles from our late camp abolished in the army of the Peninsula, and it was not re- on the Mississippi, and one mile from its entrance into vived in America. But any thing, and every thing at hand, Lake Borgne. There we bivouacked until the 27th, when or that could possibly be thought of, was seized by the the whole of the troops, (with the exception of eighty scribblers in question, and deemed a legitimate weapon to wounded who could not with safety be removed,) were refling at the Britishers;" and the above was no doubt embarked. All our materiel was likewise brought away, Our loss from "calculated" to be quite a "bowic-knife." The coinage, excepting six iron eighteen-pounders, mounted on shiphowever, bears intrinsic evidence, and the impress of the carriages, and two carronades, which were left in position, "Butin et Beauté," was to cover our retreat, to the last moment. mint from whence it issued. the standing toast of the Baratarian freebooters, and to the 9th to the 26th, inclusive, was one killed and five these worthy gentlemen, and honourable allies, are the wounded, by the enemy's cannonade from the right bank American historians" indebted for the classical, elegant, of the river, where Commodore Patterson had again mounted his batteries, and was indefatigable in annoying and apt alliteration. Apropos de bottes, it may be information to the general us with his fire, from sunrise til sunset. This, together with reader, as well as to that close observer, Captain Marryat, four men, reported absent, (probably drowned or smothered and the clever author of the brilliant and lively "Notes," in the swamps,) and two officers, and twenty-seven of the from the Canada "Bugle," of the United Service Journal, 14th Light Dragoons, taken prisoners in a boat, off the Riin particular, that the Americanism" Plunder," as applied golets, during very bad weather, on the night of the 25th, to baggage, in the West, is a translation of the French made our loss in this ill-managed expedition, 385 killed; 1516 voyageur and trapper's, "butin," (anglice, " booty,") as he wounded; and 591 missing; grand total 2492. calls his "back-load," in which is included his small "kit" American official (army) returns, for the same period, give of "necessaries," and as large a stock as he can, " by hook 55 killed; 185 wounded; and 93 missing; grand total, or by crook," accumulate of "pelteries," &c. Mais, revenons à nos moutons.

5 64

333.

The

One plain matter-of-fact observation must have suggested Our loss on the unfortunate 8th of January, was as fol- itself to every one who has taken the trouble to read these Recollections," viz., that from the nature of the country, lows:-1 major-general, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2 majors, captains, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 11 serjeants, 1 drummer, the character of their soldiery, and even as a consequence 266 rank and file, killed;-2 major-generals, (Major-Ge of the peculiar constitution and government of the United neral Gibbs died of his wounds on the 9th,) 3 lieutenant- States, the success of any combined naval and military

* Latour's War in Louisiana, p. 191.

General Jackson's despatch to the American Secretary at War, dated January 19, 1815.

expedition, destined for occasional disembarkations and of March, which brought Major-General Power and reinattacks on particular points of their extensive line of forcements of troops, brought also official notification of sea-board, must in a very great degree depend upon the the Treaty of Ghent, under the first article of which Fort rapidity and "dash" with which the operations are con- Bowyer was restored to the Americans.

ducted. Holding this in view, the fleet so employed should be provided with boats, more than sufficient to land all the troops, with their stores, &c., at one trip, and the importance of time, should never, for a moment, be forgotten; for every hour brings an accession of force to an enemy at home," whilst a thousand causes are daily weakening an invading army, three or four thousand miles from the main source of their reinforcements.

From Bentley's Miscellany.

AN IMPUDENT MONKEY. Ringtail Chattar, Esquire, of-any Lodge, in any county where he can get board, is one of the finest specimens of the impudent monkey extant. His mental perception is as insensible to a hint that he is de trop, as his body is to kick; the first having been fruitlessly tried in ordinary cases, and the latter when those who have got "bored" by him have been compelled to proceed to extremities, and propel him in to to!

He wonders what the deuce people "would have," but never imagines what they would not have;" for that they want to be rid of him, neither his inordinate vanity nor his personal convenience will for a moment allow. Then he is so very agreeable! and the organ of imitation is so largely developed in his simious sconce, that he confidently believes he can do any thing and-any body!

Washington was taken by a "dash" resolved upon after a just comparison and estimate of the immeasurable superiority of disciplined, and approved British veterans, over a half-organized mob of raw levies. Baltimore would have been carried, had a "dash" been made at the works a on Chinkapin Hill, instead of a halt being called at its foot, to await the issue of the bombardment of Fort M'Henry; and it is the opinion of the most competent American military authorities themselves, that New Orleans must have fallen, had General Keane followed up his defeat of General Jackson by an instant and unhesitating "dash" upon that city, instead of waiting for reinforcements. Expedition against Mobile, and Capture of Fort Bowyer. The weather continued extremely bad for some days With the fair sex he considers himself irresistible, and after the re-embarkation of the troops; so much so, that no impertinently peers under every passing bonnet; nay, communication could be held between the ships at the should any unbonnetted soubrette be skipping along before inner and outer anchorage, about seventeen miles distant. him, on some "domestic errand bound," he familiarly On the 5th of February, however, it was known that an taps her on the shoulder with, "Come, let's look at your expedition on a limited scale, was to be undertaken against face, my dear!" and neither ugliness nor the frown of disMobile. The second brigade, composed of the 4th, 21st, pleasure, which he so frequently encounters in return, have and 44th regiments, and a detachment of Royal Artillery, the power to deter him from a repetition of the same imwere destined for this service, whilst the remainder of the pertinence; for even if the challenged face be "ordinary," army was ordered to disembark and encamp on Dauphine he is confident that it will turn to a handsome one-turning Island. On the 7th the troop-ships and transports, in to his!

which the above-mentioned regiments were embarked, No one employs a tailor with less money or more sailed under convoy of the Vengeur, and the following" brass," or gets into his books with a better grace. morning 600 men, under the command of Brevet Lieute- Come what will, he knows that he has nothing to lose: nant-Colonel Debbeig, one of the 44th, were landed without and this "knowledge is power" indeed to him, and gives, opposition, at a place about three miles from Fort Bowyer, a tone of independence to his air and manner that, if not which is situated on the eastern point of the entrance to dignified, is, to say the least of it, very-imposing! Mobile Bay. As soon as our whole force, (General Lam- He never skulks out of the way of a confiding or a bert in command) was disembarked, it was moved forward dunning creditor; nay, if he thinks he is observed by one in the direction of the fort, but no enemy was seen until of these innocents, (which he generally docs, believing we approached to within half-a-mile of it; and then they himself to be the "observed of all observers,") he boldly retired without a shot being fired, until they got under crosses over, and meets him nez à nez,-changes with him cover of their works, and our advance had arrived within a quantity of small talk in the most flattering and agreea300 paces of them. The fort was immediately invested, ble manner, and generally finishes by saying, "By the by, a battering train, &c., was landed, ground was broken on Sniggins, I shall be at home this evening-just drop in the night of the 8th, and a covering party advanced to about ten. I must sport a new pair of mud-pipes; and if within 100 yards of the works. Batteries were thrown up, you have any thing standing against me, bring an account, and in readiness to receive their guns, on the night of the and I'll settle it at the same time!" 10th, and, on the morning of the 11th, four eighteen-poun- This, of course, is all gratuitous mendacity, for he ders, two eight-inch howitzers, and two six-pounders were neither wants new boots nor wishes to disburse; and if the prepared to open, previous to which the officer command- too confiding “sutor" should repair to his ready-furnished ing the fort was summoned. After a little hesitation he lodgings, (which he changes about twice a-month, for want agreed to give up the place, and surrender himself and of change! he learns that Ringtail Chattar, Esquire, has garrison prisoners of war. In the fort and works, were gone to the opera, or to the Honourable Mrs. Such-a-one's taken (outside) one twenty-four-pounder and two nine-rout; and the only satisfaction the poor fellow reaps is the pounders; (within) three thirty-two-pounders, eight twenty-thought engendered by this second "enormous lying," four-pounders, six twelve-pounders, five nine-pounders, and that his customer must really be " somebody," and may proone brass four-pounder; one eight-inch mortar, and one bably recommend him to some of the "nobs" of his acquain five and a half-inch howitzer, with a proportionate supply tance for his scientific "cut,"-little dreaming, poor fool! of ammunition, small arms, &c. Our loss on this expedi-that he is bamboozled by one who is himself a distinguished tion was, 13 killed; 18 wounded. The American garrison professor of the subline art of-cutting! surrendered prisoners of war, consisted of 1 Field-Officer, He is a great judge of horses, (his father having been an 3 Captains, 10 Subalterns, 2 Staff, 16 Sergeants, 16 Drum under ostler at a livery stable, where little Master Ringtail mers, 327 rank and file; total, 375. This was the last Chattar was permitted in bad weather to exercise the stud operation in which our army was engaged; for the month in the "ride,") and being complete master of the “slang,"

AN IMPUDENT MONKEY.

(which is of greater service in an introduction to the sporting part of the aristocracy than a knowledge of the classics,) the low-born stable-boy finds himself quite "hand and glove" with many of the-equestrian order!

Both in Hyde Park and Regent's Park he may frequently be seen perched on the driving-seat of a buggy or stanhope, or lolling in a cabriolet, "tooling" the "tits" with all the dexterity and air of the proprietor of the "crack turn-out;" whereas he is only "handling the ribands" for some novice, who is but too proud to have the honour of his company, and above all his valuable opinion of the "concern," in the praise of which he is technically lavish, especially if (as frequently happens) he has been the instigator of the purchase, there being a mutual "understanding" existing between him and the honourable "dealer." This trade, indeed, seldom fails him; for there is always a crop of young gentlemen so ardent in the pursuit of that knowledge, of which Ringtail Chattar, Esq. is an acknowledged professor, that their credulity is a "mine" of wealth, in the working of which the aforesaid young gentlemen incontestably prove themselves-minors! In fact, in the expressive phraseology of the "ride," every "done brown." "green" is infallibly There is a curious and sometimes very becoming effect produced on the physiognomies of some people, called -an effect to which the putting them to the blush,"amiable countenance of Ringtail Chattar, Esq. is as perfectly insensible as a-brass warming-pan! În fine, his effrontery is equal to his egotism, and his manoeuvring ("tipping 'em the double," as he terms it) equal to both.

66

·

tainly was a tolerably kind uncle in some things, he stinted
me terribly. The fact is, I've been confoundedly straitened
and I shall feel the benefit of it all now, for, I understand,
for want of the ready, but every thing is for the best;
the old boy has left me a tolerable round sum; so I have
Numps hemmed and coughed, and puzzled his brains in
no reason to complain."
"Now, although," continued Chattar, "I shall be obliged
vain to make out what his customer was driving at.
to live nearly the whole year upon the estate, I shall not
cut London entirely; and, as you are the very best fit that
ever handled a pair of shears, I shall stick by you. You
shall make the liveries, too; but we'll talk about that by
and by. We must first put nunkey under the turf, and,
therefore, the mourning is the first thing. I suppose you
can send one of your youths down to the Lodge; or, stay,
my fellow and he can go down in the buggy together to-
morrow; for it may be considered more respectful by the
old fogies, if I travel post."

The poor tailor looked amazed and confounded. He was completely "taken aback" by the new prospect which wished his "friend (the bailiff) at the bottom of the sea." so suddenly opened upon his dazzled vision. He already Chattar read his thoughts in a twinkling. He saw the favourable turn, and determined to push forward at all hazards.

"If you are not particularly engaged with this gentleman," continued he, " perhaps you will spare me a quarter business at once; for I have really so much to do, that the of an hour of your valuable time, and we can arrange the sooner this is off my hands' the better. By the by, I am "Don't mention it, sir, I beg," said the unfortunate dupe. already a trifle in your debt?"

He was one rainy day watching the drops coursing each other down the panes of his sitting-room window, and mentally betting with himself upon the issue of the pluvial race, when two men stopped directly opposite, and "Trigg," continued he, winking hard at the bailiff," p'raps, staring up at the house, transfixed him as effectually as if their eyes possessed the charm of the rattlesnake.

A single glance was more than enough for his quick perception; for, in the smaller one he instantly recognized the diminutive figure of an unfortunate "mirth" whom he had "let in," and kept out of his money to the extent of some forty pounds sterling money of Great Britain; and who had worn out his shoe-leather and his patience in vainly seeking an interview and a settlement: while, in the larger form, his practised eye at once distinguished the horrible features of one of those pests of society known as bailiffs!

Evasion or escape was vain. He could not be "not at home;" that was impossible (although he certainly felt himself" quite abroad"); so he put a good face upon the matter, and, nodding at the man of measures, he beckoned him with apparent impatience, and, as the man and his grim companion mounted the stairs, met him at the door of the room.

"I'm werry sorry, Mr. Chattar," began the tailor, with some hesitation.

44

"Make no apologies," interrupted Chattar. seated, sir," (to the bailiff.) "Numps, take a chair. the devil didn't you come in the cab, though?” "The cab, sir?"

Pray be
Why

Regent Street, and tell him about the business, you know,
you'll call upon that ere gent. (a very expressive wink) in
and meet me at home, and I'll make it all right with you."
And, opening the door, he let out the bailiff with all possi-
ble despatch, trembling at the supposed risk he had run of
"How's cash with you, Numps ?" asked the tantalising
offending a valuable customer.
Chattar.

"Why, sir, if so be the truth must be told, we are rayther shortish at the present time o' the year," replied Numps.

Well, then, as I am flush, and this will be rather a heavy job, I'll rub off the old score at once; and, when we have made the calculations of what the new 'togs' for the flunkies' will come to, I'll advance you the money, if it will be any accommodation!"

"O! sir, really," cried the grateful "sufferer," quite to make you no amends for this here." overpowered by this graciousness, "I shall never be able "Nonsense!" appropriately interrupted Chattar. "You've known me in my difficulties, and you have always had the I hate a dun! Numps, I condelicacy never to bore me. another glass, and let's to business." sider you have now a right to my patronage. Come, take

Alas, poor Numps! he went home hot with villanous

"Yes; I sent that booby of mine above half an hour port at one and elevenpence halfpenny per bottle, and ago for you."

The tailor stared.

"Come; won't you and your friend wet your whistles ?" and he poured out a bumper of port for each; "and now, let's to business."

"Yes, sir, and I'm werry sorry," again commenced Numps.

"So am I," interrupted Chattar; "but there's a salve for every sore,' you know, Numps; and, though he cer

happy in the delusion that he had got "sich a werry nice gentleman-like, for a customer; so free-so everythink as a tradesman could wish for," as he told his rib.

The next morning, according to appointment, he went gaily for the expected draft upon Mr. Chattar's bankers. ble horror, the enemy had made a retreat instead of an ALFRED CROWQUILL But the bird had flown! Yes, to the tailor's inexpressiadvance!