Plate 044b

Plate 044a

Plate 045b

Plate 045a

General Gaines to the Secretary of War.

Head-Quarters, Fort Erie, U. C.,[104]
August 15th, 1814.
To the Honourable
John Armstrong,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: My heart is gladdened with gratitude to Heaven and joy to my country, to have it in my power to inform you that the gallant army under my command has this morning beaten the enemy commanded by Lieutenant-General Drummond, after a severe conflict of nearly three hours, commencing at 2 o'clock this morning. They attacked us on each flank, got possession of the salient bastion of the old Fort Erie, which was regained at the point of the bayonet, with a dreadful slaughter. The enemy's loss in killed and prisoners, is about 600; near 300 killed. Our loss is considerable, but I think not one-tenth as great as that of the enemy. I will not detain the express to give you the particulars. I am preparing my force to follow up the blow.

With great respect, etc.,
Edmund P. Gaines,
Brigadier-General commanding.

General Gaines to the Secretary of War.

Head-Quarters, left wing, 2d Division,
Fort Erie, U. C., August 23d, 1814.
To the Honourable
John Armstrong,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to communicate, for the information of the department of war, the particulars of the battle fought at this place, on the 15th instant, between the left wing of the 2d division of the northern army, under my command, and the British forces in the Peninsula of Upper Canada, commanded by Lieutenant-General Drummond, which terminated in a signal victory in favour of the united American arms.

Our position on the margin of the lake, at the entrance of the Niagara river, being nearly a horizontal plain, twelve or fifteen feet above the surface of the water, possessing few natural advantages, had been strengthened in front by temporary parapet breast works, entrenchments and abatis, with two batteries and six field pieces. The small unfinished fort, Erie, with a 24, 18 and 12 pounder, forms the north-east, and the Douglass battery, with an 18 and 6 pounder near the edge of the lake, the south-east angle of our right. The left is defended by a redoubt battery, with six field pieces just thrown up on a small ridge. Our rear was left open to the lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. The battery on the left was defended by Captain Towson; Fort Erie, by Captain Williams, with Major Trimble's command of the 19th infantry; the batteries on the front, by Captains Biddle and Fanning; the whole of the artillery commanded by Major Hindman. Parts of the 11th, 9th and 22d infantry (of the late veteran brigade of Major-General Scott) were posted on the right, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Aspinwall. General Ripley's brigade, consisting of the 21st and 23d, defended on the left. General Porter's brigade of New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, with our distinguished riflemen, occupied the centre.

I have heretofore omitted stating to you, that during the 13th and 14th, the enemy had kept up a brisk cannonade, which was sharply returned from our batteries, without any considerable loss on our part. At 6 p.m. one of their shells lodged in a small magazine in Fort Erie, which was fortunately almost empty. It blew up with an explosion more awful in appearance than injurious in its effects, as it did not disable a man or derange a gun. It occasioned but a momentary cessation of the thunders of the artillery on both sides; it was followed by a loud and joyous shout by the British army, which was instantly returned on our part, and Captain Williams, amidst the smoke of the explosion, renewed the contest by an animated roar of his heavy cannon.

From the supposed loss of our ammunition, and the consequent depression such an event was likely to produce upon the minds of our men, I felt persuaded that this explosion would lead the enemy to assault, and made my arrangements accordingly.

The night was dark, and the early part of it raining, but the faithful sentinel slept not; one-third of the troops were up at their posts. At half-past two o'clock, the right column of the enemy approached, and though enveloped in darkness black as his designs and principles, was distinctly heard on our left, and promptly marked by our musketry under Major Wood, and cannon under Captain Towson. Being mounted at the moment, I repaired to the point of attack, where the sheet of fire rolling from Towson's battery, and the musketry of the left wing of the 21st infantry under Major Wood, enabled me to see the enemy's column of about 1,500 men approaching on that point, his advance was not checked, until it had approached within ten feet of our infantry. A line of loose brush representing an abatis only intervened; a column of the enemy attempted to pass round the abatis through the water, where it was nearly breast deep. Apprehending that this point would be carried, I ordered a detachment of riflemen and infantry to its support, but having met with the gallant commander, Major Wood, was assured by him that he could defend his position without reinforcements. At this moment the enemy were repulsed, but instantly renewed the charge and were again repulsed. My attention was now called to the right, where our batteries and lines were soon lighted by a most brilliant fire of cannon and musketry; it announced the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy, under Colonels Drummond and Scott; the latter was received by the veteran 9th, under the command of Captain Foster, and Captains Broughton and Harding's companies of New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, aided by a six-pounder judiciously posted by Major M'Ree, chief engineer, who was most active and useful at this point; they were repulsed. That of the centre, led by Colonel Drummond, was not long kept in check; it approached at once every assailable point of the fort; and with scaling ladders ascended the parapet, but was repulsed with fearful carnage. The assault was twice repeated, and as often checked, but the enemy having moved round the ditch covered by darkness, added to the heavy cloud of smoke which had rolled from our cannon and musketry, enveloping surrounding objects, repeated the charge, re-ascended the ladders; the pikes, bayonets and spears fell upon our gallant artillerists. The gallant spirits of our favourite Captain Williams and Lieutenants M'Donough and Watmough, with their brave men, were overcome. The two former, and several of their men, received deadly wounds. Our bastion was lost; Lieutenant M'Donough, being severely wounded, demanded quarter; it was refused by Colonel Drummond. The lieutenant then seized a handspike and nobly defended himself until he was shot down with a pistol by the monster who had refused him quarter, who often reiterated the order: "Give the damned Yankees no quarter." This officer, whose bravery, if it had been seasoned with virtue, would have entitled him to the admiration of every soldier, the hardened murderer soon met his fate. He was shot through the breast while repeating the order "to give no quarter."

The battle now raged with increased fury on the right, but on the left the enemy was repulsed and put to flight. Thence and from the centre I ordered reinforcements. They were promptly sent by Brigadier-General Ripley and Brigadier-General Porter. Captain Fanning, of the corps of artillery, kept up a spirited and destructive fire with his field pieces, on the enemy attempting to approach the fort. Major Hindman's gallant efforts, aided by Major Trimble, having failed to drive the enemy from the bastion, with the remaining artillerists and infantry in the forts, Captain Birdsall, of the 4th rifle regiment, with a detachment of riflemen, gallantly rushed in through the gateway to their assistance, and with some infantry, charged the enemy, but was repulsed, and the captain severely wounded. A detachment from the 11th, 19th, and 22d infantry, under Captain Foster, of the 11th, were introduced over the interior bastion, for the purpose of charging the enemy. Major Hall, assistant inspector general, very handsomely tendered his services to lead the charge. The charge was gallantly made by Captain Foster and Major Hall, but owing to the narrowness of the passage up to the bastion, admitting only two or three men abreast, it failed. It was often repeated, and as often checked; the enemy's force on the bastion was, however, much cut to pieces and diminished by our artillery and small arms. At this moment every operation was arrested by the explosion of some cartridges deposited in the end of the stone building adjoining the contested bastion. The explosion was tremendous: it was decisive; the bastion was restored. At this moment Captain Biddle was ordered to cause a field piece to be posted so as to enfilade the exterior plain and salient glacis. The captain, though not recovered from a severe contusion in the shoulder, received from one of the enemy's shells, promptly took his position, and served his field piece with vivacity and effect. Captain Farming's battery likewise played upon them at this time with great effect. The enemy were in a few moments entirely defeated, taken or put to flight, leaving on the field 222 killed, 174 wounded, and 186 prisoners. A large portion are so severely wounded that they cannot survive; the slightly wounded, it is presumed, were carried off.

To Brigadier-General Ripley, much credit is due for the judicious disposition of the left wing, previous to the action, and for the steady disciplined courage manifested by him and his immediate command, and for the promptness with which he complied with my orders for reinforcement during the action. Brigadier-General Porter, commanding the New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, manifested a degree of vigilance and judgment in his preparatory arrangements, as well as military skill and courage in the action, which proves him to be worthy the confidence of his country, and the brave volunteers who fought under him. Of the volunteers, Captains Broughton and Harding with their detachments posted on the right, and attached to the line commanded by Captain E. Foster, of the veteran 9th infantry, handsomely contributed to the repulse of the left column of the enemy under Colonel Scott.

The judicious preparations and steady conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Aspinwall commanding the first brigade, merit approbation.

To Major McRee, chief engineer, the greatest credit is due for the excellent arrangement and skillful execution of his plans for fortifying and defending the right, and for his correct and seasonable suggestions to regain the bastion. Major Wood, of the engineers, also greatly contributed to the previous measures of defence. He has accepted the command of a regiment of infantry, (the 21st,) for which he has often proved himself well qualified, but never so conspicuously as on this occasion.

Towson's battery emitted a constant sheet of fire. Wood's small arms lighted up the space, and repulsed five terrible charges made between the battery and the lake. Brigadier-General Ripley speaks in high terms of the officers and men engaged, particularly Captains Marston and Ropes, Lieutenants Riddle (of the 15th, doing duty with the 21st) and Hall; Ensigns Benn, Jones, Cummings and Thomas of the 21st, and Keally and Green of the 19th.

Major Hindman, and the whole of the artillery under the command of that excellent officer, displayed a degree of gallantry and good conduct not to be surpassed. The particular situation of Captain Towson, and the much lamented Captain Williams and Lieutenant M'Donough, and that of Lieutenant Watmough, as already described, with their respective commands, rendered them most conspicuous. The courage and good conduct of Lieutenant Zantzinger and Lieutenant Childs, is spoken of in high terms by Major Hindman and Captain Towson, as also that of Sergeant-Major Denhon. Captains Biddle and Fanning, on the centre and right of their entrenchments, threw their shot to the right, left and front, and annoyed the Indians and light troops of the enemy approaching from the woods. Lieutenant Fontaine in his zeal to meet the enemy, was unfortunately wounded and made prisoner. Lieutenant Bird was active and useful, and in fact every individual belonging to the corps did their duty.

The detachment of Scott's gallant brigade, consisting of parts of the 9th, 11th and 22d infantry, did its duty in a manner worthy the high reputation the brigade had acquired at Chippewa, and at the Falls of Niagara. The 9th, under the command of Captain Edmund Foster, was actively engaged against the left of the enemy, and with the aid of Lieutenant Douglass's corps of bombardiers, commanding the water battery, and that of the volunteers, under Captains Broughton and Harding, effected their repulse. The good conduct of Lieutenants Childs, Cushman and Foot, and Ensign Blake, deserves commendation.

The officers killed, are Captain Williams and Lieutenant McDonough of the artillery. Wounded, Lieutenant Watmough of the artillery; Ensign Cissney 19th; Lieutenant Bushnel 21st; Lieutenants Brown and Belknap 23d; and Captain Birdsall, 4th rifle regiment, all severely.

Lieutenant Fontaine of the artillery, who was taken prisoner, writes from the British camp, that he fortunately fell into the hands of the Indians, who, after taking his money, treated him kindly. It would seem, then, that these savages had not joined in the resolution to give no quarter.

To Major Jones, assistant adjutant-general, and Major Hull, assistant inspector-general; Captain Harris of the dragoons, volunteer aid-de-camp; Lieutenant Belton, aid-de-camp, much credit is due for their constant vigilance and strict attention to every duty previous to the action, and the steady courage, zeal, and activity, which they manifested during the action.

The surgeons, doctors Fuller 23d, Trowbridge 21st, with their mates, doctors Gale of the 23d, and Everett and Allen of the 21st, deserve the warmest approbation, for their indefatigable exertions and humane attention to the wounded of our army, as well as to the prisoners who fell into their hands.

I have the honour to be, etc.,
E. P. Gaines,
Brigadier-General commanding.

General Gaines to the Secretary of War.

Headquarters, Fort Erie, Upper Canada,
August 26th, 1814.
To the Honourable
John Armstrong,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: In my report of the battle of the 15th instant, I inadvertently omitted the names of Captain Chunn of the 19th, Lieutenants Bowman and Larned, of the 21st, and Jewett of the 11th infantry, as also my brigade major, Lieutenant Gleason, each of whom bore a conspicuous part in the action, and whom I beg leave to recommend to your notice. Lieutenants Bowman and Larned commanded companies in the 21st, which so gallantly beat the enemy's right column. Captain Chunn, with his company was doing duty with the same regiment. I also omitted mentioning that a part of this regiment pursued the enemy's right upwards of a mile, and took 100 prisoners; his left was also pursued, and more than a hundred prisoners were taken beyond our works. These facts prove that the affair was not merely a defence of our position, or a mere repulse of the enemy, as I find it called by some. As regards myself, I am satisfied with the result, and am not disposed to make any difficulty about the name by which the affair may be called; but it is due to the brave men I have the honour to command, that I should say, that the affair was to the enemy a sore beating and a defeat, and it was to us a handsome victory.

Our position is growing stronger every day by the exertions of Majors M'Ree and Wood, and the officers and men generally. We keep up a smart cannonade.

One of the enemy's pickets yesterday approached nearer to ours than usual. Major Brooke, officer of the day, added 100 men to our picket, attacked and drove them in with considerable loss; the major brought in about 30 muskets. In this affair however, we have to lament the loss of another gallant officer, Captain Wattles, of the 23d; our loss was otherwise inconsiderable.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
E. P. Gaines,
Brigadier-General commanding.

Plate 046b

Plate 046a

General Macomb to the Secretary of War.

Head-Quarters, Plattsburgh,
September 15th, 1814.
To the Honourable
John Armstrong,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to communicate for the information of the war department, the particulars of the advance of the enemy into the territory of the United States, the circumstances attending the siege of Plattsburgh, and the defence of the posts entrusted to my charge.

The governor-general of the Canadas, Sir George Prevost, having collected all the disposable force of Lower Canada, with a view of conquering the country as far as Crown Point and Ticonderoga, entered the territories of the United States on the first of the month, and occupied the village of Champlain, there avowed his intentions, and issued orders and proclamations tending to dissuade the people from their allegiance, and inviting them to furnish his army with provisions. He immediately began to press the wagons and teams in the vicinity, and loaded them with his heavy baggage and stores. From this I was persuaded he intended to attack this place. I had but just returned from the lines, where I had commanded a fine brigade, which was broken to form the division under Major-General Izard, ordered to the westward. Being senior officer he left me in command, and except the four companies of the 6th regiment, I had not an organized battalion among those remaining. The garrison was composed of convalescents and recruits of the new regiments, all in the greatest confusion, as well as the ordnance and stores, and the works in no state of defence.

To create an emulation and zeal among the officers and men in completing the works, I divided them into detachments, and placed them near the several forts; declaring in orders, that each detachment was the garrison of its own work, and bound to defend it to the last extremity. The enemy advanced cautiously and by short marches, and our soldiers worked day and night; so that by the time he made his appearance before this place we were prepared to receive him.

General Izard named the principal work Fort Moreau, and to remind the troops of the actions of their brave countrymen, I called the redoubt on the right Fort Brown, and that on the left Fort Scott. Besides these three works, we have two block-houses strongly fortified.

Finding, on examining the returns of the garrison, that our force did not exceed fifteen hundred effective men for duty, and well informed that the enemy had as many thousands, I called on General Mooers, of the New York militia, and arranged with him plans for bringing forth the militia en masse. The inhabitants of the village fled with their families and effects, except a few worthy citizens and some boys, who formed themselves into a party, received rifles, and were exceedingly useful. By the 4th of the month, General Mooers collected about 700 militia, and advanced seven miles on the Beekmantown road, to watch the motions of the enemy, and to skirmish with him as he advanced; also to obstruct the roads with fallen trees, and to break up the bridges.

On the Lake road, at Deer Creek bridge, I posted 200 men under Captain Sproul, of the 13th regiment, with orders to abatis the woods, to place obstructions in the road, and to fortify himself; to this party I added two field pieces. In advance of that position, was Lieutenant-Colonel Appling, with 110 riflemen, watching the movements of the enemy and procuring intelligence. It was ascertained that before daylight on the 6th, the enemy would advance in two columns, on the two roads before mentioned, dividing at Sampson's, a little below Chazy village. The column on the Beekmantown road proceeded most rapidly, the militia skirmished with his advanced parties, and, except a few brave men, fell back most precipitately in the greatest disorder, notwithstanding the British troops did not deign to fire on them, except by their flankers and advanced patrols. The night previous, I ordered Major Wool to advance with a detachment of 250 men, to support the militia, and set them an example of firmness. Also Captain Leonard, of the light artillery, was directed to proceed with two pieces, to be on the ground before day; yet he did not make his appearance before 8 o'clock, when the enemy had approached within two miles of the village. With his conduct, therefore, I am not well pleased. Major Wool, with his party, disputed the road with great obstinacy, but the militia could not be prevailed on to stand, notwithstanding the exertions of their general and staff officers; although the fields were divided by strong stone walls, and they were told that the enemy could not possibly cut them off. The State dragoons of New York wear red coats, and they being on the heights to watch the enemy, gave constant alarm to the militia, who mistook them for the enemy, and feared his getting in their rear. Finding the enemy's columns had penetrated within a mile of Plattsburgh, I despatched my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Root, to bring off the detachment at Dead Creek, and to inform Lieutenant-Colonel Appling that I wished him to fall on the enemy's right flank. The colonel fortunately arrived just in time to save his retreat, and to fall in with the head of a column debouching from the woods. Here he poured in a destructive fire from his riflemen at rest, and continued to annoy the column until he formed a junction with Major Wool. The field pieces did considerable execution among the enemy's columns. So undaunted, however, was the enemy, that he never deployed in his whole march, always pressing on our columns. Finding that every road was full of troops crowding on us on all sides, I ordered the field pieces to retire across the bridge and form a battery for its protection, and to cover the retreat of the infantry, which was accordingly done, and the parties of Appling and Wool, as well as that of Sproul, retired alternately, keeping up a brisk fire until they got under cover of the works. The enemy's light troops occupied the houses near the bridge, and kept up a constant firing from the windows and balconies, and annoyed us much. I ordered them to be driven out with hot shot, which soon put the houses in flames, and obliged the sharp-shooters to retire. The whole day, until it was too late to see, the enemy's light troops endeavoured to drive our guards from the bridge, but they suffered dearly for their perseverance. An attempt was also made to cross the upper bridge, where the militia handsomely drove them back. The column which marched by the Lake road was much impeded by the obstructions and the removal of the bridge at Dead Creek, and, as it passed the creek and beach, the gallies kept up a lively and galling fire. Our troops being now all on the south side of the Saranac, I directed the planks to be taken off the bridges and piled up in the form of breastworks, to cover our parties intended for disputing the passage, which afterwards enabled us to hold the bridges against very superior numbers.

From the 7th to the 11th, the enemy was employed in getting on his battering train, and erecting his batteries and approaches, and constantly skirmishing at the bridges and fords. By this time, the militia of New York, and the volunteers of Vermont, were pouring in from all quarters: I advised General Mooers to keep his force along the Saranac, to prevent the enemy's crossing the river, and to send a strong body in his rear to harass him day and night, and keep him in continual alarm. The militia behaved with great spirit after the first day, and the volunteers of Vermont were exceedingly serviceable. Our regular troops, notwithstanding the constant skirmishing and repeated endeavours of the enemy to cross the river, kept at their work day and night strengthening the defences, and evinced a determination to hold out to the last extremity.

It was reported that the enemy had only waited the arrival of his flotilla, to make a general attack. About eight in the morning of the 11th, as was expected, the flotilla appeared in sight round Cumberland Head, and at nine, bore down and engaged our flotilla at anchor in the bay off the town. At the same instant, the batteries were opened on us, and continued throwing bomb shells, shrapnels, balls, and congreve rockets until sunset, when the bombardment ceased, every battery of the enemy being silenced by the superiority of our fire. The naval engagement lasted but two hours, in full view of both armies. Three efforts were made by the enemy to pass the river, at the commencement of the cannonade and bombardment, with a view of assaulting the works, and he had prepared for that purpose an immense number of scaling ladders. One attempt to cross was made at the village bridge, another at the upper bridge, and a third at a ford about three miles from the works. At the two first he was repulsed by the regulars; at the ford, by the brave volunteers and militia, where he suffered severely in killed, wounded, and prisoners; a considerable body having crossed the stream, but were either killed, taken, or driven back. The woods at this place were very favourable to the operations of the militia. A whole company of the 76th regiment was here destroyed, the three lieutenants and 27 men prisoners, the captain and the rest killed.

I cannot forego the pleasure of here stating the gallant conduct of Captain M'Glassin, of the 15th regiment, who was ordered to ford the river, and attack a party constructing a battery on the right of the enemy's line, within five hundred yards of Fort Brown, which he handsomely executed at midnight with fifty men; drove off the working party, consisting of one hundred and fifty, and defeated a covering party of the same number, killing one officer and six men in the charge, and wounding many. At dusk the enemy withdrew his artillery from the batteries, and raised the siege; at nine, under cover of the night, he sent off in a great hurry all the baggage he could find transport for, and also his artillery. At two next morning the whole army precipitately retreated, leaving the sick and wounded to our generosity, and the governor left a note with a surgeon requesting the humane attention of the commanding general.

Vast quantities of provisions were left behind and destroyed, also an immense quantity of bombshells, cannon balls, grape shot, ammunition, flints, &c., &c.; intrenching tools of all sorts, also tents and marquees. A great deal has been found concealed in the ponds and creeks, and buried in the ground, and a vast quantity carried off by the inhabitants. Such was the precipitancy of his retreat, that he arrived at Chazy, a distance of eight miles, before we had discovered he had gone. The light troops, volunteers, and militia pursued immediately on learning of his flight; and some of the mounted men made prisoners five dragoons of the 19th regiment, and several others of the rear guard. A continued fall of rain and a violent storm prevented further pursuit. Upwards of 300 deserters have come in, and many are hourly arriving. We have buried the British officers of the army and navy with the honours of war, and shown every attention and kindness to those who have fallen into our hands.

The conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of my command, during this trying occasion, cannot be represented in too high terms, and I feel it my duty to recommend to the particular notice of government, Lieutenant-Colonel Appling of the 1st rifle corps, Major Wool of the 29th, Major Totten of the corps of engineers, Captain Brooks of the artillery, Captain M'Glassin of the 15th, Lieutenants De Russy and Trescott of the corps of engineers, Lieutenants Smyth, Mountford, and Cromwell of the artillery, also my aid-de-camp Lieutenant Root, who have all distinguished themselves by their uncommon zeal and activity, and have been greatly instrumental in producing the happy and glorious result of the siege.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Alexander Macomb.

The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, prisoners, and deserters, since his first appearance, cannot fall short of 2,500, including many officers, among whom is Colonel Wellington, of the Buffs.

Resolution of Congress Voting Rifles to Martin F. Aitkin and others.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be delivered to Martin J. Aitkin, Azariah C. Flagg, Ira A. Wood, Gustavus A. Bird, James Trowbridge, Hazen Mooers, Henry K. Averill, St. John B. L. Skinner, Frederick P. Allen, Hiram Walworth, Ethan Everist, Amos Soper, James Patten, Bartemus Brooks, Smith Bateman, Melancthon W. Travis and Flavel Williams, each, one rifle, promised them by General Macomb, while commanding the Champlain department, for their gallantry and patriotic services as a volunteer corps, during the siege of Plattsburgh in September, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, on each of which said rifles there shall be a plate containing an appropriate inscription.

Approved May 20, 1826.

Plate 047b

Plate 047a

Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to General Jackson.

Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, given to Major-General Jackson, and, through him, to the officers and soldiers of the regular army, of the militia and of the volunteers, under his immediate command, and to the officers and soldiers charged with the defence of Fort St. Philip, for their uniform gallantry and good conduct, conspicuously displayed against the enemy, from the time of his landing before New Orleans until his final expulsion from the State of Louisiana, and particularly for the valour, skill, and good conduct on the eighth of January last, in repulsing, with great slaughter, a numerous British army of chosen veteran troops, when attempting by a bold and daring attack to carry by storm the works hastily thrown up for the protection of New Orleans, and thereby obtaining a most signal victory over the enemy with a disparity of loss, on his part, unexampled in military annals.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be struck a gold medal, with devices emblematical of this splendid achievement, and presented to Major-General Jackson, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his judicious and distinguished conduct on that memorable occasion.

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolution to be communicated to Major-General Jackson in such terms as he may deem best calculated to give effect to the objects thereof.

Approved February 27, 1815.

General Jackson to the Secretary of War.

Head Quarters,
Camp 4 miles below New Orleans,
January 13th, 1815.
To the Honourable
Secretary of War,
Washington, D. C.

Sir: At such a crisis, I conceive it my duty to keep you constantly advised of my situation.

On the 10th instant I forwarded you an account of the bold attempt made by the enemy on the morning of the 8th to take possession of my works by storm, and of the severe repulse he met with. That report having been sent by the mail which crosses the lake, may possibly have miscarried; for which reason I think it the more necessary briefly to repeat the substance of it.

Early on the morning of the 8th, the enemy having been actively employed the two preceding days in making preparations for a storm, advanced in two strong columns on my right and left. They were received, however, with a firmness which it seems they little expected, and which defeated all their hopes. My men, undisturbed by their approach, which indeed they long anxiously wished for, opened upon them a fire so deliberate and certain as rendered their scaling ladders and fascines, as well as their more direct implements of war, perfectly useless. For upwards of an hour it was continued with a briskness of which there have been but few instances, perhaps in any country. In justice to the enemy, it must be said, they withstood it as long as could be expected from the most determined bravery. At length, however, when all prospect of success became hopeless, they fled in confusion from the field, leaving it covered with their dead and wounded. Their loss was immense. I had at first computed it at 1500, but it is since ascertained to have been much greater. Upon information which is believed to be correct, Colonel Hayne, the inspector-general, reports it to be in total 2600. His report I enclose you. My loss was inconsiderable, being only seven killed and six wounded. Such a disproportion in loss, when we consider the number and kind of troops engaged, must, I know, excite astonishment, and may not everywhere be fully credited; yet I am perfectly satisfied that the account is not exaggerated on the one part, nor underrated on the other.

The enemy, having hastily quitted a post which they had gained possession of on the other side of the river, and we having immediately returned to it, both armies at present occupy their former positions. Whether, after the severe losses he has sustained, he is preparing to return to his shipping, or to make still mightier efforts to attain his first object, I do not pretend to determine. It becomes me to act as though the latter were his intention. One thing, however, seems certain, that if he still calculates on effecting what he has hitherto been unable to accomplish, he must expect considerable reinforcements, as the force with which he landed must undoubtedly be diminished by at least 3000. Besides the loss which he sustained on the night of the 23d ultimo, which is estimated at 400, he cannot have suffered less between that period and the morning of the 18th instant than 3000; having, within that time, been repulsed in two general attempts to drive us from our position, and there having been continual cannonading and skirmishing during the whole of it. Yet he is still able to show a very formidable force.

There is little doubt that the commanding general, Sir Edward Packenham, was killed in the action of the 8th, and that Major-Generals Keane and Gibbs were badly wounded.

Whenever a more leisure moment shall occur, I will take the liberty to make and forward you a more circumstantial account of the several actions, and particularly that of the 8th, in doing which my chief motive will be to render justice to those brave men I have the honour to command, and who have so remarkably distinguished themselves.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
Andrew Jackson.