358 Life of Andrew Jackson. 



foiled their utmost efforts. Instantly the charge was made, and with 

 such rapidity that our soldiers at the out-posts with difficulty fled in. 



"The British batteries, which had been demolished on the 1st of 

 the month, had been re-established during the preceding night, and 

 heavy pieces of cannon mounted, to aid in their intended operations. 

 These now opened, and showers of bombs and balls were poured 

 upon our line, while the air was lighted with their congreve rockets. 

 The two division*, commanded by Sir Edward Pakenham in person 

 and supported by Generals Keane and Gibbs, pressed forward, the 

 right against the centre of General Carroll's command, the left 

 against our redoubt on the levee. A thick fog that obscured the 

 morning enabled them to approach within a short distance of our 

 entrenchment before they were discovered. They were now per- 

 ceived advancing with firm, quick, and steady pace, in column, with 

 a front of sixty or seventy deep. Our troops, who had for some 

 time been in readiness and waiting their appearance, gave three 

 cheers, and instantly the whole line was lighted with the blaze of 

 their fire. A burst of artillery and small arms, pouring with de- 

 structive aim upon them, mowed down their front and arrested their 

 advance. In our musketry there was not a moment's intermission : 

 as one party discharged their pieces another succeeded ; alternately 

 loading and appearing, no pause could be perceived it was one 

 continued volley. The columns already perceived their dangerous 

 and exposed situation. Notwithstanding the severity of our fire, 

 which few troops could for a moment have withstood, some of those 

 brave men pressed on, and succeeded in gaining the ditch in front of 

 our works, where they remained during the action, and were after- 

 wards made prisoners. The horror before them was too great to be 

 withstood, and already were the British troops seen wavering in 

 their determination, and receding from the conflict. At this moment, 

 Sir Edward Pakenham, hastening to the front, endeavoured to 

 encourage and inspire them with renewed zeal. His example was 

 of short continuance : he soon fell mortally wounded in the arms of 

 his aide-de camp, not far from our line. Generals Gibbs and Keane 

 also fell, and were borne from the field dangerously wounded. At 

 this moment General Lambert, who was advancing at a small dis- 

 tance in the rear with the reserve, met the columns precipitately 

 retreating-, and in great confusion. His efforts to stop them were 

 unavailing, they continued retreating until they reached a ditch, at 

 the distance of four hundred years, where, a momentary safety being 

 found, they were rallied and halted. 



"The loss of the British in the main attack on the left bank has 

 been at different times variously stated. The killed, wounded, and 

 prisoners, ascertained on the next day after the battle by Colonel 

 Hayne, the inspector- general, places it at twenty-six hundred. Gene- 

 ral Lambert's report to Lord Bathurst makes it but two thousand and 

 seventy. From prisoners, however, and information and circum- 

 stances derived through other sources, it must have been even greater 

 than is stated by either. Among them was the commander-in-chief, 

 and Major-General Gibbs, who died of his wounds the next day, 

 besides many of their most valuable and distinguished officers, while 



