222 Naval War of 1812 



rather thinly covered with fields and farmhouses, 

 about a mile in breadth, and bounded on one side 

 by the river, on the other by gloomy and impene 

 trable cypress swamps; and there was no obstacle 

 interposed between the British camp and the city 

 it menaced. 



At two in the afternoon word was brought to 

 Jackson that the foe had reached the river bank, 

 and without a moment's delay the old backwoods 

 fighter prepared to strike a rough first blow. At 

 once, and as if by magic, the city started from her 

 state of rest into one of fierce excitement and eager 

 preparation. The alarm-guns were fired; in every 

 quarter the war-drums were beaten; while, amid 

 the din and clamor, all the regulars and marines, 

 the best of the Creole militia, and the vanguard of 

 the Tennesseeans, under Coffee, forming a total 

 of a little more than two thousand men, 12 were 

 assembled in great haste ; and the gray of the winter 



words, to get at the real British force in an action, even sup 

 posing there are no artillerymen or engineers present, 13 per 

 cent must be added to the given number, which includes only 

 rank and file. Making this addition, Keane had 2,310 men. 

 The Americans greatly overestimated his force, Latour mak 

 ing it 4,980. 



1-2 General Jackson, in his official letter, says only 1,500; 

 but Latour, in a detailed statement, makes it 2,024; exclu 

 sive of 107 Mississippi dragoons who marched with the col 

 umn, but being on horseback had to stay behind, and took 

 no part in the action. Keane thought he had been attacked 

 by 5,000 men. 



