240 Naval War of 1812 



earthworks, mounting three field-pieces, which were 

 thrown up just below it, and stretched from the 

 river about 200 yards into the plain. The line of 

 defence was extended by a ditch for about a quarter 

 of a mile further, when it ended, and from there 

 to the morass, half a mile distant, there were no 

 defensive works at all. General Morgan, a very 

 poor militia officer, 39 was in command, with a force 

 of 550 Louisiana militia, some of them poorly 

 armed; and on the night before the engagement he 

 was reinforced by 250 Kentuckians, poorly armed, 

 undisciplined, and worn out with fatigue. 40 



All through the night of the 7th a strange, mur- 

 murous clangor arose from trie British camp, and 

 was borne on the moist air to the lines of their 

 slumbering foes. The blows of pickaxe and spade 



39 He committed every possible fault, excepting showing 

 lack of courage. He placed his works at a very broad in- 

 stead of at a narrow part of the plain, against the advice of 

 Latour, who had. Jackson's approval (Latour, 167). He con- 

 tinued his earthworks but a very short distance inland, mak- 

 ing them exceedingly strong in front, and absolutely defence- 

 less on account of their flanks being unprotected. He did not 

 mount the lighter guns of the water-battery on his lines as he 

 ought to have done. Having a force of 800 men, too weak 

 anyhow, he promptly divided it; and, finally, in the fight 

 itself, he stationed a small number of absolutely raw troops 

 in a thin line on the open, with their flank in air; while a 

 much larger number of older troops were kept to defend 

 a much shorter line, behind a strong breastwork, with their 

 flanks covered. 



40 Latour, 170. 



