“hanging lifeless among the branches of trees, and learnt that, they had been riflemen, who chose, during the combat, to fix themselves in these elevated situations, for the combined purposes of securing a good aim, and avoiding danger. Whatever might have been their success in the first of these designs, in the last they failed; for the British soon discovered them, and considering the thing as unfair, refused to give them quarter, and shot them on their perches.”
The disastrous result of an attempt to gain possession of the enemy’s lines near New Orleans, on the 8th Jan. 1815, has been stated at p. 638. et seq. of Vol. I. Part II. Sir Alexander Cochrane, in the despatches which he forwarded to the Admiralty, on that occasion, says:
“The 85th regiment, with a division of seamen under Captain Money, and a division of marines under Major Adair, the whole amounting to about 600 men, commanded by Colonel Thornton, of the 85th, were embarked, and landed on the right bank of the Mississipi, without opposition, just after day-light; and the armed boats moving up the river as the corps advanced, this part of the operation succeeded perfectly, the enemy having; been driven from every position, leaving behind him 17 pieces of cannon.”
On stepping ashore, the first thing Colonel Thornton and his colleagues beheld was a rocket, thrown up as a signal that the main attack was begun. This added wings to their speed. Forming in one little column, and pushing forward a single company as an advanced guard, they hastened on, and, in half an hour, reached a canal, along the opposite bank of which a detachment of Americans was drawn up. To dislodge them was but the work of a moment; a boat with a carronade in her bow, got upon their flank, and gave them a single discharge of grape, while the advanced guard extended its ranks, and approached at double quick time. But the enemy scarcely waited till the latter came within range: – firing a volley, they fled in confusion. This, however, was only an outpost. The main body was some way in rear, and amounted to no fewer than 1500 men.
It was not long before they also presented themselves. Like their countrymen on the other side, they were strongly entrenched; a thick target with a ditch covering their front,
