1812: The Navy's War (71 page)
Having made the critical decision to remain at Villeré’s plantation, Pakenham now had to stop the enfilading fire from the
Carolina
and the
Louisiana
. He brought with him from Wellington’s army in France one of the best artillery officers in the world, Alexander Dickson. A two-day delay followed while Dickson assembled a battery of nine field pieces. At eight o’clock on the morning of December 27, Dickson’s guns opened up on the
Carolina
with red-hot shot. Master Commandant Henley could not get away. The current was running against him, and he was becalmed. In a little over two hours the
Carolina
blew up. Before she exploded, however, Henley and his crew took to the boats, narrowly escaping. Patterson was not on board at the time. One of Henley’s men drowned, and six were wounded; the rest survived. Somehow they managed to rescue two heavy guns. While Dickson was directing his fire exclusively at the
Carolina
, Lieutenant Thompson got his boats out quickly and warped the
Louisiana
upriver, beyond the range of the deadly guns.
Carolina
and the
Louisiana
. He brought with him from Wellington’s army in France one of the best artillery officers in the world, Alexander Dickson. A two-day delay followed while Dickson assembled a battery of nine field pieces. At eight o’clock on the morning of December 27, Dickson’s guns opened up on the
Carolina
with red-hot shot. Master Commandant Henley could not get away. The current was running against him, and he was becalmed. In a little over two hours the
Carolina
blew up. Before she exploded, however, Henley and his crew took to the boats, narrowly escaping. Patterson was not on board at the time. One of Henley’s men drowned, and six were wounded; the rest survived. Somehow they managed to rescue two heavy guns. While Dickson was directing his fire exclusively at the
Carolina
, Lieutenant Thompson got his boats out quickly and warped the
Louisiana
upriver, beyond the range of the deadly guns.
Jackson in the meantime continued strengthening the fortifications in back of Rodriguez Canal. While he did, many of New Orleans’s prominent Creole citizens were getting nervous, wondering how Jackson was going to withstand the obviously superior numbers, training, and munitions of the British. Jackson had already announced that the enemy would never take the city. If he were defeated, he intended to destroy New Orleans before he left. No one doubted that he would. The concerned citizens did not want their great city ruined by Jackson or by Pakenham. To protect themselves and New Orleans, they were seriously considering surrendering.
Sinking the
Carolina
emboldened Pakenham. On the twenty-eighth, he decided to make a reconnaissance in force. If things went well, a full-fledged attack would immediately follow. At daylight, he moved his troops to within half a mile of Jackson’s line and began firing bombs and Congreve rockets. Jackson responded with an unexpectedly strong, well-directed artillery barrage from behind the canal and from the
Louisiana
. A fierce battle ensued, with the
Louisiana
’s twelves and twenty-fours wreaking havoc on Pakenham’s flank. The
Louisiana
’s fire and Jackson’s were so accurate and powerful that Pakenham was forced to pull back and order more heavy artillery brought up from the fleet. Jackson could not counterattack. “I lament that I have not the means of carrying on more offensive operations,” he wrote. “My effective force at this point, does not exceed 3000.”
Carolina
emboldened Pakenham. On the twenty-eighth, he decided to make a reconnaissance in force. If things went well, a full-fledged attack would immediately follow. At daylight, he moved his troops to within half a mile of Jackson’s line and began firing bombs and Congreve rockets. Jackson responded with an unexpectedly strong, well-directed artillery barrage from behind the canal and from the
Louisiana
. A fierce battle ensued, with the
Louisiana
’s twelves and twenty-fours wreaking havoc on Pakenham’s flank. The
Louisiana
’s fire and Jackson’s were so accurate and powerful that Pakenham was forced to pull back and order more heavy artillery brought up from the fleet. Jackson could not counterattack. “I lament that I have not the means of carrying on more offensive operations,” he wrote. “My effective force at this point, does not exceed 3000.”
The following day, December 29, Commodore Patterson removed some of the guns from the
Louisiana
and placed them on the west bank of the Mississippi. He was afraid Dickson would sink the ship, as he had the
Carolina
, and they would lose the guns. Patterson thought the cannon could be put to better use and be better protected on the riverbank. The
Louisiana
was thus retired from further action. She had done great service, however, in two battles on December 23 and the 28. Jackson ordered Brigadier General David Morgan and five hundred sixty Louisiana militiamen to protect Patterson’s new batteries.
Louisiana
and placed them on the west bank of the Mississippi. He was afraid Dickson would sink the ship, as he had the
Carolina
, and they would lose the guns. Patterson thought the cannon could be put to better use and be better protected on the riverbank. The
Louisiana
was thus retired from further action. She had done great service, however, in two battles on December 23 and the 28. Jackson ordered Brigadier General David Morgan and five hundred sixty Louisiana militiamen to protect Patterson’s new batteries.
Pakenham was confident that heavy naval artillery would blast Jackson out of his stronghold. More time was consumed as Pakenham brought four twenty-four-pound carronades and ten eighteen-pound long guns from the distant fleet. While this arduous operation was in progress, Jackson continued strengthening his line, increasing his artillery platforms from five to twelve.
On the opposite side of the Mississippi, three-quarters of a mile from Pakenham’s big guns, Commodore Patterson was busy installing a strong battery with some of the
Louisiana
’s cannon. He soon had one twenty-four-pounder and two twelve-pounders ready to enfilade Pakenham’s line and blast his artillery. Master Commandant Henley had a battery of two twelve-pounders on the west bank of the river overlooking the city.
Louisiana
’s cannon. He soon had one twenty-four-pounder and two twelve-pounders ready to enfilade Pakenham’s line and blast his artillery. Master Commandant Henley had a battery of two twelve-pounders on the west bank of the river overlooking the city.
On January 1, 1815, Pakenham’s artillery was ready to blow a big hole in Jackson’s line through which the infantry could rush into the city. Thick fog covered the battlefield until about ten o’clock. When it lifted, Pakenham’s guns blasted away at Jackson’s headquarters (from which he barely escaped) and his fortifications. A ferocious artillery duel developed, as Jackson, with thirteen heavy guns, and Patterson with three, targeted Pakenham’s artillery. On and on the big guns roared, until, after three hours, Dickson ran out of ammunition. His shooting was unexpectedly poor because of the inadequate gun platforms he had to contrive and also because of the unexpected, deadly accuracy of the American artillery. Jackson’s gunners had serviceable platforms, and they had plenty of ammunition.
It galled Pakenham to have to stand down a second time. It was a blow to the morale of the troops, who had dreams of spending the night in New Orleans. In the artillery exchange, Pakenham had forty-four killed and fifty-five wounded. Jackson had eleven killed and twenty-three wounded. When Pakenham withdrew, Jackson did not pursue. He remained behind his barricade, as he had after the battle on the twenty-eighth.
Pakenham now decided to wait for Lambert’s brigade to arrive. When it did, he planned to assault Jackson with everything he had. He intended to capture Patterson’s battery and turn the guns on Jackson, while Dickson’s artillery on the east bank blasted the American fortifications and the infantry stormed them.
Pakenham ordered Colonel Thornton to organize a surprise night attack on Patterson with 1,200 troops. To accomplish this, Cochrane widened and deepened Villeré’s Canal, so that boats could carry a large raiding party to the other side of the river. This took more time, and while the British were doing it, Jackson extended his line well into the cypress swamp to protect his left flank. The previous battles had shown that area to be vulnerable. General Coffee was in charge of Jackson’s left.
Patterson was also strengthening his position. He brought up four more twelve-pounders and two twenty-four-pounders from the
Louisiana
and erected another battery. And he added a twelve-pounder to General Morgan’s force. Patterson now had ten big naval guns ready to use against Pakenham’s left flank. The batteries themselves were weakly defended, however. Morgan had fewer than six hundred inexperienced, poorly trained Louisiana militiamen. Jackson was not giving Patterson and the west bank full support because he was convinced the main British thrust would come on the east side of the river.
Louisiana
and erected another battery. And he added a twelve-pounder to General Morgan’s force. Patterson now had ten big naval guns ready to use against Pakenham’s left flank. The batteries themselves were weakly defended, however. Morgan had fewer than six hundred inexperienced, poorly trained Louisiana militiamen. Jackson was not giving Patterson and the west bank full support because he was convinced the main British thrust would come on the east side of the river.
General Lambert reached the fleet off Cat Island on January 1, but getting his troops to the battlefield consumed four days. By January 5 all the men were at the camp below Rodriguez Canal. Again, the delay helped Jackson. On January 3, more than 2,300 green Kentucky militiamen, under Major General John Thomas, arrived in New Orleans. They had only seven hundred guns, however. Jackson immediately ordered 500 of the troops to cross the river and reinforce Morgan.
Each night, a few of Jackson’s sharpshooters stole up to the British outposts and picked off the sentries with deadly accurate rifle fire. The riflemen created such havoc that Pakenham actually protested this method of warfare to Jackson, who scoffed at him, reminding him that he was invading another country.
Finding the constant delays intolerable and knowing they were sapping the morale of his troops, Pakenham decided to assault Jackson’s line on the morning of the eighth. Ladders and fascines were readied to fill the ditch in front of Jackson’s great mud wall and scale it. Colonel Thornton prepared to cross the river on the evening of the seventh, seize Patterson’s guns, and enfilade Jackson while Pakenham made a frontal attack with the main body of his troops.
Fifty boats assembled in Villeré’s canal to move Thornton’s men. The colonel planned to depart for the west bank at nine o’clock in the evening, but the extended canal collapsed, and few boats could be brought up to take him across. He did manage to embark six hundred men, but the current took them beyond their planned landing place, destroying Pakenham’s timetable. Nonetheless, Thornton carried on, still determined to attack Morgan and then Patterson.
Behind Rodriguez Canal, Jackson had erected a strong fortification two to three feet thick. His 5,200 troops could wait there, protected behind a rampart, while the British advanced in the open, easy targets for his sharpshooters and especially for his heavy guns. Jackson had twelve artillery batteries on his line. Lieutenant Ortho Norris and seventeen seamen from the
Carolina
manned number two battery with one twenty-four-pounder. Lieutenant C. E. Crawley of the
Carolina
commanded battery number four with one thirty-two-pounder, also manned by seamen from the
Carolina
. Only battery number three, consisting of two twenty-four-pounders, was operated by Baratarian pirates.
Carolina
manned number two battery with one twenty-four-pounder. Lieutenant C. E. Crawley of the
Carolina
commanded battery number four with one thirty-two-pounder, also manned by seamen from the
Carolina
. Only battery number three, consisting of two twenty-four-pounders, was operated by Baratarian pirates.
ON THE MORNING of January 8 Pakenham arose at five o’clock to find that Thornton had failed to make it across the river in time to coordinate with him. He was not surprised. He had always been skeptical about Thornton’s ability to get his men across the river in a timely fashion. Pakenham was prepared to go on without him. He was supremely confident in the superiority of his artillery and his regular infantry when pitted against American militiamen. He ordered Lieutenant John Craley to fire a rocket, signaling the attack to begin. Pakenham knew that without Thornton his casualties would be much higher, but he was willing to accept the losses rather than call off another action.
It was no mystery to Jackson that Pakenham was going to attack, and he was ready. Sailing Master Johnson of the American navy had captured a British sloop in Lake Borgne, and the crew gave details of Pakenham’s plans. There were many British deserters reporting to Jackson as well. He knew what was coming and when.
At six o’clock a heavy mist covered the battlefield as Dickson got his twenty heavy guns ready. He was to commence firing only when he heard musketry fire. Major General Sir Samuel Gibbs led the main thrust with 2,300 regulars against Jackson’s center left. Gibbs’s column stepped forward, two hundred yards to the left of the cypress swamp. When they were five hundred yards from Rodriguez Canal, the fog suddenly lifted, and Jackson’s men got a good view of what was coming at them. They waited with their loaded weapons for the enemy to get closer. Suddenly, American artillery opened fire. Dickson immediately replied, and the battle was on in earnest. When Gibbs was three hundred fifty yards from the canal, Jackson’s sharpshooters opened fire with their deadly rifles.
General Keane, meanwhile, was advancing against Jackson’s center right with 1,200 men. As Keane’s column moved forward, Commodore Patterson kept up a heavy fire on it. Ahead of Keane was Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Robert Rennie with some light troops advancing to capture Jackson’s forward redoubt near the river and render the guns useless so that they could not enfilade the area directly in front of Jackson’s line.
If Gibbs made a breakthrough, Keane was to immediately move to the right and join him. Gibbs was experiencing severe problems, however. Jackson’s number two and four batteries, those manned by seamen from the
Carolina
, were cutting a wide swath through Gibbs’s advancing line with grapeshot. Jackson wrote, “Lieutenant Norris of the Navy, with Mr. Walker Martin, and a detachment of seamen, was stationed at the 2nd battery, and Lieutenant Crawley, with Mr. W. Livingston, master’s mate, with a similar detachment, were stationed at number four with a 32-pounder, which was remarkably well directed.” The Baratarians, led by captains Dominique and Belluche, manned battery number 3, and they were commended by Jackson as well for “the gallantry with which they have redeemed the pledge they gave at the opening of the campaign to defend the country.”
Carolina
, were cutting a wide swath through Gibbs’s advancing line with grapeshot. Jackson wrote, “Lieutenant Norris of the Navy, with Mr. Walker Martin, and a detachment of seamen, was stationed at the 2nd battery, and Lieutenant Crawley, with Mr. W. Livingston, master’s mate, with a similar detachment, were stationed at number four with a 32-pounder, which was remarkably well directed.” The Baratarians, led by captains Dominique and Belluche, manned battery number 3, and they were commended by Jackson as well for “the gallantry with which they have redeemed the pledge they gave at the opening of the campaign to defend the country.”
The fascines and ladders that were supposed to be available to Gibbs in large quantities and that he was counting on were not on hand because of a mix-up. But it hardly mattered. His men were being mowed down by the incessant, accurate fire from rifles, muskets, and especially the naval guns. Through it all, however, the disciplined British regulars kept reforming and marching forward to be slaughtered. Jackson reported that “twice the column which approached me on my left, was repulsed by the troops of General Carroll, those of General Coffee, and a division of the Kentucky militia, and twice [the British] formed again and renewed their assault.”
Eventually, Gibbs’s troops broke and fled to the nearby swamp to get away from the grapeshot and rifles. The general tried to rally them, as did Pakenham, who road up on his horse and waved them forward. He was having some success when Gibbs suddenly fell, mortally wounded. Then Pakenham was hit in the knee by grapeshot, while a musket ball felled his horse. He was soon hit a second time, and a third struck him in the back, killing him. Utter confusion then reigned.
General Keane, meanwhile, having been ordered by Pakenham himself to turn his column right and join Gibbs, was trying to do so when the deadly fire from Jackson’s line, and from Patterson across the river, forced Keane’s regulars to hit the ground and seek cover. Soon a ball struck Keane in the groin and mortally wounded him.
Three of Britain’s generals were now out of action; only Lambert remained. He was an experienced commander, but he had only arrived at the front on January 5. His men had been held in reserve, but when conditions deteriorated, Pakenham ordered them into the fray. Lambert was moving 1,400 of them forward, but all around was slaughter and chaos, and he called a halt to the advance. If his reserves were decimated as the rest of the army had been, he would be forced to surrender to Jackson, something he wanted to avoid at all costs.
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