ADVANCE.
In the mean time the rest of the troops were landing as fast as
possible, and hastening to join their comrades. Though the advance had
set out from Pine Island by themselves, they did not occupy all the
boats in the fleet. Part of the second brigade, therefore, had embarked
about twelve hours after their departure; and rowing leisurely on, were
considerably more than half way across the lakes when the action began.
In the stillness of night, however, it is astonishing at what distance
a noise is heard. Though they must have been at least twenty miles from
the Bayo when the schooner first opened her fire, the sound reaching
them roused the rowers from their indolence, who, pulling with all
their might, hurried on, whilst the most profound silence reigned among
the troops, and, gaining the creek in little more than three hours,
sent fresh reinforcements to share in the danger and glory of the
night.
Nor was a moment lost by the sailors in returning to the island.
Intelligence of the combat spread like wildfire; the boats were loaded
even beyond what was strictly safe, and thus, by exerting themselves in
a degree almost unparalleled, our gallant seamen succeeded in bringing
the whole army into position before dark on the 24th. The second and
third brigades, therefore, now took up their ground upon the spot where
the late battle had been fought, and, resting their right upon the
woody morass, extended so far towards the river, as that the advance by
wheeling up might continue the line across the entire plain.
But instead of taking part in this formation, the advance was still
fettered to the bank, from which it was additionally prevented from
moving by the arrival of another large ship, which, cast anchor about a
mile above the schooner. Thus were three battalions kept stationary by
the guns of these two formidable floating batteries, and it was clear
that no attempt to extricate them could be made without great loss,
unless under cover of night. During the whole of the 24th, therefore,
they remained in this uncomfortable situation; but as soon as darkness
had well set in, a change of position was effected. Withdrawing the
troops, company by company, from behind the bank, General Keane
stationed them in the village of huts, by which means the high road was
abandoned to the protection of a piquet, and the left of the army
covered by a large chateau.
Being now placed beyond risk of serious annoyance from the shipping the
whole army remained quiet for the night. How long we were to continue
in this state nobody appeared to know; not a whisper was circulated as
to the time of advancing, nor a surmise ventured respecting the next
step likely to be taken. In our guides to whose rumours we had before
listened with avidity, no confidence was reposed. It was quite evident,
either that they had purposely deceived us, or that their information
was gathered from a most imperfect source; and hence, though they were
not exactly placed in confinement, they were strictly watched, and
treated more like spies than deserters. Instead of an easy conquest, we
had already met with a vigorous opposition; instead of finding the
inhabitants ready and eager to join us, we found the houses deserted,
the cattle and horses driven away, and every appearance of hostility.
To march by the only road was rendered impracticable; so completely was
it commanded by the shipping. In a word, all things had turned out
diametrically opposite to what had been anticipated; and it appeared
that, instead of a trifling affair more likely to fill our pockets than
to add to our renown, we had embarked in an undertaking which presented
difficulties not to be surmounted without patience and determination.
Having effected this change of position, and covered the front of his
army with a strong chain of outposts, General Keane, as I have said,
remained quiet during the remainder of the night, and on the morrow was
relieved from further care and responsibility by the unexpected arrival
of Sir Edward Pakenham and General Gibbs. As soon as the death of Ross
was known in London, the former of these officers was dispatched to
take upon himself the command of the army. Sailing immediately with the
latter as his second in command, he had been favoured during the whole
voyage by a fresh and fair wind, and now arrived in time to see his
troops brought into a predicament from which all his abilities could
scarcely expect to extricate them. Nor were the troops themselves
ignorant of the unfavourable circumstances in which they stood. Hoping
everything, therefore, from a change, they greeted their new leader
with a hearty cheer; whilst the confidence which past events had tended
in some degree to dispel, returned once more to the bosoms of all. It
was Christmas-day, and a number of officers, clubbing their little
stock of provisions, resolved to dine together in memory of former
times. But at so melancholy a Christmas dinner I do not recollect at
any time to have been present. We dined in a barn; of plates, knives,
and forks, there was a dismal scarcity; nor could our fare boast of
much either in intrinsic good quality or in the way of cooking. These,
however, were mere matters of merriment; it was the want of many
well-known and beloved faces that gave us pain; nor were any other
subjects discussed besides the amiable qualities of those who no longer
formed part of our mess, and never would again form part of it. A few
guesses as to the probable success of future attempts alone relieved
this topic, and now and then a shot from the schooner drew our
attention to ourselves; for though too far removed from the river to be
in much danger, we were still within cannon-shot of our enemy. Nor was
she inactive in her attempts to molest. Elevating her guns to a great
degree, she contrived occasionally to strike the wall of the building
within which we sat; but the force of the ball was too far spent to
penetrate, and could therefore produce no serious alarm.
Whilst we were thus sitting at table a loud shriek was heard after one
of these explosions, and on running out we found that a shot had taken
effect in the body of an unfortunate soldier. I mention this incident
because I never beheld in any human being so great a tenacity of life.
Though fairly cut in two at the lower part of the belly, the poor
wretch lived for nearly an hour, gasping for breath and giving signs
even of pain.
But to return to my narrative. As soon as he reached the camp Sir
Edward proceeded to examine with a soldier’s eye every point and place
within view. Of the American army nothing, whatever could be perceived
except a corps of observation, composed of five or six hundred mounted
riflemen, which hovered along our front and watched our motions. The
town itself was completely hid; nor was it possible to see beyond the
distance of a very few miles either in front or rear, so flat and
unbroken was the face of the country. Under these circumstances little
insight into the state of affairs could be obtained by reconnoitring.
The only, thing, indeed, which he could learn from it was, that while
the vessels kept their present station upon river no advance could be
made; and as he felt that every moment’s delay was injurious to us and
favourable to the enemy, he resolved to remove these incumbrances and
to push forward as soon as possible.
With this view nine field-pieces, two howitzers, and one mortar were
brought down to the brink of the stream as soon as it was dark. Working
parties were likewise ordered out, by whom was thrown up opposite to
the schooner; and having got all things in readiness, at dawn on the
26th a heavy cannonade was opened upon her with red-hot shot. It was
not long before we could perceive her crew hastening into their boats,
whilst the smoke which began to rise from her decks proved that the
balls had taken effect. She was, in fact, on fire, and being abandoned
without resistance, in little more than an hour she blew up. In itself
the sight was a fine one, but to us it was peculiarly gratifying, for
we could not but experience something like satiated revenge at the
destruction of a vessel from which we had suffered so much damage. A
loud shout accordingly followed the explosion, and the guns were
immediately turned against the ship. But the fate of her companion had
warned her not to remain till she herself should be attacked. Setting
every inch of canvas, and hoisting out her boats, she began, to stem
the stream at the very instant the schooner took fire, and being
impelled forward both by towing and sailing, she succeeded in getting
beyond the range of shot before the guns could be brought to bear. One
shell, however, was thrown with admirable precision, which falling upon
her deck caused considerable execution; but excepting this, she escaped
without injury, and did not anchor again till she had got too far for
pursuit.
Having thus removed all apparent obstacles to his future progress, the
General made dispositions for a speedy advance. Dividing the army into
two columns, he appointed General Gibbs to the command of one, and
General Keane to the command of the other. The left column, led on by
the latter officer, consisted of the 95th, the 85th, the 93rd, and one
black corps; the right, of the 4th, 21st, 44th, and the other black
corps. The artillery, of which we had now ten pieces in the field,
though at present attached to the left column, was designed to act as
circumstances and the nature of the ground would permit; whilst the
dragoons, few of whom had as yet provided themselves with horses, were
appointed to guard the hospitals, and to secure the wounded from any
sudden surprise or molestation from the rear.
But the day was too far spent in making these arrangements, and in
clearing the way for future operations, to permit any movement before
the morrow. The whole of the 26th was therefore spent in bringing up
stores, ammunition, and a few heavy guns from the ships, which being
placed in battery upon the banks of the river, secured us against the
return of our floating adversary. All this was done quietly enough, nor
was there any cause of alarm till after sunset; but from that time till
towards dawn, we were kept in a constant state of anxiety and
agitation. Sending down small bodies of riflemen, the American General
harassed our piquets, killed and wounded a few of the sentinels, and
prevented the main body from obtaining any sound refreshing sleep.
Scarcely had the troops lain down when they were roused by a sharp
firing at the outposts, which lasted only till they were in order, and
then ceased; but as soon as they had dispersed and had once more
addressed themselves to repose, the same cause of alarm returned, and
they were again called to their ranks. Thus was the entire night spent
in watching, or at best in broken and disturbed slumbers, than which
nothing is more trying, both to the health and spirits of an army.
With the piquets, again, it fared even worse. For the outposts of an
army to sleep is at all times considered as a thing impossible; but in
modern and civilized warfare they are nevertheless looked upon as in
some degree sacred. Thus, whilst two European armies remain inactively
facing each other, the outposts of neither are molested, unless a
direct attack upon the main body be intended; nay, so far is this tacit
good understanding carried, that I have myself seen French and English
sentinels not more than twenty yards apart. But the Americans
entertained no such chivalric notions. An enemy was to them an enemy,
whether alone or in the midst of five thousand companions; and they
therefore counted the death of every individual as so much taken from
the strength of the whole. In point of fact they no doubt reasoned
correctly, but to us at least it appeared an ungenerous return to
barbarity. Whenever they could approach unperceived within proper
distance of our watch-fires, six or eight riflemen would fire amongst
the party that sat around them, while one or two, stealing as close to
each sentinel as a regard to their own safety would permit, acted the
part of assassins rather than that of soldiers, and attempted to murder
him in cold blood. For the officers, likewise, when going their rounds,
they constantly lay in wait, and thus, by a continued dropping fire,
they not only wounded some of those against whom their aim was
directed, but occasioned considerable anxiety and uneasiness throughout
the whole line.
It was on this night, and under these circumstances, that I was
indebted to the vigilance of my faithful dog for my life. Amid all the
bustle of landing, and throughout the tumult of the nocturnal battle,
she never strayed from me; at least if she did lose me for a time, she
failed not to trace me out again as soon as order was restored, for I
found her by my side when the dawn of the 24th came in, and I never
lost sight of her afterwards. It was my fortune on the night of the
26th to be put in charge of an outpost on the left front of the army;
on such occasions I seldom experienced the slightest inclination to
sleep; and on the present, I made it a point to visit my sentinels at
least once in every, half-hour. Going my rounds for this purpose, it
was necessary that I should pass a little copse of low underwood, just
outside the line of our videttes; and I did pass it again and again,
without meeting with any adventure. But about an hour after midnight,
my dog, which, as usual, trotted a few paces before me, suddenly
stopped short at the edge of the thicket, and began to bark violently,
and in great apparent anger. I knew the animal well enough to be aware
that some cause must exist for such conduct; and I too stopped short,
till I should ascertain whether danger were near. It was well for me
that I had been thus warned; for at the instant of my halting, about
half a dozen muskets were discharged from the copse, the muzzles of
which, had I taken five steps forward, must have touched my body. The
balls whizzed harmlessly past my head; and, on my returning the fire
with the pistol which I carried in my hand, the ambuscade broke up, and
the party composing it took to their heels. I was Quixote enough to
dash sword in hand into the thicket after them: but no one waited for
me; so I continued my perambulations in peace.
MARCH.
Having continued this detestable system of warfare till towards
morning, the enemy retired and left us at rest. But as soon as day
began to break, our piquets were called in, and the troops formed in
order of attack. The right column, under General Gibbs, took post near
the skirts of the morass, throwing out skirmishers half way across the
plain, whilst the left column drew up upon the road covered by the
rifle corps, which in extended order met the skirmishers from the
other. With this last division went the artillery, already well
supplied with horses; and, at the signal given the whole moved forward.
It was a clear frosty morning, the mists had dispersed, and the sun
shone brightly upon our arms when we began our march. The enemy’s corps
of observation fell back as we advanced, without offering in any way to
impede our progress, and it was impossible to guess, ignorant as we
were of the position of his main body, at what moment opposition might
be expected. Nor, in truth, was it matter of much anxiety. Our spirits,
in spite of the troubles of the night, were good, and our expectations
of success were high, consequently many rude jests were bandied about,
and many careless words spoken: for soldiers are, of all classes of
men, the freest from care, and on that account, perhaps, the most
happy. By being continually exposed to it, danger, with them, ceases to
be frightful; of death they have no more terror than the beasts that
perish; and even hardships, such as cold, wet, hunger, and broken rest,
lose at least part of their disagreeableness, by the frequency of their
recurrence.
Moving on in this merry mood, we advanced about four or five miles
without the smallest check or hindrance; when, at length, we found
ourselves in view of the enemy’s army, posted in a very advantageous
manner. About forty yards in their front was a canal, which extended
from the morass to within a short distance of the high road. Along
their line were thrown up breastworks, not indeed completed, but even
now formidable. Upon the road at several other points were erected
powerful batteries; whilst the ship, with a large flotilla of
gun-boats, flanked the whole position from the river.
ATTACK.
When I say that we came in sight of the enemy, I do not mean that he
was gradually exposed to us in such a manner as to leave time for cool
examination and reflection. On the right, indeed, he was seen for some
time, but on the left a few houses built at a turning in the road
entirely concealed him; nor was it till they gained that turning, and
beheld the muzzles of his guns pointed towards them, that those who
moved in this direction were aware of their proximity to danger. But
that danger was indeed near they were quickly taught; for scarcely had
the head of the column passed the houses when a deadly fire was opened
from both the battery and the shipping. That the Americans are
excellent marksmen, as well with artillery as with rifles, we have had
frequent cause to acknowledge; but, perhaps, on no occasion did they
assert their claim to the title of good artillery-men more effectually
than on the present. Scarce a ball passed over or fell short of its
mark, but all striking full into the midst of our ranks, occasioned
terrible havoc. The shrieks of the wounded, therefore, the crash of
firelocks, and the fall of such as were killed; caused at first some
little confusion; and what added to the panic was, that from the houses
beside which we stood bright flames suddenly burst out. The Americans,
expecting this attack, had filled them with combustibles for the
purpose; and directing against them one or two guns, loaded with
red-hot shot, in an instant set them on fire. The scene was altogether
very sublime. A tremendous cannonade mowed down our ranks, and deafened
us with its roar; whilst two large chateaux and their outbuildings
almost scorched us with the flames, and blinded us with the smoke which
they emitted.
The infantry, however, was not long suffered to remain thus exposed;
but being ordered to quit the path and to form line in the fields, the
artillery was brought up, and opposed to that of the enemy. But the
contest was in every respect unequal, since their artillery far
exceeded ours, both in numerical strength and weight of metal. The
consequence was, that in half an hour two of our field-pieces and one
field-mortar were dismounted: many of the gunners were killed; and the
rest, after an ineffectual attempt to silence the fire of the shipping,
were obliged to retire.
In the mean time the infantry having formed line, advanced under a
heavy discharge of round and grape shot, till they were checked by the
appearance of the canal. Of its depth they were of course ignorant, and
to attempt its passage without having ascertained whether it could be
forded might have been productive of fatal consequences. A halt was
accordingly ordered, and the men were commanded to shelter themselves
as well as they could from the enemy’s fire. For this purpose they were
hurried into a wet ditch, of sufficient depth to cover the knees,
where, leaning forward, they concealed themselves behind some high
rushes which grew upon its brink, and thus escaped many bullets which
fell around them in all directions.
RETREAT.
Thus fared it with the left of the army, whilst the right, though less
exposed to the cannonade, was not more successful in its object. The
same impediment which checked one column forced the other likewise to
pause; and after having driven in an advanced body of the enemy, and
endeavoured, without effect, to penetrate through the marsh, it also
was commanded to halt. In a word, all thought of attacking was for this
day abandoned; and it now only remained to withdraw the troops from
their present perilous situation, with as little loss as possible.
The first thing to be done was to remove the dismounted guns. Upon this
enterprise a party of seamen were employed, who, running forward to the
spot where they lay, lifted them, in spite of the whole of the enemy’s
fire, and bore them off in triumph. As soon as this was effected,
regiment after regiment stole away; not in a body, but one by one,
under the same discharge which saluted their approach. But a retreat
thus conducted necessarily occupied much time. Noon had therefore long
passed before the last corps was brought off; and when we again began
to muster twilight was approaching. We did not, however, retire to our
former position; but having fallen back only about two miles from the
canal, where it was supposed that we should be beyond reach of
annoyance from the American artillery, we there established ourselves
for the night, having suffered less during the day than, from our
exposed situation and the enemy’s heavy fire, might have been expected.
The ground which we now occupied resembled, in almost every particular,
that which we had quitted. We again extended across the plain, from the
marsh to the river; no wood or cover of any description concealing our
line, or obstructing the view of either army; while both in front and
rear was an open space, laid out in fields and intersected by narrow
ditches. Our outposts, however were pushed forward to some houses
within a few hundred yards of the enemy’s works, sending out advanced
sentinels even farther; and the head-quarters of the army were
established near the spot where the action of the 23rd had been fought.
PREPARATIONS.
In this state we remained during the 28th, the 29th, and 30th, without
any efforts being made to fortify our own position, or to annoy that of
the enemy. Some attempts were, I believe, set on foot to penetrate into
the wood on the right of our line, and to discover a path through the
morass, by which the enemy’s left might be turned. But all of these
proved fruitless, and a few valuable lives having been sacrificed, the
idea was finally laid aside. In the meanwhile the American General
directed the whole of his attention to the strengthening of his post.
Day and night we could observe numerous parties at work upon his lines,
whilst from the increased number of tents, which almost every hour
might be discerned, it was evident that strong reinforcements were
continually pouring into his camp. Nor did he leave us totally
unmolested. By giving to his guns a great degree of elevation, he
contrived at last to reach our bivouac; and thus were we constantly
under a cannonade which, though it did little execution, proved
nevertheless extremely annoying. Besides this, he now began to erect
batteries on the opposite bank of the river; from which a flanking fire
could be thrown across the entire front of his position. In short, he
adopted every precaution which prudence could suggest, and for the
reception of which the nature of his ground was so admirably adapted.
Under these circumstances it was evident that the longer an attack was
delayed the less likely was it to succeed; that something must be done
immediately every one perceived, but how to proceed was the difficulty.
If we attempted to storm the American lines, we should expose ourselves
to almost certain destruction from their artillery; to turn them was
impossible; and to draw their troops by any manoeuvring from behind
their entrenchments was a thing altogether out of the question. There
seemed therefore to be but one practicable mode of assault; which was,
to treat these field-works as one would treat a regular fortification;
by erecting breaching batteries against them, and silencing, if it were
possible, at least some of their guns. To this plan, therefore, our
leader had recourse; and, in consequence, the whole of these three days
were employed in landing heavy cannon, bringing up ammunition, and
making such preparations as might have sufficed for a siege.
At length, having completed his arrangements, and provided such means
as were considered sufficient to ensure success, General Pakenham
determined to commence operations without delay. One half of the army
was accordingly ordered out on the night of the 31st, and marched to
the front, passing the piquets, and halting about three hundred yards
from the enemy’s line. Here it was resolved to throw up a chain of
works; and here the greater part of this detachment, laying down their
firelocks, applied themselves vigorously to their tasks, whilst the
rest stood armed and prepared for their defence.
The night was dark, and our people maintained a profound silence; by
which means, not an idea of what was going on existed in the American
camp. As we laboured, too, with all diligence, six batteries were
completed long before dawn, in which were mounted thirty pieces of
heavy cannon; when, falling back a little way, we united ourselves to
the remainder of the infantry, and lay down behind some rushes, in
readiness to act, as soon as we should be wanted.
In the erection of these batteries, a circumstance occurred worthy of
notice, on account of its singularity. I have already stated that the
whole of this district was covered with the stubble of sugar-cane; and
I might have added, that every storehouse and barn, attached to the
different mansions scattered over it, was filled with barrels of sugar.
In throwing up these works, the sugar was used instead of earth.
Rolling the hogsheads towards the front, they were placed upright in
the parapets of batteries; and it was computed that sugar to the value
of many thousand pounds sterling was thus disposed of.