riors, I believe from the tribes of the accompanied by General Keane in Cherokees and Chactaws, likewise ap- person, the heads of the engineer and peared amongst us. With the former commissariat departments, a compepersonages I found an opportunity of tent number of medical officers, and holding some conversation. When the Indian chiefs. Two of the de asked as to their motives for deserting, serters were likewise put on board, they made no hesitation in declaring to act as guides as soon as we should that they had come over to the side land; and a moderate supply of amwhich they believed to be the strong- munition, under the care of a storeest, perfectly satisfied that there was keeper, was appointed to follow. The no force in Louisiana capable of of- morning was dark and cloudy, and fering to us any serious resistance. a cold damp wind gave promise of a They spoke of General Jackson as an heavy rain before many hours should able man; but as one so hated on ac- pass. Nevertheless, we pushed off in count of his tyranny and violence, the highest possible spirits, and only that not an inhabitant of the State repressed our cheering because silence would adhere to his standard, after had been strictly enjoined. they beheld the British flag fairly un- The boat in wbich Charlton and furled. They gave us, in short, every myself were embarked was a man-ofreason to believe that our difficulties war's barge, rowed by six oars of a would all cease as soon as we reached side, and commanded by a midshipthe mainland. With such a prospect man. Besides the seamen, there were before us, the reader will not be sur. crowded into it not fewer than sixty prised to learn, that one feeling, and men and four officers, so that the full one only, pervaded the whole arma complement amounted to seventy-eight ment. We longed for the moment souls. Under these circumstances, the which should see us fairly in the field, space granted to each individual was and our longings were soon gratified. not, as may be imagined, very commo

Whilst the troops were thus amu- dious. It was, indeed, by no means sing themselves in Pine Island, boats an easy task to shift our postures after from every ship in the fleet, transports they had once been assumed, for we as well as vessels of war, were assem- were as completely wedged together bling in large nunbers along the beach. as were ever a child's bricks in their To protect the rear against annoyance, box, or a bundle of logs in what is each launch, as well as some of the called a cord of wood. As long, barges, was armed with a twelve-pound however, as it continued dry overcarronade in the bows; whilst the six head, the inconvenience thence arising cutters lately captured from the ene- was, comparatively speaking, little felt; my, with all the tenders and smalle but we had not proceeded more than a craft brought from the Chesapeake, mile from the place of embarkation, prepared to accompany them. In spite when the black clouds suddenly opened, of the most strenuous exertions, how- and the rain fell as if a thousand shows ever, it was found that the means of er-baths had been all at once opened transport were extremely deficient. upon us. Then, indeed, our situation After everything, even to the captains' became comfortless enough. In the gigs, had been put in requisition, it difficulty of adjusting ourselves at all, appeared that hardly one-third of the cloaks and greatcoats necessarily lost army could move at a time; but even their clasps, and the neck and shoulthus our leaders determined upon en- ders were left bare. There was no retering immediately upon the business. medying the evil now; and though They were well aware, that no delay water ran down our backs and shoulcould possibly bring benefit to us, ders like the sewers in Ludgate Hill whilst every hour of respite would after a thunder-storm, yet was there have enabled the enemy to mature his much in the appearance of all about plans for our reception.

us calculated to carry our thoughts beAt nine o'clock in the morning of yond the present moment, -at all the 22d, the advance of the army, un- eveïts, to make us think lightly of der the command of Colonel Thorne present grievances. Not fewer than ton, stepped into the boats. It con- an hundred boats, of all shapes and sisted in all of about fifteen hundred sizes, were making way in regular coinfantry, two pieces of light cannon, lumn over the surface of the lake; and a troop of rockets, and it was they were all filled, to repletion, with

u

was embarked drew too much water, itself safely in bivouac by ten o'clock and in a few minutes went aground, on the morning of the 23d. We could not make any effort to re- Though suffering still in no slight lieve him from his awkward situation, degree from the rain of yesterday and for this was not a moment at which cold of last night, the lighting of fires serious delay could be tolerated, and was strictly prohibited. Concealment, our boats were all too heavily laden it was understood, was as yet the already, to admit of their taking ad- great object in view; and with the ditional passengers on board. On- attainment of it, the existence of fires wards, therefore, we swept, the banks every one felt to be incompatible. on either hand closing in upon us Yet was the attempt to conceal our more and more as we proceeded, till landing almost immediately abanfirst we were necessitated to contract doned. The Admiral and General, our front, so as that five boats, then having put themselves on board a gig, three, and finally that only one boat came up some time after the men had should move a-breast. We were now formed; and a sort of council of war steering up a narrow cut, which mea- was immediately held, as to the most sured, at its widest spot, not more than eligible course which it behoved them twenty feet across, and which, in some to follow. As yet all had gone on parts, became so exceedingly narrow, well. We were actually established that the rowers ceased to dip the oars on land, an event which they had in the water, and propelled us by punt- hardly expected to accomplish so ea ing alone. Yet it was an admirable spot sily and uninterruptedly. What was for the conduct of a secret expedition. next to be done? 'We were not long As far as we could judge from the ap- left in doubt on this head. The pearance of the soil

, the bogs on either troops, who had begun to scatter hand seemed quite impassable even themselves a little through the morass, for infantry. It was covered, as I were recalled to their ranks, and a line have already stated, by reeds, so lofty of march was formed. The deserters, as to obscure, in the most effectual de placed in front, served as guides, gree, any object which could float in they were under charge of the adthe canal. No eye could therefore vanced guard, and directed its movewatch our proceedings; and though ments,--and the little column set forwe, too, were shut out from beholding ward, quite indifferent as to the nature all other objects besides our own line of the service in which it was about of boats and the blue sky, there was to be employed, and perfectly satisfied not a man amongst us who entertain that success must attend its operaed the slightest apprehension that tions. danger could be near.

I know not by the use of what terms Having continued our progress thus, I shall be best able to convey to the till the leading boats took the ground, reader's mind, some notion of the preparations were made to land the nature and appearance of the countroops as speedily as possible. With try through which our first movethis view, a party of sailors were die ment was made. The bog, though soft, rected to leap on shore ; who soon re- gave not way, as we had expected turned with intelligence that the soil it would, beneath our tread, as long as was sufficiently firm, and that the de- we kept close to the margin of the barkation might take place without creek, though any extended departure any risk.

The boats which were from that line of road brought us into a-head lay so near to the bank, that a perfect quagmire. Yet were we the people who manned them, were compelled to move slowly, in part, enabled to step at once from the gun- because the weeds formed an obstacle wales to the bog; those which came to our progress, which it required a reafter them were not so conveniently gular body of pioneers to remove, and situated. The men were, in conse- in part, because there ran up from the quence, directed to pass on from boat canal, here and there, wide and deep to boat, and so to reach the shore from ditches, across which rude bridges rea one point only. This arrangement quired to be thrown, before we were necessarily occasioned both delay and enabled to pass them. Of the scenery, confusion ; but, happily for us, there again, all that can be said, is, that for was no enemy near to avail himself of the space of perhaps three or four either; and the whole advance had miles, it never varied ; reeds, and reeds

only, were around us, broken in upon one felt at being again introduced in. feebly by the waters of the canal. At to an inhabited world, suffered some length, however, the face of the coun- diminution from the reflection, that try underwent a change. We were in case anything like activity or enter. marching, be it observed, on the right prise should guide the councils of the bank of the creek ; on the left, a few enemy, we were exposing ourselves to miserably stunted cypress trees began a danger far greater than any which to show themselves. As we proceed. we had yet encountered. The head ed onwards, these became more and of the column no sooner showed itself more numerous; and at last formed in the open country, than horsemen a tolerably close wood. On our side, were seen hurrying at their utmost however, nothing of the kind occurred, speed along the opposite bank of the till all at once the leading companies river, towards the town. Of the infound themselves in front of some open habitants on this side, too, several fields, skirted by an orange plantation, were known to have escaped ; and it and ornamented by two or three farm- became evident to all, that in less time houses. These were the first symptoms than we had expended in proceeding of cultivation which had met us in thus far, the alarm of our landing this quarter of America; and it will would be circulated throughout the be easily credited, that in our eyes province. At this juncture, to the they possessed a thousand beauties, honour of Colonel Thornton be it which men more accustomed to them recorded, that he urgently pressed an would not in all probability perceive. immediate advance upon New Orleans. But they were soon passed by ; and We were already less than ten miles then the entire neck of fine land on distant from it; the troops were fresh, which New Orleans is built, became in excellent spirits, and full of confi. visible. Before us ran the mighty dence; it required but a rapid journey Mississippi, not like an ordinary river, to put them in undisputed possession. but like an inland sea, skirting on one But to a plan so bold, our General side the narrow isthmus, which the stoutly opposed himself. He feared marsh and lakes skirt on the other. to leave his supplies decidedly behind Between these two boundaries the him; he was apprehensive that his whole space could not measure above little corps might be attacked, and cut 800 or 1000 yards in width. It was off by overwhelming numbers, before perfectly level ; at least, the inequalie reinforcements could reach it; as if ties were so slight as not to catch the we were not already cut off as effectue attention of a common observer. It ally as could be from our magazines, appeared to be laid out everywhere in which were established on Pine Island, large fields of sugar-cane. There were full eighty miles in our rear. Acting some half dozen houses scattered over under this impression, he would not it, one of which being surrounded by a listen to the Brigadier's suggestion ; sort of village of huts, conveyed the but having led the division about half idea that its owner must be a person of a mile towards the town, he ordered a some consequence; but the rest seem- bivouac to be formed, and the troops to ed to belong to substantial farmers, refresh themselves. This was done. The men who paid more regard to comfort men's arms were piled, lines of fires than to ornament. On the whole, the were lighted ; and picquets being estacontrast between this picture of indus- blished, so as to protect the encamptry and life now around us, and the ment on every side, the main body remiserable swamp which we were lea- garded themselves as destined to pass ving behind, proved not more striking the remainder of that day and night than it was agreeable.

But the satisfaction which every

in quiet.

CHAPTER XVIII.

It fell to the lot of my friend and the 85th regiment. The rifles occumyself, to be employed this day on pied and covered the main road, out-post duty: our station was in an which, passing all along by the banks open field, upon the right front of the of the river, runs up from the extrecamp, and we communicated on the mity of the province to New Orleans"; one hand with a party of rifles, and we posted ourselves a little to the right on the other, with a similar party of of the chateau, of which I have al.

ready taken notice, whilst the detach- however, a few random shots ; upon ment that arrived on the line, faced which they pulled up, remained for a the cypress wood, and bent back so minute or two stationary, and then as, in part, to shelter the rear of the wheeling about, as if by word of comencampnient. As the weather chan- mand, retired in the most perfect orced to be remarkably favourable, and der. It was not so with those upon as no traces of an enemy could be per- the high road. Whether the squa. ceived, we very naturally looked for- dron which occupied it mistook their ward to a peaceable and pleasant tour orders, or whether it was deemed a of duty; and we made no scruple, as matter of consequence to get, in that well officers as men, to wander so far direction, as near the camp as might from the head-quarters of our post, as be, I know not; but the enemy not the prospect of a few luxuries, in the only drove in the sentinels there, but way of eating and drinking, invited. charged, or rather endeavoured to The sentinels being carefully planted, charge, the body of the picquet itself. Charlton left me in charge of the They were received by the rifles with a guard, whilst, with a few followers, close and well-directed volley, which he hurried off to the chateau, for the killed three men and two horses, besides purpose of ascertaining the state of its wounding several others, and the rest cellars and larder. He was not long not willing to abide another discharge, absent; and when he did return, he fell instantly into confusion. They returned not empty-handed. An am- galloped back with the same precipiple supply of wine, with a cheese, a tation which had distinguished their piece of bacon, and a turkey, fell to approach, and in ten minutes after our share; whilst the men were made they had shown themselves, the whole happy with a moderate allowance of body was out of sight. brandy, which served to wash down This was the very first occasion, the less delicate rations of pork and during the course of our Transatlantic biscuit.

warfare, that the Americans had in We were thus circumstanced, and any way ventured seriously to molest evening was beginning to approach, or threaten our posts, or shown the when there suddenly appeared, ad- smallest disposition to act vigorously vancing along the high road, a corps on the offensive. I cannot deny that of some two or three hundred well, it produced a curious effect upon us. pai

punted cavalry. Our picquets in- Not that we experienced the smallest Bantly stood to their arms, and the sensation of alarm. We held them in buglers, obeying the orders given to too much contempt to fear their atthem, sounded the assembly, for the tack; I question whether we did not purpose of putting the division on its wish that they would hazard one; yet guard. The enemy's horse, nothing we spoke of the present boldness, and daunted by these preparations, mo- thought of it too, as a meeting on ved on. One squadron, continuing which we had in no ways calculated, to occupy the road, the rest spreading and for which we could not possibly themselves over the fields adjoining, account. It had not, however, the efcame down at a brisk trot, apparently fect of exciting an expectation, that the with the design of making an attack attempt would be renewed, at least upon our post. The sentinels, having in force; and though we unquestionstood till they had arrived within ably looked upon our position, from that point-blank range, gave them fire, and moment, with a more cautious eye, we as the enemy still pressed on at a can- neither felt nor acted upon the suppoter, they fell back. Instantly our people sition, that any serious danger would extended themselves, and darting for. be incurred, till we ourselves should ward to a dry ditch, which ran a little seek it. Nothing occurred during the in front of their station, threw them- remaining hours of daylight, calculaselves into it, and made ready to dis- ted to produce any change in these anpute their ground with the cavalry. ticipations. The enemy made their It appeared, however, that the recon- appearance no more; and having carenoitring party had either effected fully ascertained that an unbroken their purpose, or had done as much as chain of videttes was established; hathey deemed it prudent and safe to ving examined our spen's arms, satis, do; for they ventured not within a fied ourselves that they were in good hundred yards of us. We gave them, order, and taken other necessary pre