f night to attack Morgan, whose works were but feebly manned,
and, getting possession, enfilade Jackson's line, while the main British
army attacked it in front.

"All the labor of completing these arrangements was finished on the 7th,
and the army, now 10,000 strong, was in fine spirits, no doubt thinking
they had an easy task before them. But Jackson saw through their
designs, and was busily engaged in making his preparations. He had
thrown up a redoubt on the edge of the river, and mounted it with cannon
so as to enfilade the ditch in front of his line. He had, besides, eight
batteries at proper distances from each other, and Patterson's marine
battery across the river, mounting nine guns; also the _Louisiana_ near
at hand and ready to take any part she could in assisting him.

"The plain of Chalmette was in front of Jackson's line. His whole force
on the New Orleans side of the river was about 5000; only 2200 of them
were at his line; only 800 of them were regulars, most of them being new
recruits commanded by young officers.

"The British attempted to carry out Packenham's plans, but Thornton was
delayed in reaching Morgan by the falling of the water in the canal and
river, so that the sailors had to drag the boats through the mud in many
places, and it was three o'clock in the morning before half his force
had crossed. Besides, the powerful current of the Mississippi carried
them down stream, and they were landed at least a mile and a half below
the point at which they had intended to disembark, and the roar of the
cannon on the plain of Chalmette was heard before all had landed. The
British had formed in line and advanced to within 450 yards of the
American intrenchments, and there, under Gibbs and Keane, they stood in
the darkness, fog, and chilly air, listening for the boom of Thornton's
guns.

"The time must have seemed long to them, and doubtless they wondered
what delayed him. But day began to dawn, the red coats of the enemy
could be dimly seen by our troops through the fog, and Lieutenant
Spotswood, of battery No. 7, opened the battle by sending one of his
heavy shots in among them.

"The fog rolled away, and the British line was seen extending two-thirds
of the distance across the plain of Chalmette. A rocket was sent up from
each end of the line and it broke into fragments, the men forming into
columns by companies. Then Gibbs moved forward toward the wooded swamp,
his troops, as they advanced, terr