river, by means of which a portion of our army might be thrown to
the other side; a project which is said to have been suggested by
Sir Alexander Cochrane; but which, wheresoever originating, was
at once bold and judicious. The canal was accordingly formed;
not, however, with sufficient attention to the rules of art in
like cases, as was shown by the falling in of the banks, and the
consequent impossibility of bringing up boats to transport the
whole detachment. Still there it was, and 350 men, instead of
1400, made good their landing on the right bank of the river. It
is deeply to be regretted that Sir Edward Pakenham did not delay
his own advance with the main body till this fact had been
ascertained. His plan of battle was to carry the enemy's works
on the right bank, to turn their own guns from that flank against
themselves, and to alarm them for their communications, ere he
should attack the main position on the left. Nor can it be
doubted, that had the detached corps arrived at the hour first
named, an easy triumph would have been achieved. But Pakenham
was too fiery to restrain his troops, after they had assumed
their ground on his own side. Instead, therefore, of causing the
columns to fall back out of gun-shot, and wait quietly till the
battle began on the left, he hurried them into action as soon as
the day dawned; and they became exposed to the whole of that
volume of fire which it was one main object of his movement
across the Mississippi to destroy. Moreover, from all the moral
effects of a partial defeat the enemy were saved; and I need not
say how serious such things are to irregular and undisciplined
bodies. I do not mean to assert that, in spite of all this, the
American lines ought not to have been carried. On the contrary,
had every officer and man done his duty, the victory would have
been complete, though purchased, beyond a doubt, at a severe
cost. Yet it is absurd to deny that, speaking of the movement as
an operation of war, the attack on the right ought to have been
withheld till that on the left had either failed or succeeded.
So far, therefore, the General is liable to censure; and
chivalrous and high-minded as he was, it is just that he should
receive it. But there were other causes of defeat than this;
among which, the gross misconduct of one individual deserves to
be especially noticed.

To Lieutenant-Colonel Mullens, with the 44th regiment, of which
he was in command, was i