be maintained no longer, and that the enemy was abont to out-flank him, in consequence of the flight of his two regiments, he was compelled to fall back upon his reserve, which he did in good order. Here he formed his brigade, and falling still further back, took post on the left of the line, half a mile in advance of the entrenchments, where he was joined by general Winder. The conduct of the Baltimore brigade, with the exception of the two corps already mentioned, deserved the highest praise. Their loss in killed and wounded amounted to 163, (about oneeighth of the force engaged,) amongst whom were many respectable citizens. Mr. Donaldson, an eminent lawyer, and member of the legislature, was killed; majors Heath, Moore, and several other officers, wounded. The loss of the British was fifty-three killed, and 320 wounded;" among the former was their commander, major-general Ross, who was killed by a rifle ball during the skirmish which preceded the action; and the command devolved on colonel Brook.

The result of this affair, with the death of the British general, when communicated to the American lines, served to cheer the spirits of the militia, and inspire confidence. The trenches and batteries were all fully manned, and the troops continued under arms during the night. Next morning the enemy appeared in front of the intrenchments, at the distance of two miles; in the mean time, the naval attack had already commenced. The fleet, after landing the troops at the Patapsco, proceeded to bombard fort M'Henry; and on the 13th, about sunrise, sixteen ships had been brought within three miles of the fort. The attack began soon after from five bomb vessels, at a nigher distance, which kept up an incessant bombbardment, while they remained beyond the reach of their enemy's guns. After some time, they approached somewhat nearer, so as to be within cannon shot; when a tremendous fire was opened from the fort, which compelled them to regain their former position. The bombardment was kept up during the whole day and night; and the city, thus assailed on both sides, awaited the result with deathlike silence, and yet no eye was closed in sleep. Suddenly, about midnight, a dreadful cannonade was heard in the direction of the fort, and the affrighted population believed that all was lost. Their fears were soon quieted, by the information that some barges of the enemy had attempted to land, but were compelled to draw off, after having suffered severely by the fire of fort Covington. Next morning the bombardment ceased, after the British

had thrown 1,500 shells, a large portion of which burst over the fort, and scattered their fragments among its defenders; while many of them fell within the works, and greatly injured some of the public buildings. There were four men killed, and twenty-four wounded; among the former were two officers. In the course of the night, admiral Cochrane held a communication with the commander of the land forces, and the enterprise being deemed impracticable, it was mutually agreed to withdraw; and at one o'clock on the morning of the 14th, the British army began its retreat. On the day following the troops were re-embarked, along with a number of prisoners, being persons of the first families in Baltimore.

The intelligence of the British having retreated, was received in the neighbouring cities with demonstrations of joy which cannot be described. The feelings of the inhabitants of that city which had escaped so imminent a danger, cannot be imagined; measures were taken to celebrate the event, to reward those who had distinguished themselves, and to perpetuate the remembrance of this awful period. To those who fell in the sacred cause of the defence of their fire sides and their homes, a monument was decreed to be erected in the centre of the city.

An expedition to the river Penobscot had been undertaken in the month of August, under general Sherbrooke, and admiral Griffith, in which the British were successful. The troops, after obliging the Americans to destroy the Adams frigate, took possession of the northern part of the district of Maine, in the name of his Britannic majesty; by which a direct communication was opened between Canada and New Brunswick.

Meeting of congress, Creek hostilities, battle of Nero Orleans, and peace with Great Britain. The national legislature convened, on the 20th of September, under very different feelings from what had existed in that body for many years past. Party spirit, it is true, was not altogether at an end, but no other course remained but a union in devising the best means for carrying on the war, which had now become a war of pure defence. The American ministers had been in Europe some months, for the purpose of negociating a peace, yet nothing had been done towards obtaining that desirable object. It was believed by the Americans, that the British commissioners were not -actuated by a sincere desire for the termination of hostili

ties; otherwise they would not have proposed, at the first interview, the surrender of an immense portion of the American territory, and a total relinquishment of the shores of the great northern lakes. These demands excited the utmost indignation, both in congress and throughout the United States. It was thought that all hopes of accommodation were at an end, and the people began to prepare their minds for a most serious contest.

While the congress was occupied in raising money to carry on the war, and in devising means for increasing their military establishments, the public attention was roused by an alarming state of affairs to the southward. War was renewed with the Creek Indians, and a powerful invasion of Louisiana was threatened by Great Britain. About the end of August, general Jackson, whose station was at Mobile, in the Alabama territory, received infor mation that three British ships of war had arrived at the Spanish town of Pensacola, and having landed a large quantity of arms and ammunition, for the purpose of arming the Indians, had marched into the fort with 300 troops. On receipt of this intelligence, he immediately wrote to the governor of Tennessee, calling for the whole quota of militia from that state. On the 15th of September, the three ships from Pensacola, under the command of commodore Percy, with a detachment of land forces under colonel Nicholls, appeared off fort Bowyer, at the entrance of Mobile bay. At four o'clock in the afternoon, an attack was commenced by sea and land; but the resist anee made by major Lawrence, who commanded the gar rison, was so determined and successful, that after a cannonade of three hours, the vessels were obliged to retire with great loss. The commodore's ship, carrying 22 thirtytwo pounders, was driven on shore within 600 yards of the battery, where her crew were obliged to set her on fire, and make their escape.

General Jackson having in vain remonstrated with the governor of Pensacola for his unwarrantable conduct, determined to march against that place; and on the 6th of November arrived before the town, and sent a flag to com. municate the object of his visit. His messenger having been fired upon from the batteries, Jackson reconnoitred the fort, and finding it defended both by British and Indians, he resolved to storm it on the day following. At day-light the troops were put in motion, and while a feint was made against the west side of the town, a number of troops passed undiscovered behind the fort to the east quarter. The whole body appeared in view when within

a mile of the place, and entered the town in defiance of a battery of two cannon loaded with ball and grape, and a shower of musketry from the houses and gardens. The battery was soon carried, and the musketry silenced. The governor now made his appearance with a flag, and offered to surrender the town immediately; which was accepted, and every protection afforded to the persons and property of the inhabitants. The commandant of the fort refused to surrender until midnight, when he evacuated it with his troops, just as the Americans were preparing to storm the place. The British withdrew to their shipping, seven of which were in the harbour, and Jackson, having accomplished his purpose, returned to Mobile.

The danger which at this time threatened the city of New Orleans, required the immediate presence of general Jackson. He arrived there on the 2d of December, and immediately set about embodying the militia, and repairing the fort on the river; at the same time about 1,000 regular troops were distributed among the most vulnerable points. Colonel Monroe, the present president of the United States, (1819) then secretary at war, foreseeing the approaching danger, had sent large supplies by the river Ohio, and had called on the governors of Kentucky and Tennessee for an additional number of troops. It was not long after Jackson's arrival, before the British fleet made its appearance in the bay of St. Louis; and on the 12th, the American flotilla of gun-boats, and other small vessels, was attacked on lake Borgne by forty-two heavy launches and gun barges, under captain Lockyer, when, after a spirited resistance, the whole were either taken or destroyed. The arrival of the British squadron in these waters, excited, if possible, a greater degree of alarm than that which had prevailed at Baltimore. Their state of defence was by no means such as to inspire confidence; but in the firmness, talents, and good fortune of Jackson they placed their whole reliance. Governor Claiborne had called out the militia en masse, and all the negroes that could be collected together, with the drays and carts, were employed in working on the fortifications. On the 21st, the Tennessee militia, to the number of 4,000, arrived by water, and two days after, the British army landed at the head of lake Borgne; the capture of the American gun-boats having enabled them to debark without molestation.

General Jackson no sooner heard of their arrival, than he marched at the head of 1,500 men, chiefly volunteers, to oppose their advance, while the New Orleans and Ten

nessee militia, under general Carrol, were posted four miles above the city. About eight o'clock in the evening, a heavy flanking fire was opened upon the British by a schooner in the river; at the same time their right was attacked by a body of cavalry, while Jackson's troops in front advanced upon them with great ardour. But the invading army, although taken by surprise, and having many suddenly killed and wounded, soon formed and came into action; using their bayonets with such powerful effect, that the American troops were thrown into confusion, and obliged to retreat to a position nigher the city. In this action, the loss of the British was estimated at 200 in killed, wounded, and missing; that of the Americans was twenty-four killed, 115 wounded, and seventy-four made prisoners. On the 25th, sir Edward Pakenham, the British commander-in-chief, accompanied by major-general Gibbs, arrived, and assumed the command of the army. On the 27th, early in the morning, the troops moved forward to within six miles of the city, where they found the main body of the Americans strongly posted behind a breastwork, composed of bags of cotton covered with earth, extending from the banks of the Mississippi to Cypress swamp; their right resting upon the river, and their left protected by a wood. On the day following, the British general advanced in force, with the intention of driving Jackson from his intrenchments; and at the distance of half a mile, commenced an attack with rockets, bombs, and a heavy cannonade, as he approached the American works, which were not yet finished. During this assault, the columns of the assailants were exposed to a severe and constant fire from an armed vessel stationed in the river, which caused great destruction; and after a violent struggle of seven hours, the firing ceased on the part of the British; no impression having been made on Jackson's position. The loss of the Americans in this affair was seven killed, and eight wounded; that of the British was never ascertained.

On the morning of the 1st of January, 1813, sir Edward Pakenham was observed to have constructed batteries near the American works, and soon after day-light, commenced a heavy fire from them, which was returned with great spirit by Jackson; at the same time, a bold attempt was made to turn the left of the Americans, which was successfully repulsed. In the evening, the British retired from their batteries, having first spiked their cannon; but were obliged to leave a quantity of ammunition behind. The loss of the Americans on this occasion was eleven killed,