erected on the sand-mounds which completely commanded the fort--and the enemy having advanced, by regular approaches, within thirty yards of the ditches, and the utter impossibility of getting any assistance or supplies, would have induced me to adopt this measure. Feeling confident, and it being the unanimous opinion of the officers, that we could not retain the post, and that the lives of many valuable officers and soldiers would have been uselessly sacrificed, I thought it most desirable to adopt this plan. A full and correct statement will be furnished you as early as possible. Captain Chamberlin, who bears this to E. Livingston, Esq. will relate to him every particular, which will, I hope, be satisfac tory. I am, with respect, &c. (Signed) W. LAWRENCE, Lieut. Col. Com❜g. ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION Agreed upon between lieutenant colonel Lawrence and major general Lambert for the surrender of Fort Bowyer, on the Mobile Point, 11th February, 1815. 1. That the fort shall be surrendered to the arms of his Britannic majesty in its existing state as to the works, ordnance, ammunition, and every species of military stores. 2. That the garrison shall be considered as prisoners of war, the troops marching out with their colours flying and drums beating, and ground their arms on the glacis--the officers retaining their swords, and the whole to be embarked in such ships as the British naval commander in chief shall appoint. 3. All private property to be respected. 4. That a communication shall be made immediately of the same to the commanding officer of the 7th military district of the United States, and every endeavour made to effect an early exchange of prisoners. 5. That the garrison of the United States remain in the fort until twelve o'clock to-morrow, a British guard being put in possession of the inner gate at three o'clock to-day, the body of the guard remaining on the glacis, and that the British flag be hoisted at the same time-an officer of each service remaining at the headquarters of each commander until the fulfilment of these articles. H. C. SMITH, major and military secretary. Agreed on the part of the royal navy, Approved, T. H. BICKETTS, Capt. H. M. ship Vengeant. A. COCHRANE, Com. in Chief H. M. Shipping. A true copy-Test, JOHN REID, Aid-de-Camp. NO. XL. GENERAL ORDERS. Head-Quarters, Western Section, 7th Military District, Ar the request of lieutenant-colonel William Lawrence, of the 2d regiment United States' infantry, a court of inquiry was ordered on the 25th ultimo to assemble in this city, to inquire into the conduct of the lieutenant-colonel touching the defence and surrender of fort Bowyer, and to give an opinion thereon. The court, whereof lieutenant colonel Arbuckle was president, major Peyre and captain Humphrey members, commenced its proceedings on the 28th March last, and continued by adjournment from day to day up to the 5th instant, when it delivered the following opinion: "The court of inquiry, after mature deliberation, are of opimion that fort Bowyer was defended in the best manner that the circumstances of the siege admitted of-that the conduct of color nel Lawrence on that occasion was honourable and becoming a good officer-that the fort, when it was surrendered, was in a situation which rendered a longer defence impracticable, and that no blame ought to attach, either to colonel Lawrence or to the garrison, for having surrendered fort Bowyer at the time they did.” m The major-general feels much pleasure in observing, that the whole of the testimony in this case, and particularly that of major Woodruff of the 3d infantry, lieutenant Alexis of the navy, and major Chamberlain and captain Brownlow of the 2d infantry, (the two former as to the position and strength of fort Bowyer, and the two latter as to the approaches of the enemy and the defence of the fort) fully support the opinion of the court of inquiry in favour of lieutenant-colonel Lawrence. The court of inquiry, whereof lieutenant-colonel Arbuckle is president, is dissolved. E. P. GAINES, major-general commanding. NO. XLI. Address of general Jackson to the Soldiers and Citizens at New Orleans. Head-Quarters, 7th Military District, New Orleans, THE flag-vessel which was sent to the enemy's flect has returned, and brings with it intelligence, extracted from a London paper, that on the 24th of December articles of peace were signed at Ghent, by the American commissioners and those of his Britannic majesty. We must not be thrown into false security by hopes that may be delusive. It is by holding out such that an artful and insidious enemy too often seeks to accomplish what the utmost exertions of his strength will not enable him to effect. To place you off your guard and attack you by surprise, is the natural expedient of one who, having experienced the superiority of your arms, still hopes to overcome you by stratagem-Though young in the "trade" of war, it is not by such artifices that he will deceive us. Peace, whenever it shall be re-established on fair and honourable terms, is an event in which both nations ought to rejoice; but whether the articles which are said to have been signed for its restoration will be approved by those whose province it is to give to them their final confirmation, is yet uncertain. Until they shall be ratified by the prince regent and the president of the United States, peace, though so much desired, may be still distant. When that shall be done, the happy intelligence will be publicly and speedily announced. In the mean time, every motive that can operate on men who love their country, and are determined not to lose it, calls upon us for increased vigilance and exertion. If peace be near at hand, the days of our watchfulness, of our toils, and our privations, will be proportionably few; if it be distant, we shall at any rate hasten its arrival, by being constantly and every where prepared for war. Whatever be the designs of the enemy, we must be ready to' meet them. Should they have the temerity to assail us again, we will once more drive him ignominiously from our shore; if he places his hopes of success on stratagem, our watchfulness will disappoint him; if on an exertion of his strength, we have proved how successfully that can be resisted. It is true fort Bowyer has fallen, but it must and will be speedily regained. We will expel the invader from every spot on our soil, and teach him, if he hopes for conquest, how vain it is to seek it in a land of freedom. ANDREW JACKSON. NO. XLII. Letter from general Keane to general Jackson. H. B. M. ship Tonnant, off Mobile, February 8th, 1815. MAJOR-GENERAL KEANE presents his best respects to general Jackson, and feels particularly thankful for the kindness he has experienced from him through the medium of colonel Livingston-He is still further obliged for general Jackson's kind wishes for his recovery. NO. XLIII. SIR, Letter from general Jackson to the secretary at war. Head-Quarters, 7th Military District, New Orleans, 17th February, 1815. I HAVE the honour to inclose you a copy of major Overton's report of the attack on fort St. Philip, and of the manner in which it was defended. The conduct of this officer, and of those who acted under him, merits, I think, great praise. They nailed their own colours to the standard, and placed those of the enemy underneath them, determined never to surrender the post. The flag-vessel which I sent to the enemy's fleet a fortnight ago, for the purpose of ascertaining the causes that had prevented the delivery of a hundred of our seamen (taken on board the gunboats) in violation of the articles entered into for the exchange of prisoners, has not yet returned, and I am apprehensive is detained by the enemy to prevent the discovery of some designs he may still hope to execute. Whatever their views may be, I am persuaded they will be disappointed in them. A copy of the articles agreed upon for the exchange I herewith send you, and I beg leave to accompany it with the assurance of my determination, to restore no more of the British prisoners until those articles are complied with by the British commanders. Major-general Keane, having lost his sword in the action of the 8th January, and having expressed a great desire to regain it, valuing it as the present of an esteemed friend, I thought proper to have it restored to him; thinking it more honourable to the American character to return it, after the expression of those wishes, than to retain it as a trophy of victory. I believe, however, it is a singular instance of a British general soliciting the restoration of his sword fairly lost in battle. Some entire Congreve-rockets have been found, and a rest from which they are fired, which it is my intention to forward to the seat of government whenever a proper opportunity shall offer, as also the instruments of the British band of music, and their quarter flag. General Keane's trumpet, as well as that which was used on the right column of the enemy, were taken in the action of the 8th January. Those instruments are in the possession of general Coffee's brigade, where I hope they will be permitted to remain. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) ANDREW JACKSON. |