Editing Battle of New Orleans (section)

===Left Bank===
[[File:NewOrleansBattle.gif|thumb|right|upright=1.35|''The Battle of New Orleans: Situation on 8 January 1815'']]
[[File:Battle of New Orleans 1815.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|''Battle of New Orleans: Jan. 8th'']]

====Preparation for the assault by the 44th Foot====
The [[44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot|44th Regiment of Foot]] was assigned by General [[Edward Pakenham]] to be the advance guard for the first column of attack on 8 January 1815, and to carry the [[fascine]]s and ladders which would enable the British troops to cross the ditch and scale the American ramparts. The commanding officer of the 44th, Lieutenant Colonel [[Thomas Mullins (British Army officer)|Thomas Mullins]] had been commended twice during the Chesapeake campaign, and was recently promoted. He was noted as being haughty, and less than diligent in his duties as a staff officer in the days prior to the attack.{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=200}} Pakenham ordered Mullins to determine the locations of those fascines and ladders that evening of the 7th, in order that there would be no delays in retrieving them the following morning.{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=200}}

Gibbs also instructed him to confirm the locations of those fascines and ladders. Mullins delegated this to a subordinate, Johnston, who went to headquarters to do so. Whilst there, he was observed by General Gibbs, who enquired what he was doing. Upon being told, Gibbs wrote a formal order to Mullins that 'The Commanding Officer of the 44th will ascertain where the fascines and Ladders are deposited this evening.' A map of where the items were stored was given to Johnston. Upon returning, he presented the map to Mullins, which he dismissively put in his waistcoat.{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=224-225}}

At 5&nbsp;pm that evening, Mullins summoned his officers for a meeting, to discuss the attack. One of his subordinates questioned the location of the ladders, and received a caustic rebuke. He was approached by his Captain and hut-mate at 8&nbsp;pm, and diplomatically suggested preparing for the next day, including the order from Gibbs to personally see where the items were stored. Mullins was dismissive, and stated there would be plenty of time in the morning.{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=224-225}} Pakenham sent an order to an engineer officer to communicate with Mullins as to where the items were stored, in the redoubt. Coincidentally, Mullins arrived in the presence of the engineer officer and the artillery officer. Upon being read Pakenham's instructions, and being asked if he had any questions, Mullins replied that it was clear.{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=225-226}}

During the night, an ''advance battery'' was set up forward of the ''advance redoubt'', a distance of about {{convert|880|yd|m}}{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=226}} or {{convert|500|yd|m}},{{sfnp|James|1818|p=374-375}}  positioned {{convert|800|yd|m}} south from Line Jackson.{{NoteTag|'An advanced battery in our front was thrown up during the night about 800 yards from the enemy's line.'{{sfnp|Hughes|Brodine|2023|p=1004}} }} Mullins, thinking this to be the location of the [[materiel]], passed the advance redoubt and halted the regiment at the battery. Upon discovering his mistake, he sent about 300 of his 427 men back to the redoubt at the double-quick to pick up the fascines and ladders, but it was too late. The other regiments were already advancing behind the 44th, the party of 300 lost formation as they struggled to reach the redoubt, and as day dawned, the attack commenced before the supplies could be brought forward.{{sfnp|Gleig|1840|p=339}}{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=232-237}}

====The attack on the Left Bank====
The main attack began in darkness and a heavy fog, but the fog lifted as the British neared the main American line, exposing them to withering artillery fire. The British column had already been disordered by the passage of the 300 returning to the redoubt, and they advanced into a storm of American fire. Without the fascines and ladders, they were unable to scale and storm the American position.{{sfnp|Porter|1889|p=361}} The British forces fell into confusion, thrown into disorder by the flight of the advance guard.{{sfnp|Reilly|1976|p=298}} Most of the senior officers were killed or wounded, including Major General Samuel Gibbs, who was killed leading the main attack column on the right, and Colonel Rennie, who led a detachment on the left by the river.{{sfnp|Reilly|1976|p=299}}  Mullins had compromised their attack.{{sfnp|Davis|2019|p=238-239}}

[[File:Battle of New Orleans.jpg|thumb|[[Edward Percy Moran|E. Percy Moran]], ''The Battle of New Orleans'' (1910)]]
The [[93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|Highlanders of the 93rd Regiment of Foot]] were ordered to leave Keane's assault column advancing along the river, possibly because of Thornton's delay in crossing the river and the artillery fire that might hit them, and to move across the open field to join the main force on the right. Keane fell wounded as he crossed the field with the 93rd. Rennie's men managed to attack and overrun an American advance redoubt next to the river, but they could neither hold the position nor successfully storm the main American line behind it without reinforcements.{{sfnp|Reilly|1976|p=299}} Within a few minutes, the American 7th US Infantry arrived, moved forward, and fired upon the British in the captured redoubt; within half an hour, Rennie and nearly all of his men were dead. In the main attack on the right, the British infantrymen flung themselves to the ground, huddled in the canal, or were mowed down by a combination of musket fire and [[grapeshot]] from the Americans. A handful made it to the top of the parapet on the right, but they were killed or captured. The [[Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)|riflemen of the 95th Regiment of Foot]] had advanced in open skirmish order ahead of the main assault force and were concealed in the ditch below the parapet, unable to advance further without support.

The two large main assaults were repulsed. Pakenham and Gibbs were fatally wounded while on horseback by grapeshot fired from the earthworks.{{sfnp|Reilly|1976|p=300}} Major Wilkinson of the [[Royal Scots Fusiliers|21st Regiment of Foot]] reformed his lines and made a third assault. They were able to reach the entrenchments and attempted to scale them. Wilkinson made it to the top before being shot. The Americans were amazed at his bravery and carried him behind the rampart.{{sfnmp|Gleig|1840|1pp=344-345|Stuart|1834|2pp=95-98}} The British soldiers stood out in the open and were shot apart with grapeshot from Line Jackson, including the 93rd Highlanders, having no orders to advance further or retreat.{{sfnp|Reilly|1976|p=300}}

The light infantry companies commanded by Jones attacked the right flank, but were repulsed by Coffee's troops. The attack having failed, the troops withdrew, and sought cover in the woods. Lieutenant Colonel Jones was mortally injured.{{sfnmp|Dale|2015|1pp=160,191|Davis|2019|2p=269|Reilly|1976|3p=291}}

General Lambert was in the reserve and took command. He gave the order for his reserve to advance and ordered the withdrawal of the army. The reserve was used to cover the retreat of what was left of the British army in the field. Artillery fire from both sides ceased at 9&nbsp;am{{sfnp|Hughes|Brodine|2023|p=1020}} with American batteries ceasing at 2&nbsp;pm.{{sfnp|Reilly|1976|p=296}} Whilst the attack was of two hours duration, the main assault lasted only thirty minutes.{{sfnp|Owsley|2000|p=161}}

{{Image frame|width=300
|content={{Superimpose
  | base = Chalmette Battlefield from Monument.JPG
  | base_width = 300px
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|caption=[[Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve|Chalmette Battlefield]]: The main British attack was aimed just beyond the two farthest cannons at Batteries 5 and 6|link=|align=|pos=}}