A. Enemy’s position on the night of the 23rd of December when he attacked. B. Bivouac of the troops for the 23rd of December. C. Position on the night of the 23rd of December. D. Position on the night of the 24th of December. E. Position after the advance on the 28th of December. F. Col. Thornton’s attack on the morning of the 8th of January. G. Col. Thornton’s furthest advance. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Redoubt and batteries constructed after the advance of the 28th. H. The enemy retiring.] The seamen were once more set to work, and “with incredible labor” rowed their boats, laden with heavy guns, from the fleet to the bayou, and dragged the guns through three miles of bog to the British headquarters. The Americans also prepared batteries. From the lines one thirty-two-pounder, three twenty-four-pounders, and one eighteen-pounder commanded the plain in their front. Besides these heavy guns, three twelve-pounders, three six-pounders, a six-inch howitzer or mortar, and a brass carronade, useless from its bad condition,[534]--in all, twelve or thirteen guns, capable of replying to the British batteries, were mounted along the American lines. On the west bank of the river, three quarters of a mile away, Commodore Patterson established, December 30 and 31, a battery of one twenty-four-pounder and two long twelve-pounders, which took the British batteries in flank.[535] Thus the Americans possessed fifteen effective guns, six of which were heavy pieces of long range. They were worked partly by regular artillerists, partly by sailors, partly by New Orleans militia, and partly by the “hellish banditti” of Barataria, who to the number of twenty or thirty were received by General Jackson into the service and given the care of two twenty-four-pounders. The number and position of the British guns were given in Lieutenant Peddie’s sketch of the field. Before the reconnaissance of December 28, field-pieces had been placed in battery on the river-side to destroy the “Carolina” and “Louisiana.” Canon Gleig said that “nine field-pieces, two howitzers, and one mortar” were placed in battery on the river-side during the night of December 25.[536] Captain Henley of the “Carolina” reported that five guns opened upon him on the morning of December 26.[537] Captain Peddie’s sketch marked seven pieces mounted in battery on the river-side, bearing on Commodore Patterson’s battery opposite, besides four pieces in two batteries below. Their range was sufficient to destroy the “Carolina” and pierce the breastwork across the river,[538] and therefore they were probably twelve and nine pounders. Besides these lighter long-range guns, the British constructed three batteries in the night of December 31.