Friday, April 27.
Mortality of the Troops at Terre aux Bœuf.
Mr. Newton, from the committee appointed to inquire into the causes of the mortality which prevailed in the detachment of the army ordered for the defence of New Orleans, made a long report, accompanied with various depositions and other papers. The report concludes as follows:
"The committee, from a knowledge which they have acquired of the climate of New Orleans and of the country surrounding it, and from the facts stated in the depositions, are of opinion that the mortality in the detachment ordered to New Orleans is to be ascribed to the following causes:
"1st. The detachment consisting of new levies.
"2dly. The insalubrity of the climate, the summer and autumn of the year 1809 being unusually sickly.
"3dly. To the nature of the ground on which the detachment was encamped at Terre aux Bœuf, and the detention of it at that place during the whole of the summer, contrary as the committee conceive to the instructions contained in the letter of the Secretary of War bearing date the 30th of April, 1809.
"4thly. To the want of sound and wholesome provisions and of vegetables—the want of an hospital and of hospital stores and medicines.
"5thly. The excessive fatigues to which the troops were subjected in clearing, ditching, and draining the ground on which they were encamped.
"6thly. To the want of repose during the night, owing to the troops not being provided with bars and nets to protect them from the annoyance of mosquitoes.
"7thly. The want of cleanliness in the camp, the nature of the position rendering it almost impracticable to preserve it.
"8thly. The sick and well being confined to the same tents, which neither protected them sufficiently from the heat of the sun, nor kept them dry from dews and rains."
The report and documents were ordered to be printed.