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Sir William Thornton (1779(?)-1840) was a British soldier and politician. He served during the War of 1812. He was captured at the Battle of Bladensburg, and returned to the British in October, 1814. As colonel, he participated in the Battle of New Orleans, where he led the only successful British attack on the American lines. He himself was injured during this attack.
He was promoted to the rank of major general in 1825. He attained the rank of lieutenant general in 1838. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey from 1830 to 1835. He grew delusional in his last years, evidentally a result of the injuries he suffered in 1814. He shot himself to death in 1840.
William Thornton in Trail of Glory[]
Colonel William Thornton was a British officer killed at the Battle of the Mississippi.
Thornton was part of the initial drive on New Orleans under the command of General John Keane on December 23, 1814. He had seen what the United States Army was capable of at the Battle of Bladensburg. That made Keane's decision to bivoac just a few miles short of New Orleans all the more galling to Thornton. Although he protested, he did also respected the chain of command, and so Keane carried the day.[1]
That night, Andrew Jackson launched a three-prong attack on the British camp, including a bombardment from the schooner Carolina. While Thornton could hold the riverbank from assault, the schooner was another matter.[2]
Thornton was tasked with the attack on David Morgan's position on the west bank of the Mississippi. The intent of this attack was to seize American guns and use them against American positions. While Thornton realized in the hours before the attack that the Americans had taken steps to reinforce Morgan's position, he followed his orders, successfully crossing the river. While the Americans were able to set off a flare, Thornton was confident that his veterans would still have the advantage.[3]
Initially, Thornton seemed to be correct. The first line of American skirimishers broke in the face of a British bayonet charge.[4] However, they soon came to a firmer line, anchored by the Iron Battalion. While the rest of the line soon fell, the Iron Battalion continued to hold. Frustrated, Thornton decided to go around the Battlion's position, leaving a small battery behind. However, the British soon ran directly into regiment under the command of Sam Houston. Thornton took grapshot to the shoulder, which spun him around. A musket ball entered the back of his head and exited his eye, killing him. His second-in-command, Richard Gubbins, was shot dead immediately after.[5]
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