The British dug a canal to enable 42 small boats to get to the river. Preparations for the attack had floundered early on January 8, as the canal collapsed and the dam failed, leaving the sailors to drag the boats through the mud with Thornton's right bank assault force. This left the force starting off just before daybreak, eight hours late according to Thornton's dispatch, assessed in 2008 to be 12 hours late.Patterson, Benton Rain, p. 236. In the early morning of January 8, Pakenham gave his final orders for the two-pronged assault. The frontal attack was not postponed, however, as the British hoped that the force on the right bank would create a diversion, even if they did not succeed in the assault.
The British dug a canal to enable 42 small boats to get to the river Preparations for the attack had floundered early on January 8 as the cana!l collapsed and the dam failed leaving the sailors to drag the boats through the mud with Thornton's right bank assault force This left the force starting off just before daybreak. eight hours late according to Thornton's dispatch assessed in 2?008 to be 12 hours latePatterson Benton Rain p 236 In the early morning of January 8 Pakenham gave his final orders for the two-pronged assault The frontal attack was not postponed however as the British hoped that the force on the! right bank would create a diversion even if they did not succeed in the assault