American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-03-19

# Until the declaration Of war in 1912 by the u
8States against c. Britain, his military genius had
&experienced no development, except in the organ
%;zation of the militia of the State, and in taking
Xprecautionary measures for guarding the settlements
4Inos exposed to Indian hostility, and repeng the
#a,tacks Of the savages when made II was not long
3after this event had taken place before the depre
Xdations and massacres committed by the Indians on
#the property and persons of the inhabitants near
xhe frontiers Of the Southern States, made it the
duty Of the President to order out competent force
Aof militia and volunteers, repress their predatory
n murderous ncursions, and put an end 10 their hos
8tities by subduihg such of the tribes as had en-
4paged in them. To Gen. Jackson was assigned
the duty of commanding this force, and Of conduct
ling the war and ofthe able manner in which it
II was executed, his various successful operations
against the savage foe, evidences too familiar
N 10 the mind of every citizen to need recital.
Scarcely had the fetocious, warlike Indians
to the South been chasised into submission, when
the metropolis Of Louisiana (and in that city all the
western States dependant on il mart) was threat.
ened with an attack by the most formidable British
feet and army which annoyed our coasts during the
A late war. And to whom was the attention Of the
Executive directed at this awful crisis, for the de-
fence OF place at once so vulnerable and the cap
/ ture Of which would have been productive Of such
fatal consequences to the Union TO Gen. JACK
Il
achieved by many hard fought battle, but without
B having been foiled in a single instance, was an
earnest ofthe that migh,be expected from his
military talents and prowess. He was ordered to re-
Z pair TO the spot over which the cloud hungwith por-
snons darkness and was soon in dreadful violence.
\ to burst Ever ready to attend his country's call
and engage in strife in which glory was the prize,
q h. New to his post, and realized the utmost hopes
4 bis government had formed. The enemy although
II composed Of the best troops that Europe could
produce. and three times as numerous as the mill
\ tia and handful OF regulars with which he fought
\ them, we're defeated with an irmense disparity of
loss driven back in disgrace to their ships and The
"booty and hpoMy' of New Orleans, which had
been rnobly held up by the British Commander to
4 the cupidy and brutality Of his men, to stimulate
their bravery, rescued from piace and violation.
To place the merits of ,4ndreW JachSon as
\ Cnnpapdtr. in more striking point of view it
will be allowed me, trust, to contrast the wisdom
Of his military arrangements, and their vigorous,
successful execution, with the bunders and disas-
tiers occasoned by them, OF the Chieltains who
encountered the same kind ofenemes on the North
Western frontiers and Canada lines. The latter
had under their command at all times superior
military force--a force homogeneous in its charac
ter, well armed, and well provided whereas the
troops commanded by the latter, were mostly mi
litia, i'll fed. and when he defended New Orleans,
part OF them composed OF the most discordan
materials, another part unarmed, and the whole
hardly one third OF the British in number, who
forming chosen part of WplLinSt0nS inrincibles
had grown veteran in victory. To oppose to an ar
my so numerous, well appointed and brave, force
comparatively so ma suddenly collected and or
gan2ed and which but for the proclamation of mar
lia law, would have been palsed, if not defeated in
its exertons for the salvation of the place, by the
reasonable communications and movements of
persons within the same, and yet beat that army
with little or no loss to isef,-has nothing in an
Gent modern story to parallel it, and can be full
~ accounted Tor only, by ascrbng il, as was piousy
/ done by its commander, to the interposition Of
Heaven.
To appreciate duly the service rendered to the
U. States by General Jackson in the defence Of
New Orleans, it will be proper to take view of
the peace which 'ensued quickly after the enemy
were repustd and OF the evils which might have
Letalen the country, had he and his companions in
arms failed in protecting thepaGe. Negotiations for
peace, it is ruc had been concluded at Client Just
before the British were baffled in their demonstra-
tlons on that city. Yet had not peace been
negotiated at this time, this disasterous event on
the part Of the British, it is believed, would soon
have led to termination of the war. But had they
succeeded in forcing the American lines, and get
ing possession Of the city, the treaty, if an opinion
may be formed from what has been almost invaria
bly the conduct of G.. Britain when her treaties have
stood opposed to her ambitious views or her sup
posed interests been compromised, might on this
occasion have been disregarded, and the place not
have been surrendered.
The time to which our attention is drawn,
was an eventu alarming crisis in the affairs of the
=. States. The war had been carried on at an inn
mense expense for period of nearly years, with
various fortune. If arms by land and sea had
soIU thau had ole aripnre H
serious disasters. The financial situation of the
country had become ina high degree embarrassing.
The revenue derived from imports, & from internal
taxes, was small when compared to the expenses