The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-08-25
Fromthe Knickerbocker, for July.
THE RATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

period TO obtain possession ofNew Orleans,
and their Danish descents in the Chesa-
peak were merely fcints to divert attep-
ition from the main object. The plan was
excellent. A defenceess coast, all unfor-
tilted town; total want of munitions OF
all kinds; disaffected negro slaves; Popu-
laton half French, and half Spanish; ever;
circumstance seemed favorable; and they
already cxulted, when considering the
value of fthe.prizc which was TO be obtain
ed so easily. The great market OF the
Mississippi and Ohio valleys was within
their reach; and animated by their success
at Washington, they regarded the exPedi-
ton rather as promenade naattta"e, IN
quest of "beauty and booty than as an
invasion in which pIunder was to be
bought with blood. Rumors of their in
tentions had already reached Louisiana,
and excited much alarm and a shlftless
desire to do something for defence. La
ftte, the smuger, whom the British at
tempted to buy over, warned the authorl-
ties repeatedly of the approaching danger,
and though foreigner, pirate, and an
outlaw, offered to serve with all his band
against the enemies of America. Yet little
was accomplished; the government, as re-
: miss here as elsewhere, had provided nel-
.ther arms nor ammunition. Even frigate
; of small draft, destined to the defence of
the lake, remained unfinished, despite the
earnest solicitation of Commodore Patter-
son. Nothing was ready except the Cen
Andrew Jackson. His military talents
were fully equal to the occasion. In va
rious expeditions against the Greeks, he
chad already eyinced that iron energy, in
domitable perseverance, and ceaseIess ac-
tivitv, 50 necessary to a commanding oth-
Ger. He was the general for an emergcn-
ycy. Nut one Of the wavcring, but man
who would keep bis object as steadily be.
fore him, as the mariner his port, and
trample down and crush without remorse
whoever barred the path. A character
indispensable in chief, for in war, espe-
cialIy, success is the only thing worth con-
sideration.
On the I'd ofDecember. Is IA, General
Jackson arrived in New-Orleans. on his
return from Pensacola. The city was in
great confusion. Committees ofall kinds
were disputing, qnareling, and more desi-
rous to fight each other than the enemy
His appearance restored tranquility, for
he had that strength about him on which
men in danger willingly rely. The Gen.
lost no time in tardy deliberations. Mar
tial law was proclaimed; the writ of habe-
as corpus suspended; free men of color
and prisoners enrolled; the Baratarians
welcomed to the ranks; and every point
which he thought menaced by the attack,
visited and fortified. On the 18th, news
came of the capture of the six gun-boats,
on lake Borgue, the only protection ofthe
coast in the absence of the unfinished frig-
ate. The invaders were at the door, and
men knew that the hour oftrlal had arrl.
we'd.
Some ragged fisherman, who earned a
miserable livelihood on the shores OF the
lake, went over to the British, and advls-
ed them to land at the Bayou Catallne,
one ofthe thousand creeks which intersect
the swamps Of Louisiana. The Bayou
was well chosen, for the Mississippi at this
point was not more than six miles distant
from the lake. On the 16 of December
the army was conveyed in boats to Pine
Island, "a miserable swamp not only de-
void fall human habitations, but bare
even oftrces and shrubs.'x On this waste
they remained five days, suffering all the
hardships Of an exposure to cold and rain.
Many Of the black troops, unaccustomed
TO change of climate, fell asleep beside
their fires, and expired. On the 22d the
.avant-guard, consisting Of sixteen hundred
men, under the command of General
eKeane, was re-embarked, and rowed to
the Bayou, a distance of sixty miles, with
out even an awning to protect them against
the showers which fell during the night.
Bodily discomfort was forgotten in the
certainty of success; and when the boats
took the ground under the high reed.cov-
cred banks ofthe Bayou, the troops leap.
ed ashore with alacrity, and pushed for
ward through the swamp, where the cy-|
press and the conquerer's laurel grew side
by side in boundless profusion, to Villiere's
nIantation. on the left bank of the Missis-