Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-07-04
N6e1DooroogU 1Eerqtttree.

| II we look hack however, 10 the early history
ri onr Indian wars. and especially TO the oai'ieS
fought bv Sullivan, after the massacies On wy
ming: 10 those al Point Pleasant, under .he sd'-
lam Lewis. who there lost his life; or 20 NE ole
recent ones under Gen. Wayne; anu compare
,be,n with hose Of Gen. Jackson, we may men
he better able 10 appreciate his merits ana quaii-
Gcatons as military commander, and The ser
vices he rendered The victory alone over inc
Creeks has been regarded as unprecedented ~
Indian warfare, and gave 10 our country that Iic"
ard valuable domain embraced within Inc Slale
of Alabama These victories would alone nave
stamped him as great military captain
But time presses and must pass on 10 l.a'
scene Of glory which awaited him, ana ~hlcn
| closed the bloody drama Of our last war WIN
| Great Britain. This scene was reserved lol L-ou-
isana-gallanl Louisiana thai o'ae Which
had, but few years before, come 10 US oy 'Iea'l
and alliance, and was now TO have an oppol'un!.
" of binding herself 10 us BY her blood. Ana II
was in her bosom that The gallant Jackson was 10
receive his great reward, and hnlsh MS career u
military glory.
History and experience teach, that great m'll-
| iary powers can only be displayed where sfeal
exsencies point field on which 10 ac anu ma.
these occasions are the means which coiiduc,
men, as well as nations, 10 emnence ana glory
Ii was The battle of New Orleans, which was
now 10 afford the opportunity for The iull display
OF all those high qualities which were 10 stamp
Cen. Jackson as one of the first Generals IN ll,e
world, considered either in relation TO The Da'lle
itself or the magnitude OF lis consequences.
Whilst The offices OF this day am aware, 90
mol admit OF recital, which would include even
The leading incidents Of this great struggle, I've.
longing as they do more properly 10 History ana
Biography; vet il is needfH in order 10 appreciate
Justly The general importance OF the victory, oui
especially The vast and varied powers cf him who
achieved il, to glance very briefly al some OIL Inc
more important incidents and more especially 10
The situation of the country, before and at TIE
time OF The battle.
II will be borne in mind that Louisiana was
We, amongst The Youngest of our sister States anu
formed one OF The remolest parts of our Union.
Its population was small and scattered, and il was
filled with a colored population which required
constant force to prevent its becoming domestic
enemy.
lis remote situation; the pressing dangers on
the whole Atlantic coast and al the seat oil the
Nalioral Governments together with other causes,
had been the means OF leaving this part oil The
! country destitute of defence, and depending in 4
| great measure ON lis own resources. Although
/ accessible by numerous lnlets from The sea, mere
were but two Notifications, i'll provided, and IN
| adequately sarrisoned and few gun boats, The
i
amounted 10 not more than two incomplete reSi-
mems. The militia and volunteers of The CITY.
There were few cannon and no arms in The
arsenals All intercourse had been cut oil with
the sea by blockading squadron oil The enemy,
and which il was known preceded The arrival of a
/ formidable fleet and all invading army oil great
1 force.
This was The peIlous and almost defenceless
state OF New Orleans Immediately previous 10
the battle.
II was al this luncture that General jackson
was called 10 defend this extreme point, with
small force, unpraclised in war, and with few, or
no other resources, Than their own spirit, against
proud nation, in possession OF all The means,
and strong with all The sinews of war; and able
10 carry its hoslilites against any part OF this ex-
lensive country; which had drawn within It's Ii
mils The greater portion Of the wealth and indus
try Of the country When thus summoned by
his country, he did not hesitate! In an instant
he resolved; and his resolutions, let me Tell you,
were as firm as the DEGREES OF Heaven. His
mind once made up, he was impatient OF counsel
or control as all know who knew him well-and
few better Than myself; and when ne elt con-
sciouS that he was right, and must ACT, he would
proceed regardless of what might happen, and
without The slightest dread OF consequences
and never were The words Of The Poet more ap-
| nlicable than 10 him
| ttFrom orhs rnnvulscd, should all the planets fly,
| World crush on world, and ocean mix with sky
| He, unconcernrd, would view the falling whole,
Aud still maintain the purpose OF HIS soul =
He repaired 10 New Orleans. Great as The
difficulties and dangers were that encompasscd II,
and which might have appalled, the sioutest heart,
he instantly resolved 10 surmount them, orperish
in the attempt Having taken this lofty stand, he
summoned to his aid his gallant countrymen, and
especially hose who had served with him in his
Indian campaigns and, al the first tread OF dan
ger, the West, and more particularly gallant Ken
lucky and Tennessee, poured forth their sons like
legions of armed men Tennessee furnished
nearly onetourlh OF her physical force. Then
il was that confidence revived, andihe great work
of preparation began. He intermed no watch
against the wakeiu foe. He visited the forts, or.
gained The forces that were placed under his
command, and insilled into his soldiers conf
dence in themselves, and ultimate victory. He
appealed 10 their passions, their prejndices, and
love Of country He kindled up spirit Of de-
ermined resisance-a lofty and unconquerable
spirit and, what was more. a contagious spirit,
which proved terrible 10 its opposers. He raised
money on his own credit, reused the people TO a
sense of their danger, and filled the ranks OF
the army by volunteers, drawn from every part
Of the Western country. Like our Revolution
ary Patriots he did not fail to count the cost OF the
contest. He felt that il was no common one III
which he was about 10 engage, and no common
enemy 10 whom, he was TO be opposed. On The
contrary, il was a contest which was again 10 put
in hazard Of the sword the honor of our name
and The liberties and glory OF our country The
sentiment ofancient patriotism, "never To despair
OF The Commonwealth" was deeply rooted in his
heart. He consequently always went into ballle
with the spirit Of victory He never admitted
that he could he conquered, and never was; and
the lesson which he invariably impressed upon
his soldiers was, that the day of battle with him
was always the day of victory. II was upon his
banner that
-"Victory, like dazzling Eagle, stood /"
Besides, he was 10 fight under the same standard
that Washington had unfured; against The same
enemy, and in the same 9 urious cause; with the
hearts OF his devoted followers, and the spirit OF
their fathers, and how could he fail 10 conquer ?
Thus he argued, and glorious was the result
have no disposition, certainly, 10 aggravale the
dangers 10 which the country was exposed OF
swell It's obligation to lis defender. But The mo.
menl was one OF great peril and danger, and a
problem oil vital importance was To he solved
what n militia force Of lreemen agains, regular
armies, could do, in defence Of their affairs and
tresides. Besides these difficulties what was
The situation OF The country elsewhere? Contrast
the defence OF New Orleans, with the disasters OF
our arms, at other points. There was Hulps
dissracetul surrender! The defeats and massa.
ores of The Raisin, and Miami! The capture OF
Washington and The conhagration Of the Capitol;
and long list Of dcprcdations and pillage, on the
whole tour Atlantic borders by British squad
rons. Besides what was The impression in
many parts OF the country, as to Jackson's defeat,
and the fall of New Orleans? VIII you pardon G
for moment, in referring 10 one or Two historical
facts 10 show what The fears and opinions in Ger.
tain quarters were, atthe very moment that The
battle was about 10 be fought, and when this great
man was standing like mighty colossus in the
midst OF a sea OF dangers, and with the eyes OF
The nation looking 10 him for succor and safety
In one OF The Gazees of Washington, (the
Republican, OF January 1915, it was said =
mir Madison has scarcely raised his little finger
preserve New Orleans. The suspicion gains
ground, 'hatthe Government is in possession of The
official account of the capture OF that impoHan,
CITY" Again On The 9Th January is tho fnl