Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-07-08
The Battle of New Orleans.

!; time.
, ADDRESS,:
Directed, by Major General jackson, TO be
read at the head of each of the corp.
composing the line below New Orleans,
January p, lsi5.
Citizens and Fellow Soldiers!-Thc en-.
envy has retreated, and your General has
now leisure, to proclaim TO the world what
he has noticed with admiration and praise
your undaunted courage, your patriotism
and your patience, under hardships and IA
tigues. Natives of different States, acting
together for the first time, in this camp, DIFF
ferent in haeits and in language; instead OF
viewing in these circumstances the germ of
distrust and division, you have made, them
the source of an honorable emulation, and
from the seeds of discord itself have reaped
the fruits of an honorable union. This day
completes the fourth week since fifteen hun
dred Of you attacked treble your number OF
men, who had boosted of their discipline
and their services under celebrated leader
in long and eveniful war:=--atlacked them
in their camp, the moment they had prosan
ed the spill of freedom with their hostile
tread, and inflicted blow which was pre-
lude TO the final result of their attempt I,
conquer, or their poor conlrvances to divid,
US A few hours was sufficient to unite
the gallant band; though at the moment
they received the welcome order TO march
they were separated many leagues, in dit.
ferent directions, from the city. The gay
rapidly of the march, and the cheerful coun-
tenanccs of the officers, and men, woulC
have induced the belief that some festiv,
the object to which they FASTENED with Sc
much eagerness and hlari,y, in the conflict
that ensued; the same spirit was supported,
and my communications 10 the Executive
of the United States have testified the sense
entertained of the merits Of the corps and
officers that were engaged. Resting Oh
the field of battle, they retired in perfect Or
der OH the next morning to the lines, des-
tined to become the scene of future Veto
ries which they were to share with the rest
ofy you, my brave companions in arms
Scarcely were your lines protection a
gainst musket shot, when On the 2Sth, dis
position was made 70 attack them with all
the pomp and parade of military tactics, as
improved by those veterans of the Spanish
war.
Their batteries of heavy caopon kept up
an incessant fire; their rockets illuminated
the air; and under their cover two strong
I columns threatened our TANKS. The foe
nsolently thought that this spectacle was
too imposing to be resisted, aud in the in
toxication of his pride he already saw our
lines abandoned without contest - how
were those appearances met?
By shouts Of defiance, by manly couE-
,enance, not to be shaken by the roar Of
his cannon, by the glare Of his frework
rockets; by an artillery served with SUI
perior skill, and with deadly effect. New
er, my brave friends, can your General
forget the testimonials Of attachmdnt 10
our glorious cause, or indignant hatred
to our foe, Of affectionate confidence in
your chief, that resounded from every
rank, as he passed along your line. This
anima,ing and unexpected scene dampen-
ed the courage Of the enemy; he dropped
his scaling ladders and fascnes and the
threatening attack dwindled into a demon
straton, which served only to show the
emptiness Of his parade, and to inspire
you with just confidence in yourselves.
The new year was ushered in with the
mos, tremendous fire his whole artillery
could produce;a few hours only, howev-
err were necessary for the brave and skill
full men who directed our own to dismount
his cannon, destroy his batteries, and eff
ectually silence his fire. Hitherto, my
brave friends, in the contest on our lines,
your courage had been passive only; you
stood with calmness, fire that would have
tried the frmness Of veteran, and you
anticipated nearer contest with an ca
gerness which was soon to be gra,ified
Or. The Sth Of January the final effort
was made AT the dawn of day the bat
teries opened and the columns advanced.
Knowing that the volunteers from Ten
nessee and the MALTA from Kentucky
were stationed on your left, it was there
they directed their chief attack.
Reasoning always from base principles.
they expected little opposition from men
whose officers even we're OF in uniform,
who we're ignorant Of the rules Of dress,
and never been caned into discipllne-fa-
tai mistake! fire necessarily kept up, dir
ected with calmness and unerring am.
strewad the field with the bravest officers
and men Of the column which slowly ad-
vanced according to the most approved ru.
les of European tactics, and was cut down
by the untutored courage of American ma
l!tia. Unable to sustain this CALLING and
unceaseing fire, some hundreds neaFest
the entrenchment called for quarters, which
was granted-,he rest retreating, were raj
lied at some distance, by, only to make
them the surer mark for the grape and
canister shot Of our artillery, which, with
out exaggeration, moved down whole
ranks at every discharge. and at length
they precip1iately retired from the field
Our right had only short contest 10 sus
tain with few rash men, who, fatally for
themselves, forced their entrance into the
I unfinished redogbt on The rive. They
were quickly Disposed, and this glorious
1 day terminated with the loss TO the enemy
of their comnander-in-chief,a and one major
general killed, another wounded. the mos;
experienced and bravest oftheir officers, and
lnore than three thousand men killed,
wounded, and missing; while our ranks, my
friends, were lhinned only by the loss OF
SIX oil our brave companions killed, and
4 seven disabled by wounds-wodderfu inter-