The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-07-08

On the l4th of December large British
force entered the lake Bcrgne and captured
the American fotilla there stationed ItI
was now expected that they would make a
speedy attack on the city. On the 22d, the
British troops were accidentally discovered
making a landing about seven miles below
the city and through kind of natural canal
which runs from the lakes into the swamp,
called Bayou Bienvenu. On the 2Sd, GER
tain information of this having reached
Jackson, he determined to attack them that
night. About 5000 ofthe enemy had land
ed, and they were constantly receiving rein
fercements; Jackson accordingly marched
out Of the city and reached the enemy's
bivouack at dusk. He Immediately attacked
them, ann after several hours of hard fight
ing, drove them from their position, and
forced them down the river 1t became i'm
possible however to act with advantage in
the darkness, and he was compelled TO re-
fire some distance and await the morning.
To this prompt night attack, however, may
be attributed the safety Of New Orleans.--l
Had the enemy not been awed by such a
spirited reception, which they least of all
expected, they would upon the next day have
marched upon the city with an overwhelming
force; and without the advantage of the for
ti6cations which its defenders now acquired
time to erect, New Orleans musthave fallen.
We cannot enter into detail of the ope-
rations at New Orleans between the 23d
December and the Sth of January; but we
will endeavour to present the reader with as
clear compend as is in our power. New
Orleans is situated on narrow strip of land,
over one hundred miles in length, fronting
on the Mississippi river and backed by an
interminable wooded swamp This strip at
the point whero the British had landed, is
not over four hundred yards in width. On
the morning of the 24th, Jackson, learning
thatthe British force had increased so as far TO
eutnumber him, resolved to throw breast
work across the narrowest part of the dry
ground, and thus act on the defensive. A
canal which had been already cut from the
swamp to the river, favoured the idea and
he accordingly commenced the arduous un-
dertaking. The British remained quietly in
their encampment for several days, allowing
him what he most desired, time to complete
this breastwork. On the 2Sth, they made
an unsuccessful attack upon the fortifca-
.ions, and another upon the lst of January,
in which they were also repulsed. The 9Th
of January, however, was fixed upon for the
decisive movement. Accordingly on the
morning of the 9Th, the signals, intended
for attack, were deserted in the enemy's
lines, and shortly afterwards, the whole Br-
tish force were seen advancing toward the
breastwork. They we're received with a
thick volley of musketry and artillery
Hundreds fell at each discharge from the
American lines. They wavered, retreated,
were rallied and advanced again-and again
were they shot down in whole columns, by
the unerring bullets Of the rihemen. Their
General, Sir Edward Packenham fell at the
head OF his troops, and several other officers
of distinction were also killed while attemp-
ting to rally their men. 1t was in vain to
urge them on in the face Of death--nearly
three thousand of their comrades had al
ready fallen,-and at length, Gen. Keane
gave the order to retreat.
Had the troops under Jackson been armed
and equipped for pursuit, the whole British
army of 10000 men might have been cap
tured on that day. Jackson however, know
ing the weakness of his soldiers in this res
pect, wisely forbade pursuit and the enemy
were permitted to escape. They embark
ed on the 18th of January.
After the battle Of the Sth, General Jack
son remained at New Orleans until the news
arrived of peace with England, when he re-
tired once more to his peaceful abode of the
Hermitage"
years indulging in rural pleasures and
amusements, at the end of which time he
was once more called out in the service of
his country.
Florida was still in the hands of the Span
iards; and for some time after the battle of
New Orleans, hostile incursons were made
upon the frontier settlements of the United
States, by bands of Seminoes, Creeks and
runaway negroes, who found fit asylum in
this neutral territory. The government of
the United States, therefore, in December,
1919 ordered Jackson to this, place, with
sufficient force to suppress these incursions,
giving him leave, if necessary, to cross the
Spanish line and punish the savages where
ever he might find them. He accordingly
repaired to the scene of action, and after
having routed the Indians in several engage
ments, and executed two British subjects
whom he found acting as instigators to the
hostile savages, he put speedy termination
to the campaign, and was about to return to
Nashville when he ascertained that Callava,
the Governor Of Pensacola, had been afford
ing protection to the enemy; he, therefore,
at the head of 1900 men marched against
this place and occupied it with the United
Gt,fes soldiers For these acts he was at