The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-06-24

WE slEIyeur dl NEW OlltduS " lew
weeks before The appearance Of the
enemy. sr
On the Esd Of December the signal
gun announced the approach of the en-
envy. The previous night they had
surprised and captured one Of our pick
cts; had ascended a bayou, disembark.
ed, and had taken possession Of the
left bank Of the Mississippi, within six
miles Of New Orleans. The energy Of
every officer was put in requisition, TO
concentrate our forces in time to meet
the enemy. Capt. Butler was one Of
the first 70 arrive at the Generals quar-
ters, and ask instructions; they were
received and promptly executed. Our
regiment,stationed on the opposite side.
was transported across the river. All
the available forces Of our army, not
much exceeding fifteen hundred men,
were concentrated in the city; and
while the sun went down, the line OF
battle was formed, and every officer
took the station assigned to him in the
fight. The infantry formed on the O.
pen square, in front Of the cathedral,
waiting in anxious expectation for the
order to move. During this momen!a-
ry pause, while the enemy was expect
ed TO enter the city, scene Of deep
and thrilling interest was presented
Every gallery, porch, and window
around the square were filled with the
fair forms Of beauty, in silent anxiety
md alarm, waving their handkerchiefs
to the gallant and devoted band which
stood before them, prepared TO die, or
defend them from the rude intrusion Of
a foreign soldiery. twas scene cal.
culatsd to awaken emotions never TO
be f<rgoiten. appealed TO the chival-
rySand patriotism of every officer and
soldier-it inspired every heart, and
nerved every arm for battle. From
this impressive scene the army march.
ed TO meet the enemy, and about eight
O'Clock at night they were surprised in
their encampment, Immediately on the
banks Of the Mississippi. Undiscover-
ed, our line was formed in silence with
in short distance Of The enemy; rap
id charge was made into their camp,
and desperate conflict ensued. After
n determined resistance, the enemy
gave way, but disputing every inch Of
the ground we gained. In advancing
over bitches and fences in the night,
rendered still more dark by the smoke
OF the battle, much confusion necessari-
ly ensued, and many officers became
separated from their commands. 1t
more than once occurred during the
fight. that some Of our officers, through
mistake entered the enemy's lines; and
the British officers in like manner en-
tered ours. The meritorious officer
in command Of our regiment, at the
battle, lost his position in the darkness
and confuson, and was unable to regain
it until the action was over. In this
manner, Tor short time, it was without
a commander, and its movements were
regulated by the platoon officers, which
increased the confusion and rregularly
OF the advance. In this critical stua-
tion, and in the heat OF the battle, Capt.
Butler, as the senior officer present,
assumed command of the regiment, and
led it on most gallanlly to repeated and
successful charges, until the fight end
ed in the complete rout of the enemy.
We were still pressing on their rear,
when an officer Of the generals staff
rode up and ordered the pursuit discon.
,inued. Captain Butler urged its con-
tinuance, and expressed the confident
belief Of his ability to take many pris-
oners, if permitted 10 advance. But
the order was promptly repeated, un-
der the well-lounded apprehension that
our troops might come in collision
with each other--an event which had
lnhappily occurred at previous hour Of
The fight. No corps on that field was
more bravely led to battle than the regi-
ment commanded by Captain Butler
and no officer of any rank. save the
commander-in-chief, was entitled to
higher credit for the achievement of
That glorious night.
A short time before the battle of the
9th Of January, Captain Butler was de-
tailed 10 command the guard in front
Of the encampment. A house standing
near the bridge, in advance of his posi-.
lion, had been taken possession of by
the light troops Of the enemy. from
whence they annoyed our guard. Cap
tain Butler determined to dislodge ihem
and burn the house. He accordingly
marched TO the attack at the head Of his
command, but the enemy. retired be- &;
lore him. Seeing them retreat, he halted ,
his guard, and advanced himself, accom-
panied by two or three men only for
the purpose Of burning the house. 1t i
was an old frame building, weather {
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