The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-08
The Eighth Of January.

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the thirty-fourth anniversary Of the battle of New
Orleans. In times gone by, it was a great day
among us; and even yet its annual return, though
not marked by all the splendor of display that
greeted few years ago, sts up proud, patriotic
and glorious membranes IN the minds of true
| hearted Americans. Since THE 9Th of January,
| 1915, our city has grown from small town to q
vast commercial emporium; our country, then
hardly reaching the Mississippi, has extended to
the Pacific; State after State has been added to
the Union, and tens of millions mark the increase
| of population; from third-rate power, we have
| taken our stand first among the foremost and
from an admitted experiment of republicansm, our
| system is an acknowledged demonstration of the
benifcence strength, and beauty of republican in
situations. Other battles have been fought since
that day, and other victories won; from defenders
of their resides, citizen-soldiers have carried
the devastations of war into other lands conquered
the fairest provinces of the earth, and connected
the glory of the American name with the history of
many stricken field. But recent and great as
these events have been, they have neither obli'er-
ated the memory nor dimmed the lustre of the
world-renowned victory of New Orleans nor have
| the achievements of succeeding generals in the
slightest degree essened the fame or weakened the
hold upon popular affection Of the remarkable man
who played the most conspicuous part in that great
action. The battles of Mexico have been won un-
der many disadvantages and against singular odds
s-but the enemies were Mexicans-in the battle of
New Orleans the disadvantages were as great, the
difference in numbers, considering the efficient
forces on both sdes about as marked but the enc
mics were the veteran troops of the Pennsular war;
the men who had driven the armies Of Napoleon
before them from the Torres Vedras to the Pyre-
nees; and the officers in command were part of
thai brilliant staff by whose assistance Wellington
had overcome Massena and Marmont and Soult
1.-THE battlefelds, the fortresses stormed, and the
captured cities of Mexico attest the prowess of the
American soldier amid the privations, hardships,
and tolls of distant invading warfare, the sturdy
resistance, and brilliant triumph at New Orleans,
first developed his full capacity for the defence of
his home, and furnished to the nations of the EARTH
the one of the earliest and striking lessons of
what might be expected from the manhood of
country able to give such tokens of vigorous in
fancy. We have no disposition to fight the. battle
over again. Its details are familiar to every school
boy in the land. And to every one it must be appa-
rent how much depended upon the decision, the
energy, and the rare natural power of command
with which the leader of the American forces was
endowed When he arrived here all was conftl-
sion and dismay. There was a city to defend and
no means of defending it. There were many brave
men, it is true, but they were without confidence
in themselves, without efficient organization and
without leaders adequate to the crisis-and there
were others who gave up all for lost-and others
again, whose hearts were in the camp of the enemy,
and who would have regarded the conquest of the
city as no very grievous change of masters. At
such time ANDREW JACKSON arrived. He rail- |
lied the brave, encouraged the tmid, and over
awed the treacherous. He brought order out of
confusion, snatched hope from the very embraces of
despair, and organized the of victory out of
the apparent elements of defeat. Under his guild |
ance the militia of the city assumed the character
and performed the deeds of veteran soldiers-mar-
shalled by him the hurried levies of Mississippi,
Kentucky, and Tennessee, alarmed and llsup-
piled, were more than match for the bravest of I
British troops The sudden sally on the night of |
the 23d of December banished apprehension from
his ranks; the prudent arrangements which follow
ed inspired confidence in the spirit and capacity of
the commander; and the cool, cautious, firm con.
duct on the 9Th of January, achieved one of the
most splendid of modern victories.
No one can think of the battle of New Orleans
without giving to ANDREW jackson the most promi-
nent place, amid all the persons or events which
pass before the mind, nor speak of it without men,
fioning his name, write its history without pro-
nouncing his eulogy. He was the man of that
day-and subsequent events made him the man of
that generation. In the cabinet as in the field, he
was first among his equals His policy was OPP
posed by many, his patriotism acknowledged by all
His sternness of purpose, exalted love of justice,
and thorough American spirit made him the idol
Of the people. He placed the stamp of his genius
upon the history of his country. He fulfilled we'll
he task allotted to him on earth, and sank quietly
70 that repose which SO happily closes a well-spent
life. In his grave all animosities have been buried
To him the distinction of friends and foes exists no
nore And on this day many veteran who served
lnder his eye will shed tear over his loss and
Ill, without distinction of party or sect, will unite
n doing honor to his memory-it will be remem-
oered of him only that while he lived he was THE
GREAT AMERICAN.
PENNY PosT.-An arrangement long desired in
his city is, we glad to perceive, about to be
arried into effect J. L. Granger and CIV. Murray
eI, |