The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-06
DAILY CRESCENT.
Ffom the Conoorda lnelgencer.
"Reminiscences of Two Campaigns OF,
Rrfef Memoir


OF the Kentucky volunteers at Fort Meigs my
feelings love of country and burning desire to see
the wrongs of my suffering countrymen avenged,
induced me, young as | was, to enter the army
Volunteers were called for, and the patrouc atdot
OF every Kentuckian was reused to the highest
pitch. We all painted for an opportunity to avenge
the murder Of our slaughtered countrymen by par
bario, cruel and unrelenting enemies, ana every
ready to buckle his armor, embark III |
his country's service, and to march upon the coih-
mon enemy.
At this time the Hon. Richard M. Johnson, then
a member of Congress from Kentucky, was au-
thorzed by the President Of the United states TO |
raise and equip regiment OF mounted volunteers, |
consisting OF one thousand men, 10 serve as mount
ed gun-men for six months. volunteered, young I
as was and became a member OF General (thea |
Captan) Robert B. McAfee's company.
Our regiment performed important military ser |
vices in defending the frontier OF Ohio and the
Northwest from Indian depredations and savage |
barbarty and cruelty. We were encamped on Gen
Wayne's battle ground the theatre OF his decisive
victory over the Indians the 25th August lT94 at
the foot Of the Maumee Rapids, when the joyful
news of Commodore Perry memorable battle on
Lake Erie and capture OF the British naval force
the 10th of September 1913, was announced. A
forward movement of the North western Army, with
view to descent on upper Canada was theh
made by Gen. Harrison. The loot troops crossed
the upper end Of the lake and landed at Amherst
burg and took Fort Maiden, which the British army
had lust abandoned Col. Johnson's Regiment OF
mounted volunteers marched by the River Raisin, re-
gained Gen Wlnehester's battle ground, and reached
Detroit as Gen McArthur's column was entering
that city and assisted in etakng the city, driving on
the Indians and wping out the stain OF Hull s sur
render. The Mounted Regiment crossed over into
Canada from Detroit and joined the main army un-
der Gen. Harrison and Gov. Shelby the latter from
Kentucky. The campaign closed in the pursuit OF
the British Gen Proctor, which resulted IN the
vtetorioas battle Of the Thames. Gen. Proctor
was defeated in that encounter, his regular forces
overthrown, discounted and taken prisoners, and
the Indian allies, lighting under the orders OF the
celebrated Iecumseh, were routed and He'd, alter
near an hours hard fighting, leaving their brGve
chief and about thirty Of lis toarrtorS slain on
the field of battle. On the return OF the regiment
to Kentucky, the men paid off the following
summer and each volunteer received discharge IN
the following words:
Tn mas Curry. soidIer IN CAPT Roe b. Mc afee's com.
pauy, composing Of the regiment under my command
lie evidence that said Thomas Curry enttsd tour Of
wees of lie aid Thomas urry in having acted the purt
brave soldier he commanan Of sa regiment takes his ast
their faithful services aud Tor the fJutude with which hey
submitted prlvaiiOns aud hardsps; and TO ngatuate
them on The termination Of their services which bril-
liant a the oOmmeucemenl was pstrole = -
"RIcBARD VI JOHNSON, Col, R NV
The war still continued and the American arms
were again unsuccessful While the undersigned
was writing in the clerks office at Harrodsburg as
deputy clerk, the sad intelligence reached us OF
the defeat OF the American army, at Bladensburg
and the capture and burning of Washington City
on the oath August, 1914. This unwelcome and
mortifying news came upon us like clap OF thun-
der. 1t was well calculated to rouse the patriotism
and stimulate every lover of his country, and impe
the citizen soldier to still greater exertons and sac
riices in her cause. The American Government
was compelled TO become the assailant in the rescr
TO arms against Great Britain. But from her ex
tensve marine and large disposable land force a
ths period Of the war, she was emboidened TO in
wade American territory. This placed us on th'
defensive. Our territory being invaded, the coun
try required defenders at every point,
In the spring of 1914 the allied armies in Europ
conquered Napoleon, and he exed to tn
island OF E.ba. England had now vast mlltar,
force at her disposal. 1t gave her an opPortunt
to dispatch large army against the United state
in addition to that already our shores and IN tn
field,
A new point of attack was medltated; the cit
Of New Orleans and State OF Louisiana were ev
IDENTIFY the objects to be assaied by this new BIRTHS
armament. The renowned General Sir Edwar
Packenham an officer of great distinction an
prowess, was placed in command Troops wer
or Tered to the new scene ot action, and Gener'
Jackson was appointed to defend this exposed SEE
toa of the Union. Detachments OF militia wer
ordered from Kentucky and Tennessee, The me-
were drafted, and the company and field otficel
were detailed by seniority OF commission and ran
for the campaign. iorce OF 225O men wei
drafted from Kentucky and mustered into service
Having served one tour OF duty, the underslgne
was not required to stand draft Indeed, | WI
not vet old enough to be placed on the muster-ro
as a militia man | volunteered to take the pas
OF a friend, (who was preparing for the ministry
and was drafted into the 18th regiment, commando
bv Lieut. Colonel Gabriel Slaughter, Of Nero
county, Ky, and late Lieut. Governor of the Stat
The Colonel resided near Harrodsburg, and hi
known him from earliest bOyhood. He appoint'
me Sergeant major to his regiment In this
pacty served in the campaign at New Orear
The Kentucky division, under Major Ge
Thomas, reached the city in fiat boats," ear
on the morning of the 4th January, and encamp
below, about mile in the rear of Gen. Jackson
lines, and under the smoke and sound OF his ca
distant cannonade was Kept up al ihu
vals every day. The regiment, commanded
Col. slaughter, consisting of 800 men, fit for dul
and one battalion of the 14ih regiment under M
HARRISON numbering 800 men, We're placed und
command of Brig. Gen Adair, and stationed cl6
in the rear in conjunction with Cen Carrol
Tennessee division, which had arrived few da
before us. Gen. Adair had orders to act as {
cumstances should require. This detached force
100 men was all of the Kentucky division u
was armed and supplied with guns and ammu
ton up to the evening of the 7th of January. L
remainder of the men were left IN camp. 6en Ad
was in command of this armed delafhment w
discretionary orders. On the morning OF the G
memorable Sth January, 1915, the kentuckl'
We're brought in close 10 the lines and directly
der the fire of the enemy's main stormlng colur
led on by Gems. Packenham and Gibbs, IN pers
The attack was made at dawn of day, on the
centre and the ertrenle right of Gen Jacksons liz
The column led against our right was comman
by Mai Gen. Keane, of The Brush army. IL '
on Il Sunday morning, dark and drizzllng ram,
while revee was beating, that some rockets "
thrown, which was the signal for the two ste
ing columns TO advance simultaneously to
attack.
TIE battle lasted about an hour, when the
taekng columns were heat off with great sal
ter leaving the field strewed with the dead
hat Il uir,, &c 81 s.ntt
al the close of the conflict made a hasIy ret
under cover of the reserve column of Maj
Lambert CARRYING Generals Packenham and G
morally wounded, from tie boody field
both died of their wounds in few hours
Keane's column, which advanced up under c
of lhe levee, and along the brink of the wa
edge. shared the same fate. II was repulsed
great loss Colonel Renne and other field off
were killed after they had mounted our pa
line of defence. Gen. Keane was borne from
field desperately wounded, but recovered.
command Of the British forces devOlved on
Gen. John Lambert, veteran officer, greatl!
tncuished in the Peninsuar war in Spain,
particularly in the bloody battle Of foul
which closed that war on the downfall of
leon, in April, 1914. The attacking force,
ding the reserve column, was about 10000
Total loss of the British army in this last en-
ter, was abuu, $500 in killed, wounded and
oners The American loss was but six men
and seven wounded, so well were the men
tected by the enlbankment or breastwork, tf
up in the form of steep levee, with DIT
front, the larapet wall being full six feet
with batteries OF cannon erected at in,erva
various calihres, projected and supported b