The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-10-06
AN INCIDENT OF THE BATTLE OF
NEW ORLEANS.

A British officer, who was in the battle
Of New Orleans, mentions an incident OF
thrilling strangeness, and ono very de-
scriptive of the Western hunter, many Of
whom marched to the defence ofNew Or
leans, as volunteers in the army under the
renowned Andrew Jackson:
We marched said the officer, in a solid
column Of twelve thousand men, in direct
line upon the American defences.
II was a strange sight, that long range
Of cotton bales-a new material for breast.
works, with the crowd Of human beings
behind, their heads only visible above the
line of defense. We could distinctly see
their long rifles lying over the bales, and
the battery Of Gen. Coffee directly in front,
with its great mouth gaping towards US,
as they waited to devour us, and the posi-
ton Of Gen. Jackson, with his staff around
him. But what attracted our attention
most was the figure of a tall man standing
on the breastworks, dressed in linsey WOOL
en-, with buckskin leggins and a broad
brimmed felt hat, that fell around the face,
Almost concealing his features. He was
standing in one Of these picturesque and
graceful attitudes peculiar to those natur-
d man dwellers in the forests. The body
rested on the left leg, and swayed with g
curved line upwards; the right arm was
extended, the hand grasping the rifle nea,
the muzzle, the butt of which rested neal
the toe of his right foot, while with his
hand he raised the rim of his hat from his
eyes, and seemed gazing from beneath in
tensely on our advancing column. The
cannon Of Gen. Coffee had opened upor
us, and tore through the ranks with dread
full slaughter; but we continued to advance
unwavering and cool, as if nothing threat
ened our progress.
The roar Of cannon seemed to have M
effect upon the figure standing on the cot
ton bales, but he seemed fixed and motion
less as a statue. At last he moved. threw
back his hat rim over the crown with hi
left hand, raised the rifle to his shoulde
and took aim at the group. Our eye:
were rivetted upon him. At whom had HI
leveled his piece! But the distance wa
30 great that we looked at each other ant
smiled. We saw the rifle flash, and my
right.hand companion, as noble looking
fellow as ever rode at the head Of his regi
ment, fell from his saddle. The hunte
paused a few moments, without movin,
the gun from his shoulder, then RELOADED
|. and assumed his former attitude. Throw
ing the hat rim over his eyes, and agail
holding it up with the left hand. he ixe,
his piercing gaze upon u, asif hunting on
another victim. Once more the hat rir
was thrown back and the gun raised t
the shoulder. This time we did not smile
but cast short glances at each other, to Sc
which Of us must die; and when again tn
rife flashed, another one of US dropped t
the earth. There was something most aw
full in thus marching on to certain death.
Gen. Cofee's battery, and thousand
Of musket balls playing upon our rank
we cared not for-there was a chance {
escaping unscathed. Most Of us ha
walked upon batteries q hundred time
moro destructive without quailing; but
know that every time that rifle was levele
4 towards US, and it's bullet sprang from il
barrel, one of us must as surely fall; I
ses the cleaning sur flash as the dead
iron came down, and see it rest, motion
llsss. = if poised upon a rock, and kne
when the hammer struck and the spark
Asw TO the full primed pan, that messef
eer Of death drove unerringly to its goI
to know this, and still march on, wa
2%ful.
I could SOC nothing but the tall 6gur
sanding on the breastwork. He SCENE
o1rrow, phantom like, higher and highe
Though che smoke the supernt
Steafaoce Of some great spirit
@i4 ~ reload and discharge h
3il III same unfaik ain; and
M pwith Understandable pisaspfs n!