Polynesian., 1853-09-03

10 learn tndt the rules OF tDe marttlm0 law
which govern these cases have fallen under
the notice of our Secretary of State; to sug-I
gest that he consider the expediency Of modi-
flying their tenor before we are sure that he
knows of their existence might be premature.
But should the onerous task Of dividing the
spoils leave him spare moment for other
duties, we respectfully recommend this branch
of our laws to his careful study.-N y.
Herald. sHg,s7sg4 ~ =. ~ 2. saiaeu
An Incident of the Battle of New Orleans.
The following incident so graphically re-
lated, is new among the many stories that
are told of the famous battle of New Or
leans. We have rarely perused more
thrilling narration, and the description rea-
Lies all the effect of vivid and truthful pic
ture Of the intelligent readers mind. A
British officer who was in the battle of New
Orleans, mentions it as an incident of thrill
ing strangeness, and one very descriptive of
the Western Hunter, many of whom march
ed to New Orleans, as volunteers, IN the
Army under the renowned Andrew Jack
SOM
We marched, said the officer, in solid
column oftwelve thousand men in direct
line upon the American defence. Il belong
ed TO the staff, and as we advanced, we
watched through our glasses the position and
arrangements of. our enemy with that lnten-
sity an officer only feels when marching into
the laws Of death, with the assurance that,
while he thus offers himself as sacrifice to
the demands Of his country, every action be
he successful or otherwise will be judged
with the most heartless scrutiny.
1t was strange sight, that long range OF
cotton baIes-a new material for breastworks,
with crowd of human beings behind, their
heads only visible above the line Of defence.
We could distinctly see thir long rifles lay
ing over the bales, and the battery of Gen.
Coffee directly in front, with its great mouth
gaping toward US. as they were waiting to
devour us, and the position of Gen. jackson
with his staff around him. But what attract
ed our attention most, was the figure Of a
tall man standing on the breastworks, dress
ed in Iinsey-woolsey, with buckskini leggins.
and a broad-brimmed felt hat, that fell around
the face almost concealing the features. he
was standing in one ofthose picturesque and
graceful attitudes peculiar to those natural
men-dwelIers in the forest. The body rest
ed on the left leg, and swayed with curved
line upward; the right arm was extended,
the hand grasping the rifle near the muzzie,
the butt of which rested near the toe OF the
right foot, while with his other hand he rais-
| ed the rim of the hat from his eyes, and
seemed gazing from beneath intensely up.
on our advancing column. The cannon OF
Gen. Coffee had opened upon US, and tore
through our ranks with dreadful slaughter;
but we continued to advance. unwavering
and cool, as If nothing threatened US.
The roar Of caurion seemed to have no
effect on the figure standing on the cotton
bales. but he seemed to be fixed and notion
lIess AZ a statue. AT last he moved, threw
back the hat rim over the crown with his
left hand raised the rifle to his shoulder and
took aim at our group. Our eyes were riV,
eted upon him. At whom had he ieveieo
his piece But the distance was SO great
THAT we looked at each other, and smiled:
1--WE saw the rifle flash, and my right-nano
companion, as noble-looking fellow as ever
rode at the head ofa regiment, fell from MS
tsaddle. The hunter paused a few moments
without moving the gun from his shoulder
then reloaded and assumed his former last'-
Ltude. Throwing the hat rim over h's eyes.
and again holding il up with his left hand ne
| fixed his piercing gaze upon US as II nuntins
Iout another victim. Once more the nat rim
/ was thrown back and the gun raised to the
shoulder. This time we did not smile, but
! cast short elances at each other, to see
which of US must die; and when again the
rife flashed. another one Of US dropped to the
earth. There was something most awful IN
thus marching on to certain death.
Gen. Coffee 8 battery, and thousands o.
musket balls playing upon our ranks We
lcared not for--there was chance oil cscaP-
ing uuscathed. g Most Of US bad walked upon
batteries hundred times more destructive
without quailing; but 10 know that every tune
F,hat rifle was leveIed toward US and ITS bullet
snrane from the barrel, one Of Us must as
lsnrely fall; 10 see the cleaning son fissn as
the deadly iron came down, and see res,
lmotionless, as IL poised upon rcck, and
know that when flle hammer struck ana tne
tsparks flew TO the fuli primed pan, shat 'ne
1 messenger Of death drove unernnS'y 70 lis
i eoal. TO know this, and still march on'i was
II could see nothing but the Nil neurs
.t.nd;no on the. breast-work- he seemed
Ito grow, phantom-like. higher ano n'gno.' ser
assuming through the smoke the suPerna.uE-
li1al appe arance Of some great spirit: agar.
! did ne reload and discharge his r'ne WI ~
unrrfise aim; and Il was with 'ndescr'oasse y
lSse.s sore tbsraI beheld, - weaneafeo sne
4 a m9r;can dinss, the sulPhursusA cbcsd gain
ls,ed .rouud ~. and shut that spectral hum,
Ter from my, eszss WEI loa the battle = 80
: 20 ~. mind. The Kentucky riee-@an Jeont!le-
- - -. l~f..s Than anvfhsn9 else