Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-01-11
Narrative OF THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

NARRATIVE OF THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
Narrative of The Battle of New Orleans written BY Gene
raj Cass from the personal communications OF Genera
Jackson ard examined and corrected by him. and publish
ed in the Quarterly Review No. % October, 1855 Ar
| Gle w. % Review of Narrative Of Events in The
South OF France, and Of the Attack on New Orleans in
| 1914 and S5-by Capt. John Henry Cooke late OF the
.3d regiment OF infantry, London, 1884
EXTRACTS
yy ore moi about 10 dsserl This work for the benefit OF
our readers We merely appropriated the title to our
use that agrceaby the approved canons OF CRITICISM we
may tell our own story Of the evcnul inroad which II de-
rcrbes rather than make journal vehicle for The
live Of unother Yet the work Is not without Interest"
uThe defence Of New Orleans is prominent object in
our military history 1t closed with the most brilliant
ceas war undertaken in self defence and whose progress
had been marked b. signal disasters we'll as By signal
victories II gave tone to the national feeling and elevation
IN The national character But il ss other claims 10 cons
dcration still greater than these II defensive victory
achieved principally by militia force and altogether by
nrc recently and hastily raised with little discipline and
sss cInerrncc The ASSISTANTS among the best troops
of the age ard flushed by recent success And they cXce-
cd their advcrsaes much in numbers as in practical dis
cipac A rcpusc Gni.r such circumstances, furnishes
useful and cheering lesson Whatever tends TO check the
pride Of conquest aud 10 give stability To Nations Is inter
sliDp TO all nhO look human happiness IS the true object
of government and the great end Of social institutions"
'rlc geographical features OF Louisiana peculiar end
Interesting and If the Of the country presents
uncommon difficulties to invading foe il offers othera
which arc rot Grfcnsve operation The region
;ave:sad By lover Mississippi has been gained from the
ocean by desposits borne down BY the CURRENT OF that
river During its annual foundations It's surface when al
The greatest elevation is considerably higher than its
raj bunEs: and Ihcee in their turn, higher Than the land
in their rear Contrary therefore, 10 the usual 'uvia ioun
dations :Rcrc is inclined plane highest at the river and
extending The swams which serves as reservoir for the
water that escapes period of inundaiion. Hnmun la
boz und ingenuity have countcractcd The operations OF Ma
:ue aud dixie or cSee has been 'ncd along tue TveT Tor
great distance which protects the land between the stream
ana the swamp iom Tho periodical rcsris, occasncd ty
the falling Of the rain und BY the dissolution CT the snow in
The immense trans. Allegheny valley.
has vet sufficient guard tho habations and
'he works of from the danger which hangs over them
is indeed ato occasional breaches; but these
orally repaired without delay not tho water passes in
considerable through the inclined plane TO the
swamp making, indeed chunnel ir ITSELF Out extending
Fro,, ths very general view of the country It may well
be supposed that there various routes by which may
no atnroached and entered from the ocean, Placing
solves New Oeane, the key OF this whole region shall
take coup dsU Of these a:cnues OF communication, with
Out s ,ch of which neither the plans Of operation the
ncris u heconendng parties can be understood or nppc
dated"
country there several approaches 10 the city OF New
Orleans which invading army might advance and that
great v..tancc to i,a u II. defenders well hs tho
occr:r # F'c. positions along 'hesc nes could alone
guard surprise. dispersion OF the troops was The
necessary consequence ot this state OF things well
general ncertiiude respecting the operations
"During the summer and Of the autumn of Isl
General Jackson had engaged In the necessary
for The defence Of the military district entrusted TO him.
which included tho south part OF the United States
foEluai a. ula lic an appeludSe o ule spanish Flown,
situated with relation 10 his command TO inter-
rupt his communications and 10 em5arass his operations
II had proved itself place of refuge, where his enemies
both white and red had sought safety and whence they had
issued 10 overcome and devas,ate III. country"
"hc neutral duties OF the Spanish local authorities were
openly neglected They had certainly inclination
perhaps the power, The British and their allies
10 respect their territory. The consequences already felt,
and those anticipated led General Jackson TO the adoption
Of one of those decisive which have characterized
his course through life.
III. determined upon his own responsibility 10 enter
Florida and in expelng the British teach The local gov
salu,ary lesson This design he executed with
equal promptude and Pensacola wac taken the
hostile expedition driven from the province and the fof
cations upon which they had relied for defence demolished
"The public In
dcaons which gave warning Of the danger 10 others were