The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-18

farms and workshops, and that they had never
seen disciplined enemy. But at The command
Of their leader they marched with alacriy to meet
tho best troops Of the British army. Not one OF
them had any idea how strong the enemy might
be, and few Of them cared. They knew their
leader and he knew them. All reliable accounts
show that the British force handled by Jackson
that night was 5000 strong. for heavy reinforce
menls reached the enemy during the fight.
| Jackson marchsd down to the vicinity OF the
enemy, whom he found spread over the plain from
the bank of The river. He recoDnoitered The posi-
ton and force Of the enemy, and, even alter he
found out their force, his iron will never quailed
!or moment. Having made his Reconnaissance,
he arranged his order of battle. The enemy were
enjoying themselves in great variety OF ways
jackson had approached them,
sc Still the breeze, but terrible the Storm
and even the picket guards ignorant of his
| presence. Jackson's right flank rested upon The
river bank, and his line extended across the plain,
and Coffee occupied the exremes left. sThe plan
was for Coffee to turn the right flank and attack IN
the rear, while Jackson moved upon The left flank
and centre his with iorce. The Caroline was
ordered TO drop down The river slow y, to anchor
opposite the enemy, and open fire upon them as
soon the land attack commenced. The Caro-
line was challenged. however, and had 10 precpi.
tate her cannonade which gave the enemy warn.
| ing lndt JACKSON army was upon tnetn. COHee
| found his advance checked by ditch, and was
forced TO dismount, and leave great part Of his
force to hold ;he horses. But though frustrated in
| mmencing the attack, he did his duty nobIy.
The cannonade of the Caroline produced the
| most terrible CONSERVATION in the British force,
| and they were converted into mob for some min
utes. la the front OF the line commanded by Jack
| son in person, some arrangement took place in
| consequence of the misconcrption Of a subaItern
|
son. He pushed into the British line, and Gen.
keane, The Brlling commander, says: " A more
extraordinary conflict has perhaps never occurred;
absolutely hand to. hand, both officers and men,"
And in this hand to. hand conflict the raw militia
of Jackson drove three times their number OF the
veterans Of the British army fully mile from
where the fight commenced. And Coffees bri-
gade were rifles, and therefore had no bayonets TO
use. Blu, Coffee drove the enemy before HIM, and
they sought an orange grove for safety Here
Coffee pressed upon them and drove them from
the grove. They retreated to the riverssnd found
safety in double emba rkment, and Coffee retired
to join Gen. Jackson.
rsh army no part of Jacksons force ever paused
in its advance until it to the hand-to- hand
conflict. The enemy were driven at all points one
mile from where the fight commenced, and Jack.
sons troops occupied the mile of ground gained.
They slept upon the field thus won, aud moved OFT
next morning orderly as if marching to fun.
eral. jackson left General Kinds, with force OF
three hundred men. in house within six hundred
yards of the British army, and this force remained
four days after Jackson went up the river.
Where, then, can American writer find any
sign of a repuIse or failure the part of Jackson
in any portion Of this eventlul fight? Wath eIgh-
teen hundred men he had met six thousand of the
veterans Of Wellington, and in hand-to.h hand con-
1ict had driven them mile back from their'ori-
ginal position. He had taught his men the truth
Of Proctor's sentiments
ssCourage !-Nothing e'er wthstood
Freemen fighting for their good;
Armed with all their fathers fame,
They will win and wear a name
That shall 90 to endless glory,
Like the gods of old Greek story"
II is a species OF sacrcge to tear from the he.
roes OF the night attack on the 23d Of December,
1914, an iota of the glory which they won. They
went forth 10 a night battle, utterly ignorant
whether they were TO meet hundreds or thousands
of the flower Of the British army. They met
the peril and conquered it-lhey drove the enemy
mile before them, and slept on the field they had
so nobly won. And American writer's, forty years
after this glorious victory graveIy assert that these
heroes were repused, and failed in their attempt
This is too bad, too intolerabe.
And what were the consequences of JacksOn's
nigh, victory? He paraIyzed the British force. |
He checked all propensity on their part 10 meet
him again without large renforcements, and
though numbering than three to one Of Jack
sons force they lay cooPed up at the place to
which Jackson had driven them on this memora-
bIe night until Packenham arrived, OH the 75h |
with forces that sweIled their Eumber 10 fourteen |
thousand troops. Jackson had SO effGctually whip |
ped them in his night battle that they did not dis
.urb him IN his construction OF those works which
he had gained time to make by his night attack.
On The morning after his battle he marched about
two miles up the river, cut the embankment and !
let in the river between himself and The enemy
Behind this point be constructed those work (which
on the 9Th OF January conferred immortality on
himself and the troops under his commahd.
1t is obvious, therefore, that Jacksons night at
tack saved New Orleans. But for that the enemy
could have marched into the city on the 25h and
no power could have stayed their progress. And
shall these men, who undoubtedly fought and
nobIy trumphed on such occasion, ana in such
circumstances, be robbed of any portion Of The
glory which they earned SO hardly?
We have shown Jackson's objects in his night
attack, and have demonstrated that he per.
(eclly successful in all OF them. We have dwcIt
at length upon some points involved in the qoes-
tons connected with this proud triumph Of western
valor, but we could have elaborated many others
which we have touched but cursOriIy. Bot the
fame which Jackson won in his defence Of New
Orleans is dear 10 every American citizen, and We
o.Dnot noosenf To the nublic mind scltOnled |