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


| night, and they cannot submit TO any IInPu'ation
thaE dePreclates the glorious achle7emeh; ot that
I night
| Let US begin at the beg ginEing of IT,. General
Adair, WHO had no personal love for Gen. Jack
son, made verbal statement in this city respect.
| ing the inception of the night attack He loosed
upon 1t the salvation Of The city. H.. was dim
ing with Jackson and other officers, when youth
dashed into the room and announced that the
British had landed. Jackson had finished his
dinner, and was leaning back from the table smok-
ing pipe. In an instant he rose from his chair,
and, if by intuition, uttered tho sentence that
saved the city. He did not pause one moment
! he sked no question OF the youth as to the num-
! bers OF the enemy. The boys speech had scarce
| y uttered his news, before Jackson exclaimed
the enemy must be iogged before Tomorrow
! morning." Adar, who was brave a soldier as
led troops, said be could scarcely believe his
own hearing when Jackson made this announce
ment. The military law is imperative that the
commander of defensive force mus, not attack
an invader until he ascertains the number and
equipments of his enemy. But Jackson, when he
announced The order for the night, he had no idea
whether he was going TO attack one or ten thous
and Of the enemy. Gen. Adair soon found that
jackson was terribly in earnest. He said that in
| fifteen minutes from the time the youth announced
his tIdings, there nothing in the neighborhood
of Jackson that was not in motion. Coffee's and
Carroh's commands were encamped four miles
above the city, but IN two hours after the news Of
the landing of The enemy reached Jackson, these
| troops we're marching through the streets Of New
Orleans, Great calm prevailed in the city, but
jackson, al the head of his troops, Infused hope
into The hearts OF the citizens, By the announce
meni that he city should be defended His plans
we're devised with consummate skill, but in order
TO understand him, and the result which he won,
let Us look al the enemy. They had come not
merely to capture and plunder New Orleans, but
| avowedly to strech the lines of their power along
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, until the line of
British posts Brie and Ontario should be inter-
sected, and thus conline the United STATES mainly
to The old coIono! boundary. The expedition was
projected on this scale, and the British under
the Illusion that the West would join them and
assist in this career of conquest The force con-
sisted of fourteen thousand choice troops, the
most of them from WelIngton's Pennsular army.
The first disaster which threatened Jackson was
the capture OF his otIla of gun boats, destined for
the defence of the lake. But other sources of
anxiety crowded upon him, and these were the
inadeoency OF Ills fUIuc I.---y -
one point to say nothing of his inability to watch
the various avenues by which the enemy mi gh:
ma rch upon New Orleans. The government was
so shameluly negligent of his little army, that il
contracted with keel boats 10 carry arms from
Pisburg, at fifty cents per hundred, with the PRIV
ledge Of trading along the coast, rather than pay
a steamboat seventy-6ve cents per hundred. But
for Carros provident course in removing some
Of these arms from these trading keels, which he
overhauled in his descent of the river, to his own
boats Jackson would have been in a pitiable con-
6ition And had il not been for the friendly dis
position of LaFitte and his pirates, Jackson would
have been without fints for his guns. He iabored
under almost every possible disadvantage, except
one, and that was his own invincible resolution,
and his capacity to nluse it into others.
In these outward circumstances the enemy land
ed at Cat Island, and on the 23d OF December.
reached the banks of the Mississippi, four 'hous
and strong, under General keane. There was
nothing TO prevent the march of the British that
afternoon to the city of New Orleans. A smooth,
level road on The bank OF the river, unobstructed
in every way either by defences troops, invited
the march, Another large force was on swan
py island below the Bayou Bienyenne, ready to
cooperate in any forward movement. But the
golden opportunity passed unimproved, and Jack
sons repulse" sealed the fate Of the expedition.
II they had possessed any OF the enterprise which
should have characterized Wellington's veterans,
the British might have reached New Orleans be-
fore their landing was known
Jackson, as we have seen, Immediately gathered
around him such resources as he had, and started
iects in view-frst TO give his raw troops taste
Of the quality of the enemy they were about to
meet in defence of the city second, to produce
he impression on General Keane that he had An
immense force at his command, and was acting in |
conformity to the military law we have mertioned
third. TO paraIyze he enemy by bold and deter
mined attack, so 10 gain time for the coDstruc.
ton Of defences, and for reinforcements. He was
after a moral effect, by which the feelings Of his
own troops should be elevated to the highest pitch,
and those of The enemy depressed. BIT for this
the British would have marched into New Orleans
the next morning.
Every moment in these critical movements was
OF the utmost importance. No general ever knew
the value Of time better than Jackson, and no one
ever used il better. He ordered Col Hayne to
march with his mounted men TO meet The enemy,
and, if he found them advancing, to engage them,
so as to reard their march, unul he, Jackson,
could support him. II the enemy were cncamped,
the order was to cover his force in orange
grove in Laronds plantation. and await the coop
GRAFTON of the forces which Jackson to hasten
forward. Ia less than al hour tlayne moved out
OF the city at the head OF $50 men. Jackson push
ed matters with his usual energy. The 44th re-
giment on the opposite side OF the river, and
it was hurried over with The utmost ceierhy.-
About sunset. Jackson having 2l67 troops, left |.
The city for his night attack. OF this number
l ,9Sl engaged in the fight. These were all raw
troops but TO show what stuff they we're made OF,
Tokr.o L. L. ,,c ,har l,T