The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-07-03
Incidents Connected with the Rattle ,f
New OvDenms


New orleans.
At an adjourned meeting OF the New Yor]
Historical Society, lately, paper was rea,
OF much interest, giving . minute account i
relation to an event which has an importsn
bearing in the success Of our army At Ne.
Orleans under General Jackson.
The omission of this fact, in the history Q
the British Invasion, made is necessary j,
the opinion Of che author Of the paper, afts
after 80 long lapse Of time, % give Q de
tailed statement, which-and bic Senarks {,
illustrate the truth Of his dselssstiso. viii
an account Of the attack made BY the enc
my on our lines, and their final dsFset-siv,
an importance to the subject, which canno
! fail TO interest the public.
A gentleman now advanced in life, who
br the last thirty years has been rssiden,
I Of this city, had, both before and after ths
war of 1912, lived at Natchez, in the Missis
sippi Territory. ,s.,.
! 1t appears that in the summsr Of ls1
! Thomas L. Servoss, we'll known in the com
mercial world of those and after days, had
occasion to visit New York on business -
lie performed this long journey al the way
by land. When he reached New York the
citizens were busily engaged in making
| preparations to meet the snsmy's expected
attack A short time elapsed; when it was
sscertained that New Orleans, and not New
York, WAS certainly the place intended to be
invaded.
Mr.. Servoss was in daily correspondence ce
with the Hon. Dr. Latimore, the delegate
from Mississippi, then at Washington, who
gave him reliable information a. to the des
,ina'ion Of the British feet. Whereupon,
Mr.. Servoss Immediately left New Y ork. and
|, ha /
found two keel boats laden with muskets,
destined Tor the defence OF the country be
low. They were to start in company the
next day. lie took passage in one Com
rnanded by an experienced, but well dis
posed young man.
Anxious and determined to hasten on with
all possible speed to his family, being in
possession Of news Of the greatest impor.
tance, Mr. Servoss, who was q, acquainted with
river navigation. prevailed on the Captain to
depart that evening, and then used every
sxertion in his power, and by personal, con
slant efforts succeeded in placing this boat
in advance Of the Tennessee troops, Oh the
Mississippi river-which fortunate cifcu,n-
stance enabled Gen. Carroll, who command
Ell them, TO arm every man, and TO dgl,l
them on the way, before their arrival a.
New Orleans; while the other boat, com
rnanded by an Uid, experienced bOatman, did
not reach New Orleans in time, nor until
the final battle was over. and then vas
brought down in charge OF the express Which
Gen. Jackson sent in pursuit; and when
found, four hundred miles above, the cap
tain wss PUT in irons, to await 4 strict ox-
animation into the cause Of his surprising
delay. This delay and disappointment had
caused the greatest distress at New Orleans,
- the Ksntaeky troops, under Sen. Alsir
who arrived On the 4th Of January, were
thereby deprived Of their expected means Of
defence. Had they been armed, as the Ten
nessee troops were, not man of the enemy
could have escaped, and the victory would
have been still more wonderful than it was
The Tennessee troops arrived Oh the > i
December, tWo days before the invasion,
when Gen. Carroll reported himself ready
for duty At headquarters.
The news Of his near approach had, 4
week before, given life ard confidence, and
at once removed the despondency that per-
vaced all ranks, especially when II was an
nounced that . boat laden with guns had
been overtaksn by him.
History gives true account OF tn efforts
of the Tennessee militia, and of their etfcc-
tive service, in the brilliant schievmeatS of
our army, on the day Of the memorable
January battle.
Without the musksts, which they ob-
tanned on their way down tho Mississippi
river. the enemy could not have been de-
f.ated, or New Orleans saved from capture.
The extraordinary character Of General
Jackson and his patriotic exertions are viv-
idly portrayed; and Nr. Servess, being on
the ground. gave also . glowing picture Of
important events which transpired there
General Eaton. the historian, emphatic
ally expressed his belief, in several parts of
his Life Of Jackson" that, had the Ten
nessee troops not overtaken the boat with
muskets, the victory could not have been
won; but, on the contrary, that New Or
leans would have fallen into the hands Of
the British.
After . period Of more than forty three
years, the true knowledge Of the circum.
stances which led to the advance Of the boat
with muskets, ana so essentially contributed
TO the glorious victsry Of the 9th Of January
is brought to light, and will add 70 the
interest of the whole affair at New Orleans.
If the statement which Mr.. Ssrvess has
furnished the Historical society bs true
and we do not doubt 1.-THE provideutial
events which he lates, and his agency and
service to his country in thi highly impor-
tant matter, leave on the mipd the impress
sion that he was truly instrumental in
preventing, what would certainly havs hsp-
pened without them, a detS0t. Mr.. Ssrvoss
reached New Orleans on the 10th December,
which was several days before the invasion,
and q week prior to the arrival Of the Ten
nessec troops, and was himself engaged in
the defence, where he received injuries 70
his health, which yet remain, and will con-
tinue with him during life. II hs was in
any way instrumental BY his efforts in saw
ing our great southern city-sn event -
importan: in its consequences to the nation
- it is not too late even at this distant time
to supply the omission in our history.
Tho Richmond South in reD1v N fha