The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-10
wh., Ola-F.,hi..ed Rifles Can Do.

We commend to those who are always pra-
ting about Improved arms" the following
account Of what old fastened rifles can do,
from an Englishmsn's description Of the battle
II New Orleans
1t was a strange sigh.---that long range OF
cotton bales-a new material for breas tworks
with the crowd of human beings behind,
their heads only visible above the lines Of de-
fence. We could distinctly see their long
rifles lying over the bales, and the battery OF
Gen. Coffee directly in front, with It's great
mou tn gaping towards us, and the position OF
Gen. jackson, with his staff around him -
But what attracted our attention most, was
the figure of a tall man standing on the breas t.
works, dressed in linsey woolsey, with buck
skin leggings, and Il broad brimmed felt nat,
that fell around his face, almost conceaiing
his features. He was standing in one OF those
picturesque and graceful attitudes peculiar
to those natural man d wellers in the forest:
The body rested on the left leg, aud swayed
with a carved line upwards the right arm
was extended, the hand grasping the rifle
near the m uZzle, the butt of which rested near
the toe of his right foot, while with his hano
he raised the rim Of his hat from his eyes, and
seemed gazing from beneath intently upon our
advancing column The cannon OF Coffee had
opened upon us, and tore through our ranks
with dreadtul slaughter; but we continued to
advance, unwavering aid cool. as II nothing
threatened our progress.
The roar OF cannon seemed to have no effect
upon the figure standing on the cotton bales.
At last he moved, threw back the hat. rim
over the crown with his left hand, raised the
rifle to his shou ider, and took aim at our
group. Our eyes were rivetted on him. At
whom had he leveiied his piece But the dis
lance was so great that we looked ut each
other and smiled. We saw the rifle flash,
and my light-hand companion, as noble a
looking fellow ever rode at the head OF a
regiment, fell from his SADDLE. The hunter
paused for a few moments, without moving
his gun from his shoulder. then re- loaded, and
resumed his former attitude. Throwing the
hat-rim over his eyes, and again holding 1t up
with his left hand, he fixed his piercing gaze
upon us. as it hunting ont another victim
Once more the hat-rim was thrown BACK, ana
the gun raised TO his shoulder. This time we
did not smile, but cast short glances at each
other, to see which of US must die, and when
the rife again flashed another OF US dropped to
the earth. Ther0was something awful III thus
marching on to certain death.
Gen. COffee's battery and thousands OF
musket balls played upon our ranks. We
cared not for tnem-there was q chance OF es-
Gaping unscathed. Most OF us had walked
upon batteries a hundred times more destruc-
tive, without Quaiiing but to know that
every time that rifle was levelled towards US,
and its bullet sprang from the barrel, one OF
us must surely lail to see the cleaning sun
fash as the deadly iron came down, ana see IL
rest moticnless, as il poised upon rock, and
know when the hammer struck, and the
sparks flew to the tull-primed pan, that the
messenger of death drove unerring to its
goal-to know this, and still march on, was
awful.
l could see nothing but the tall Inquire stand
ing ON the breastwork. He seemed 10 grow,
phantom like, taller and taller, assuming
through the smoke The supernatural appear
ance OF some great spirit. Again did he re-
load and discharge his rifle with the same I'm
failing aim, and 1t was with lnoescrlDaDle
pleas ure that beheld, as we Deared the Anne
rican lines, the sulphurons smoke gather
around us and shut that spectral hunter from
my gaze. We lost the battle, and to my MIND
the Kentucky ritleman contributed more 10
our defeat than any thing else; tor, while ne
remained to- our sight, our attention was
drawn from our duties, and when 1T last we
became enshrouded in the smoke, the WORK
was complete; we were III utter CONFUSION
and unable in the extremity to res tore order
sufficient to make any successful attack.
So long as thousands and tho usaLds OF rifles
remain i'll the hands OF the people, so long us
men come up from their Childhood able, ere
the down is on their chin, to bit the centre OF
a mark OF to strike the deer at one hundred
and fifty yards in the most vital part; so long
as there is great proportion OF tAe Republc
who live as free as the wild Indian, know
ing no other leader but their own Indian chief;
Knowing no Law but that OF right, and the non
orable observance OF friendly intercourse,
America is unconquerable. a,ld all the armies
of the combined world, though they might
drive them from the sea- coas | and across the
Allegheny mountains, would not be able To
subdue the free. souled hunter among the
mountains, and great prairies, and mighty
rivers of the West.