Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-08

affairs in every way, until they dared
the scoundrels Ito impress, or take by
force, our seamen, wherever they could
be found, and to make the poor wretches
fight for them on board their frigates and
gunboats. Brother Jonathan couldn't
stand this, and he would have deserved
to be kicked out OF the society of decent
nations if he had endured it So, for the
second time, we went to war with the
impudent old "mother country" worst
ing our enemy almost always upon the
water, but not being quite so lucky on
land. until, in the fall of the year 1914,
the United States government discovered,
or had reason to believe, that resolute
attempt would be made to capture New
Orleans, and obtain possession of the
Mississippi river.
"Our great men in Office, the rulers at
Washington and elsewhere, began to be
q little frightened The national purse
was getting lighter and lighter, and the
national forces were weak and scattered !
In this puzzling strait, some lucky in
spiration led them to rely upon Andrew
Jackson. He was appointed to com.
mand the department of the Southwest,
and 1, my children, one of his best
friends, and young colonel, burning for
greater distinction than any had yet
been able to obtain, battling upon out
posts and in petty skirmishes, accom-
panied my leader as aid de-camp. We
hastened to the point of danger And
what do you suppose we found there /?
Why, everything, as the saying is, at
skies and sevens.' Confusion, uncer-
tainty, and, we had some reason to fear,
dissatisfaction. An ordinary man would
have despaired at once.
Here he would have reasoned, ! is
this State of Louisiana, recently admitted
into the Union, with it's mixed popula-
tion-French, Creole and negro, slightly
peppered atop with American pungency
and vigor-with no organized army, no
defenses to be depended on. and hardly
any of the munitions of war What can
do? Nothing but wait to be killed
honorably or captured Meanwhile, the
tobacco is good and the wines are
abundant. Well just make show of
drilling the militia and throwing up a re.
doubt or two; after that, what is bound
to happen will happen, and it's no fault
of yours or mine, gentlemen.
"A common person of narrow views,
and no military foresight or energy,
would have argued thus but our general
our glorious backwoods Napoleon, as
L m determined to call him-would have
court-martialed any man who dared to
whisper such wretched treason. No,
boys, he went to work with O will.
Making New Orleans his headquarters.
dispatches were sent flying in every di-
rection, to hasten the march of the few
troops he had a right to expect, and to
command the immediate transportation
of arms and provision. The aspect of
things in the city itself rapidly changed
for the better. Laziness gave place to
activity, doubt and terror to unquestion-
ing faith in tie man who seemed to be
present everywhere-the same restless.
indomitable laborer by day and by night !
And here let me tell you, boys, that this
hard worker, who seldom slept, was dis
eased and feeble. I've seen him stop in
the middle of the street and grasp his
horses name, while he tried to draw a
long breath, and fought desperately
against the weakness that threatened to
overcome him
.s Youth Z GU Il Kill yourself, General,
said, if you go on in this way
go No man. he replied, can die until
his work is Finished mine has just be-
gun -
$50 the fiery, anxious, busy days
passed on. Order rose out Of confusion.
Every symptom of terror disappeared.
From morning to night the streets rung
with the Marseillaise Hymn and Yankee
Doodle An odd tumble of tunes, no
doubt, but very inspiriting
Meanwhile, the British feet bad ar
rived. They sailed up Lake Borgne
you'll fnd the lake on your map in a
momenO, and sending out launches and
gunboats where the water becomes too
shallow for their big craft, attacked the
only six cutters we had and captured or
destroyed them. Soon after, they landed
in force about seven miles below the
city, having taken some of our piekets
prisoners, together with several gentle
men, members of Creole family by the
name of Villere, whom they surprised
and surrounded in their own house. One
of these, young Mfjor, Gabriel Villere,
determined, whatever the risk, to escape
and carry the news Of the British land
ing 10 New Orleans. he broke suddenly
from his guard and rushed toward a
neighboring swamp, scores of red-costs
in hot pursuit, firing their muskets and
madly hallooing. The Major ran until
be found himself sinking in the soft mud
almost up to his knees. At that me-
ment,' he told me long sfterward, l
knew what it was to feel desperate
The voices Of the soldiers sounded nearer
and nearer Ny recapturs or death
seemed inevitable. Bat no there tow
cred, Just in front Of me huge live OAK,
loaded with moss, aud thick leaves
Once up among these boughs aud would
be safe. Already began 10 climb, when,
as ill-luck would have Il, found that my
favorite setter had followed me, aud was
advertising my whereabouts BY her ex-
cited barks and whining What could
dot Twas her life, poor wretch, or
niue. More than that The safety Of
the city, Of the whole State depended
upon my getting clear and Informing
Jackson Of his danger. So, With tears
in my eyes, cpd all the terrOrs Of an
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