The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-03

"ouR uNcLE'sr AccoUSr OF IT.
BY PAUL II. HAYSE.
Prom the Riverside Magazine

as a swaEp cane, or an Indians arrow. He had
q way CT squariDg his broad shoulders backward
which threatened 10 snap the strongest military
braces that were ever made. To strangers, aud
gr0vn I'D civilians generally, his manners were
naughty, but with US boys he threw OF bis dignity
and became genial and communicative. Only
in which he had taken part, his gray eyes would
fash keenly under their huge thickets of eye
bTows, and his voice roar like lions.
Now. my brother Jem and /, being his favorite
nephews, had been honored with standing invi-
tation to spend our Christmas holidays at bis fine
plantation, The Magnoas,m from the period
when Jem was ten and / only eight years old.
We liked this, you may be sure, for not only were
we treated like couple of young princes. In the
matter of sweet oordiss, cakes, tarts jellies and
plum puddings; not only had we the command OF
a splendid double barreled "Manton." and a long
duck-eun to boot, but our vacation, properly
ending about the last of December, was. at the
special request of our uncle, extended to the ninth
day Of January. The truth ia, that the day before
this-nsmely, the eighth-was the old soldiers
most precious occasion of renewing his youth, of
recalling the fame and prowess OF the past, and
living once more among the scenes and actors OF
q contest, in some respects the most curious and
memorable in American history.
The whole neghborhood were invited to dinner
upon this anniversary. And, me what dinners
they were Ones mouth waters at the very
thought of the mingled delicscy and richness Of
the fare AS for our uncle. he was resplendent!
And whel the ladies having retired, and the
Madeira circulating freely, he filed bis own glass
to the trim, and proposed as toast. The Day
we celebrate" why, his pride and satisfaction
seemed to ooze-as IL were-out of the very pores
Of his skin. and to fire the tip of his noble Roman
nose until it shone like a beacon of glory
But after all, it was not until the company
had dispersed, and We were left alone by the
great hall hearth, piled MP with blazing hickory,
that our unce-s bachelor, by the way-appeared
really TO enjoy himself. He would be, despite
his enthusiasm trifle stiff and formal before bis
guests, as If he doubted the sympathy OF some
but before as he poured out his whole heart!
His idol was Jackson his great theme, as
have intimated, the Battle OF New Orleans.
Boys" be used TO begin, [" there are not half
a dozen people now living who can tell you the
exact truth about fight that saved this country
from run-yes (excitedly) "fools may contra.
dict, but say. from ruin because, ii our army
had been disabled. the British would have swarmed
up the Mississippi, combined with their forces
from Canada. and overrun the whole West
"Come now. Tom and Jem, don't deceive me;
are you ct, both of yeu. to listen to good.
bloody story tonight, or does Molly's pudding
set heavy on your stomachs and, In consequence,
on your brains! Out with the fact, and shame
the devil -
(Of course, we voted for the story, and scorn-
fully ingnored the pudding)
Every well, /" he res ned T; "y you know some.
thing, for I've often told you. Of the causes that
brought about that famous war Of lsl2; how, In
their hatred TO everything American. the Eng
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 frigaies and gun-boats Brother Jonathan
couldn't stand this, and he would have deserved
to be kicked out of the society Of decent nations
If be had endured il So, for the second time,
we went to war with the impudent old mother
country" worsting our enemy almost always upon
the water, but not being quite so lucky on land,
until, In the fall of the year 1874, 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 Wash.
ington and elsewhere, began to be little fright
ened! The national purse was getting lighter
and lighter, and the national forces were weak
and scattered. In this puzzlng strait, some
lucky inspiration led them TO rely upon Andrew
burning rJY eKaR tapg.9sintsd to command the de.
yet been able TO obtain, battling ugon outposts
and 10 petty skirmishes. accompanied my leader
as 0id de camp. We fastened to the point of
danger. And what do you suppose we found
there Why, every thing, as the saying is, at
skies ar d sevens.' Confusion, uncertainty and
we had some reason TO fear, disafection An
ordinary man would have despaired at once.
!" Here be would have reasoned, lis this State
Oh LOUISIANA, recently admitted into the Union
with Its mixed popuaton-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 I do? Nothing!
but wait to be killed honorably or captured
Meanwhile, the tobacco is good aud the wines
are abundant. Wen just make a show of drilling
the militia and of throwing up q redoubt or two:
AFTER mat, what IS bound to happen. will happen,
and its 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 I'm determined TO call him-would
have courtmartiaed any man who dared 10
whisper such wretched treason. No, boys, he
went to work with will. Making New Orleans
bis headquarters, dispatches were sent fyipg In
every direction, TO hasten the march of the few
troops be had right to expect, and to command
the immediate transportation of arms and proyi.
sons The aspect of things in the city itself rap
idly changed for the better. Laziness gave place
to activity. doubt and terror to unquestioning
falth IN the man who seemed to be present every.
where-the same restless, indomitable laborer bv |
day and by night! And here let me tell you,
boys, that this hard worker. who seldom sient
was diseased 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
10 overcome him!
"'You'll kill yourself, general / said. tif vou
90 on 10 this way
No man, be replied can die until his work
8 finished; mine has just begunl'F
30 the hery, anxious, busy days passed on.
|iuSA iOec Jul VI SOuluelOn. Every symptom of |
error disappeared. From morning to night the
ueets rung with the MarseilIes Hymn and Yam
zee Doodle. An odd tumble of tunes, no doubt.
)ut very inspiriting.
Mesnw lille, the British feet had arrived. They
slled up Lake Borgne you'll find the lake on
our map IN moment,) and sending out launches
md eun.boats when the water becomes too shaI.
ow for their big craft, attacked the only six out
ers we bad and captured or DESTROYED them.
Don after, they landed in force about seven miles
Glow the city, having taken some of ~ur pickets
risoners, together with several gentls ZEN, msm.
ers OF Creole family by the anne of Where
nom they surprised and surrounded In their own |
ouse. One of these, q young major, Gabriel
Here, determined, whatever the risk to escape |
nd carry the news of the British landing to New |
'rleans. He broke suddenly from his guard and |
nshed towards neighboring swamp, scores of
ed,coats IN hot pursuit, firing their muskets and |
ladly hallooiDg. The major ran until he found |
imself sinking in the soft mud almost up 10 bis
nees. AT that moment he told me long after |
ards, knew what 1t was to feel desperate |
he voices of the soldiers sounded nearer and
carer. My recapture or death seemed inevitable.
ut no! there lowered, just in front of me a
nge live oak, loaded with moss, and thick
aves. Once up among these bougbs and
ould be safe. Already began to cline. when.
illiuck would have il, found that nv ia. |