The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-09-24
The Battle of New Orleans-1S74.
From the New Orleans Republican. /

lIEOuu tA6 NEW OrleduS
A few minutes before 4 o'clock Gen.
Badger issued an order for his COM
mand to march. They started up near
the levee and met no opposition until
near the head of Canal street. Arrived
on the levee, the artillery-three brass
pieces and two Gatling guns-were de-
ployed, and the infantry properly de-
tailed to support them. No organized
enemy appeared to oppose them. They
were on open grounds, near the iron
building, but almost instantly drop
ping fire from behind hay and cotton
bales commenced on them. Loose and
lvely-moving crowds of citizens were
on Canal, Common, Gravier, and the
cross streets, and on hearing each shot
they rushed one way or the other.
The police took their exposed posi-
ton surrounded by apparently 600 men
behind the bales of cotton and hay.
Their attention was directed somewhat
up the levee, where the greater strength
of the enemy seemed to be, and, sitting
on his horse, Gen. Badger raised his
hat and gave the order to fire. At the
first discharge every loose citizen
sought cover, and there was ire
mendous stampede for the side
streets. The excitement spread to
Camp street, and men knew not which
way to turn. Many called, It's false
alarm 4; it is only done to keep carriages
and cars away" but the fight of the day
was going on with unparalleled vim
dictiveness. At the first discharge of
the cannon every hay and cotton
bale seemed to blaze with fire. Only
heads and arms were presented as tar
gets for the Winchesters of the police.
Badger sat on his horse, encouraging his
men, and seemed to have charmed
life, for several men dropped every Sec
ond. Not a man tiinched while he had
support, but the fire of their almost I'M
seen enemy swept them away like wheat
before the reaper. '''
A fifth of the force lay on the levee
dead or SO wounded as to be unable to
move. Not enough men were left un-
hurt to support the artillery, and stand
ing at the guns were not one-half
enough to work them. Unable to see
hardly foe fall. but the crack and
blaze coming INCREASINGLY from the bull
warks before them, a fire from roofs
and windows behind and above them
commencing, and a man falling at each
report, the majority who could walk
sought the iron building, carrying their
wounded. All but the commands of
Rey and Joseph, which were somewhat
out of the line of the main fight, were
denloralized. Every man in sight was
blackened with powder and stained with
his own blood. Sergt. John McCann,
a most conspicuous target, stood dis
charging his Winchester till the last
shot was gone, and then, unarmed, re-
ceiyed a disabling wound in the leg.
Badger still sat his horse, cheering his
men, and Capt. Gray, with every man
of the artillery killed or wounded, was
loading a piece :, without assistance as
coolly as he would have inspected it in
the armory. '""'i"' W ~ - '''
The contestglasted not more than ten
minutes, and then the police were driven
back from their charge. The fire from
roofs and windows and vantage places
redoubled, and of those who reached
the Custom House only two were with
out mark. 7....t..... t.4ny.