The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1878-01-03
THE BATTLE OF NEW oRLEANs
BY A HUNTER OF KENTUCKY.

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANs.
BY A HUNTER OF KENTUCKY.
Just ut dawn of day-it was n foggy, hazy
morning-we heard the firing of our picket gnard
For All instant or two there was confused noise
all along the front of our line, as if high wind
was rushing over field of ripe corn. Then there
were few dropping shots, and directly volleys
of mnsketry, as our guard retreated Oar troops
instantly up to the breastwork, and we
heard the British troops coming on, like "a con-
fused mass and yelling like devils,
Onr regiment, the 18th, were about the centre
OF the line. The 14th regiment was OH onr left,
between ms and the swamp, and the regulars
were on our right, towards the river. Tennes-
seeans we're scattered about amongst us, don't
exactly know how. At any rate, good many
of them got mixed up with us before the battle
was over. Our company was exactly under the
leaning oak, which stood ahont half way between
the river and swamp. We formed into
sections five deep, with orders for the sections to
advance and fire alternately.
Captain Farmer was that morning command
CT of the picket guard, and, of course, did not
join US until after the battle had commenced.
During the night, one of our regular soldiers
had deserted to the enemy, and given them the
conntersign and watch-wOrd. While on guard,
Captain Farmer, being dressed in dark clothes,
he left the guard fire, and passing through his
own line of sentinels, approached so near that
of the British that he could hear them talking.
vantage they wOuld have from knowing our
passwords. 1t didn't turn out any advantage,
though, for as soon as Captain Farmer returned,
they were changed.
The British made their attack in three divis-
IONS That next to the river, after forcing the
picket guard, followed it right into the works.
did not see this part of the attack, of course,
but heard from Captain Farmer, Jos. Smith,
drum Major of our reg imenf,) and William
Reasoner, all of whom were on the guard, that
lotal Il,
when they came to the gate which led through
the breasJwork.
A British soldier kept launching Reasoner with
his elbow, telling him to transformations
Finding after while that Reasoner was an
American-in the darkness it was hard to dis
tinguish friend from foc-he fred his musket at
him. aud knocked the cock off Reasoners gun.
At this the latter turned, and finding the lock
spoiled, he dubbed his rifle. and broke it over
the EBglishman's head. Captain Farmer was
of the last of the picket guards to pass
through the gateway, and just at that moment
he noticed the matchmaE of the thirtytwO
FOUNDER that was placed at that point, bright
ening his match. The Captain turned to look
the tbirty-two went off, cutting wide lane
through the dense mass OF red coats that had by
this time crowded up to its very muzzie. In
minute it was loaded with grape and canister
shot, and the captain had an opportunity to see
the effect of a second fire, inst as he had turned
to pass up the line and join his company. 1t
seemed to cut another lane through the British,
taking down every man within several feet of
its range on either side. Still they came rush
ing on. A British officer jumped on the works,
and began spiking q cannon. heard say 1t was
Captain Gibbs. He exclaimed to his men, Come
on, boys, the days our own bnt just ss he had
got the words out of his mouth, Joe Smith step
ped mp to him, saying, You're net snre of
that and fred pistol right in his face. Down
went the officer. Several shots must have been
fred at him at the same time, for was told that
hill f, had h.fn ba
fell.
When we first ran up to the breastwork at
our part of the line, some of the men began fir
ing, and orders were passed along rapidly, cease.
that friDg-cease that firing Some said the
men We heard coming were the picket guards
coming in. Colonel Smiley, from Bardstown,
was the 6rst one who gave orders to fire from
part of the line: and then, l reckon, there
was>a pretty considerable noise. There were
six brass pieces inst on our right, the noisest
kind of variants, that began blazing away rs
hard as they could, while the heavy iron cannon,
toward the river, and some thousands of small
arms, joined in the chorus, and made the ground
shake under our feet. Directly after the firing
began, Captain Patterson-l think be WAS from
Kncx County, Kentucky, but an Irishman born
came running along. He jumped up ON the
breastwork, and stopping a moment to look
through the darkness as well as be could, he
shouted, with broad North of ireland brogue,
"Shoot low, boys, shoot low! rack them! Dom
them! they're cOmin on their all tours"
The official report said the action lasted two
hours and five minutes, but it aid not seem half
the length of time to me. 1t was SO dark that
little could be seen, until just about the time
the battle ceased. The morning had dawned, to
be sure, but the smoke was thick that every
thing seemed covered in it. Our men did not seem
apprehcnd any danger, but would load as fast as
they conld, talking. swearing and joking all the
time. All ranks aud sections were soon broken
mp. After the first shot, every one loaded and
HANGED m his lOOE Henry SDlIImlQ
did not load up and fire quite so often as some
of the rest. but every time he did fire he would
go up to the breastwork, look over till be could
see something to shoot at, and then deliberately
aim and crack away. Lieutenant Ashby was as
busy a mailer, and it was evident that the
River Raisin was uppcrmost in his mind all the
time. He kept dashing about, and every now
and then he would call out, well pay you now
for the River Raisin: d-n you! Well give you
something to remember tho River Raisinr
When the British had come up to the opposite
side of the breastwork, having no gun, he picked
up empty barrel and flank it at them. Then,
finding an iron bar, be jumped up on the works
and hove that nj them.
At one time noticed, little right.
curious kind of chap named Ambrose Odd, one
of Captain Hisdons company, and known by
the nickname of 'Sukey,' standing cooily the
top of the breastwork, peering into the darkness
for something TO shoot at
The balls were whistlng around him aud over
our heads, thick as hail, and Colonel Slaugh-
ter coming along, ordered him to come down.
The Colonel told him there was policy in war !;
and that he was exposing himself too much.
Sukey turned round, holding mp the flap Of bis
old broad brimmed hat with one hand to see who
was speaking to him, and replied. oh. never
mind, Coloncl-here's Sukey-I dotr't want to
waste my powder, and I'd like to know how I
can shoot till see somethingr Pretty scou af-
ter, Sukey got his eye on red coat, aud no
doubt made hole through il, for he took deiib
crate aim, fred, and then coolly came down to
load again.
CONVENTIONAL never love those salamanders