Connecticut western news., 1879-01-29
BEHIND THE COTTON BAGS.
WHAT WAS DONE Al NEW ORLEANS SIXTY
 FOUR YEARS AGO.

who was powder-boy in the battle o1 New Orleans, January 8, 1915 sixty fol UT years ago-is now eighty years of age. The active duties of this life are all over for him, and he lives in the mem- oreis of the eventful past. For many \ years he has served as shipbuilder in tue navy-yard, where he was surronded by peaceful implements of war. A World reporter found him in his lodgings, dili- gently polishing an old brass buckle, which had clasped belt about his youth full waist. His comrades of that day are all gone, and there was no cre to dispute with him the accurav ot his recollections. He had tw~ advantages over his interviewer-eAe, that he had all the informatio-, and the other, that he had goo9 listener. He needed but to be ste.ded, and his narrative reeled off -1hout check or assistance.
 >~"The battle was on the 9th, " he said, "but for almost month it was in view. The ships of the enemy ancl.ol ed off in the bay aboutssthe 10th of December, and cautious surroundings were made for landing place. The Spanish fish, ermen on the coast had given informa- tion that Jackson-you never knew Jack son you're too young to have enjoyed that privilege, though the children are yet unborn who are to perpetuate and revere his memory. But, as was say ing, the fishermen had given informa- tion that he had only about (, 900 availa- ble men and not over 1,6OO of them near the city. That made the en emy jubi- lant over the prospective ease of the in- vasion. But they had time to correct this idea. We'll, finally they effected landing some miles below the city, at little bayou or canal called Bienvenue. Our gun-boats upon the lakes were we'll manned and bothered the British con- siderably, but the flats and low waters made the navigation of Lake Borgne and the bays about very uncertain, and some of these boats were captured and the rest withdrawn. In the city, where General Jackson reigned, all was activi- ty. The population was mixed and wide- awake and needed just such positive commander at that time. The women and children were engaged in making clothes and running bullets for the vol unteers expected from up the river. The holidays were approaching, but .hardly promised to be merry. Two. days be- fore Christmas the Tennesseeans arrived and camped in the city, and on that day l remember son of General Villere came excitedly into the city bringing the news that General Keane with 2, ,OOO men was in possession of his family's plantation. This was bringing them to pretty close quarters. But Jackson was on the move at once. Leaving Carols and Claibornes brigades to guard the rear approaches of the city, and sending small force under General Coffee to the enemy's camp, he ordered the war schooner Carolina to Q position oppo- site the Villsre plantation, where the enemy's supper was much disturbed by shower of shot. The British were completely at disadvantage, and their loss was severe. A few of the impetu- ous volunteers were captured. Then by daybreak Jackson had fallen back g short distance to 8 place extremely we'll chosen for intrenchment, and in two days New Orleans was securely fortified.
 Weren't the British rather idle in allowing time for this emhankment
 "Well, they hadn't much opinion of our engineering skill, and thought it hardly necessary, I suppose, to bother about it, while they were waiting for the remainder of their troops to land. But it was mistake, as they learned later I think it was on the 18th that the enemy advanced in two columns and were re- pulsed with great loss. Then they were content to wait for endorsements ex- pected with General Lambert. Then while the weather was cold and drizzly they set about erecting batteries-three in all-and one of them directly before our position, not more than three hun- dred yards distant. In this work they spent New Years eve, and in the morn- | ing their cannon gave us the compli- ments of the season. We returned the greeting noisily and with such effect that they were soon forced back into 8 new position much the worse for their New Years calls"
 Meanwhile your sloops-of-war must have been occupied"
 "For while. But soon the Carolina, fastened into position by the current, made her best return in answer to the enemy's fire, but at last was wrapped in flames. The Louisiana managed to get ont of reach"
 "How large was the British force at this time ?''
 By January it numbered 12,0OO men. By the escape of some of the prisoners we were informed of affairs and plans. We couldn't see the enemy through the fog, which was heavy enough to make men round-shouldered, but we knew that the signal of assault was to be the sending up of the sky-rockets, and so we set ourselves to watching for the pyrotechnics. You can hardly inn agine with what interest we peered up into the fog, nor with what palpitation we saw the signal on the morning of the eighth p
 "Sixty-four years ago?"
 "Yes so it is, but don't realize it, ' he said cit does not seem so long until 1 try to move and my old knees bend stifay; then feel the years. But re. member 50 clearly that morning-ou1 artillerists at the embrasures of the en- bankment, the Tennesseeans and Ken.