Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-20
5tlisfellaneons &eadiug.
BEHIND THE COTTON BAGS.
WHAT WAS DONE AT NEW ORLEANS SIXTY
FOUR YEARS AGO. .-.

WHAT WAS DONE AT NEW ORLEANS 5IAT4.
FOUR YEARS AGO. .-..
An old man who was powder-boy in the
battle of New Orleans, January 8, 18l5-six-
ty.four years ago-lives over on the east side
of the city, so obscurely that even the city
directory overlooked bis residence. He is
now eighty years Of age. The active duties
of this life are all over for him, and he lives
in the memories of the eventful past. For
years he has served as a shipbuilder in the
navy-yard, where he is surrounded by peace
full implements of war. Yesterday, World
reporter found him in his lodging diligently
polishing an old brass buckle which had
cclasped a belt about his youthful waist. His
comrades of that day are all gone and there
is no one to dispute with him the accura'
cy of his recollections. He had two advan-
tages over his interviewer that he had
ali the information, and the other that he
had a good listener. He needed but to be
started, and his narrative reeled off without
check or assistance. IL .. ..-... ..
"The battle was on the 8th," he said,
"but for almost month, it was in view.
The ships of the enemy anchored Oft in the
bay about the 10th of December, and cautious
soundings were made for a landing place.
The Spanish fishermen on the coast had given
information that Jackson-you never knew
jackson you're too young to have enjoyed
that privilege, though the children are yet
unborn who are to perpetuate and revere
his memory. But, was saying, the fisher
men had given information that he had only
about 5000 available men, and not over
1900 of them near the city. That made
the enemy jubilant over the prospective ease
of the invasion. But they had time to cor.
rect this idea. Well, finally they effected
landing some miles below the city, at a lit
tie bayou or canal called Bienvenue. Our
gunboats upon the lakes were well-manned,
and bothered the British considerably, but
the flats and low waters made the naviga'
tion 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were captured and the rest withdrawn.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 activity. The population was mixed
and wide awake and needed just such posi-
tive commander at that time. The women
and children were engaged in making clothes
and running bullets for the volunteers ex-
pected from up the river. The holidays were
approaching, but hardly promised to be merry.
Two DAYS before Christmas the Tennesseeans
arrived and camped in the city, and on that
day remember son Of Gen. Villerer came
excitedly into the city with the news that
Gen. Keane, with 1000 men, was in possess
ion of his falnily's plantation. ',
This was bringing them to pretty close
quarters. But jackson was on the move at
once. Leaving Caroll's and Claiborne's bri-
gades to guard the rear approaches of the
city, and sending small force under Gen.
Coffee to the enemy's camp, he ordered the
war schooner Carolina to position opposite
the Villere plantation where the enemy, at sup.
per, was much disturbed by shower of shot.
The British were completely at disadvan.
tage, and their loss was severe. A few of the
impetuous volunteers were captured. Then,
by daybreak, jackson had fallen back short
distance to a place extremity well chosen for
intrenchment and in two days New Orleans
was securely fortified"
"Weren't the British rather idle in allow
ing time for this embankmsnt?"
"Well, they hadn't much opinion Of our
engineering skill, and thought it hardly neces-
sary, l 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. l think it was on the 18th
that the enemy advanced in two columns and
were repulsed with great loss Then they
were content to wait for reinforcements ex-
pected with Gen. Lambert. Then, while the
weather was cold and drizzly, they set about
erecting batleries-three in all-and one
of them directly before our position, not
more than three hundred yards distant. In
this work they spent New Year 5 eve, and
in the morning their cannon gave US the
compliments Of the season. We returned
the greeting nQisily and with such effect that
they were aoon forced back into a new posi-
tio9, much the worse for their New Years
calls" ..,.
"Meantime your sloops,ofwar must have
been occupied"
"For a while. But soon the Carolina, fas-