Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-24
HOW PACKENHAM DIED.
lie was not Killed by LATTE, the Pirnic--
Scenes on the battle-ground Of New Or
leans.


He was not Killed by LATTE. the Pirnic--
Scenes on the battle-ground Of New Or
leans.
A correspondent OF the Louisville
Co,gi1-Jow,al, writing from New Or
leans, says: Your correspondent, Sec
retario," from New Orleans, states in
his article on "LlGtte, the Pirate"
concerning the death of General Sir
Edward Packenham commander in
chief Of the British forces at the battle
OF New Orleans, the following:
"The last act OF his eventiul career
was the elimination Of his lcng.treas-
ured revenge, and served also TO restore
him to favor with the people and the
authorities OF Louisiana, whose laws he
had so long set at defiance. It was at
the battle OF New Orleans. He was the
genius OF the great battle. His blood
boiled at the sight OF the red coats.
Les Anglais perfdes = he shouted 10
his men; make every shot tell Fire
low, my boys fire = he Numbered TO
them, and bis were the first guns 20
fire. Later in the battle general OIL
Ger is seen TO lead the British forces.
He mounts the parapet waving his
sword and cheering his men. LATTE
sprang forward with pistol in hand-a
fash, and Packenham falls MORALLY
wounded. The victory is gained and
Laftte's revenge sated."
His letter is headed "The Romance.
Of Piracy" This account of the death
OF Sir Edward packenham is certainly
romance, and far. very far, from the
truth as it ought to appear in history.
I learned the full particulars Of Gene
raj Packenham's d, ath from a very inti-
mate friend Of my father, Colonel VIM.
McCutchen, OF Mason's Point, Hmm
phrcys county, Tenn. The old hero
was on The ground 4: the time Pscken-
ham was killed, and commanded a
picked company OF ma-ksmcn from
Tennessee regiment. Colonel McCut-
chen was man noted for his strict in
tegrity and love OF truth; consequently
his statement OF this affair is entitled 10
u full belief in its truthfulness.
will now give YOU his version OF Gen
cral Packenham's d, ath, rs clearly and
briefly as l can, and precisely as 1 have
often heard him detail il around my
fathers freside in the long ago. olo.
mel McCntchen commanded company
OF infantry from Williamson county,
Tennessee, and was ordered 10y General
Jackson, who knew him well as every
clear sighted marksman," 10 pick
company of choice rihemen from his
regiment TO "shoot the British officers.
and 10 shoot them alone" He old SO.
and had under his command the best
shots in the army, and was stationed
near the center of the line Of breast
works running at right angles from the
river. The Mississippi was ex
tremely high at the time OF the battle
OF New Orlelns-so hi h as to be with
in a few inches OF the top OF the levee
thereby creating some fear that i:
might break over and drown both
armies. Colonel McCulchen says the
British regulars-men who had fought
Napoleon on the peninsula of Spain
and drove that naughty conquerer from
his prey-came up to the attack beau
TRULY, bringing iaclnes with them to
Gil up the ditch in our front so that the
rear lines could cross over with ease,
and thus scale our breastworks The
colonel remarked, with a solemn air,
that the first lines melted away like
frost before warm sun, and helped
to fill up the ditch them
selves from the intense and
deadly fire OF our rifemen. They
were repulsed second time with ter
rife slaughter, broke and fell back
under a i.e that they had never met
before, even from Napoleon's best
troops. Again, athird time they rushed
to the attack, evidently led by some
superior officer, for they came rushing
up with unusual vigor and steadiness.
All at once a lull in the battle revealed
the fact that something dreadful and
unexpected had occurred in the British
lines. The British Off ;ers Of ali ranks
wern seen to rush to the center of their
army, they not being over three hun
dred yards from our lines The
colonel said he was fully con-
virced fcom the movements OF
the officers and the apathy af-
terward in the attack that General
Packenham WAS certainly killed at that
time, and that he was shot By one OF
our unerrng marksmen. In fact, he
stated that lie afterward learned from
some British soldiers, who were pulled
off the breastworks by our men, that
the commotion in their lines was pro-
duced by General Packenham's death.
II that vas so, and Colonel McCutehen
says there could not be doubt OF it,
General Packenham was killed ct least
$50 yards from our line of works
and consequently could not have been
killed in a hand.to-hand encoun.
ter by LATTE, the pirate" as
stated By "Secretario. The truth
is, Lafitte was stationed to the left of
Colonel McCutchen's position, and