National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-08
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.
How Louisiana Was Saved from British
Conquest,

the sth of January, 1915, by the immortal Gen.
Andrew Jackson, whose victory over the
British forces was the most signal of our last
war with England. 1t was the second decla-
ration Of ofindependenoe from England tyranny
and oppression on the high seas, which ever
after made our ships free from search and our
sailors free from imprcsSment.
In the bitterness of partisan feeling, after the
close of the confederate war, men like Robert
Toombs and others refused to celebrate the lth
of July, while those of the north seemed to
have forgotten to observe the anniversary of
the battle of New Orleans because II was
fought oil southern soil. But time, with Its
healing balm, has softcned all rancorous AMI
mositics, ana once again to-day, as one people,
the now generation rises to add its voice to the
old in paying its tribute OF honor to the mem
ory OF that heroic valor which won for us such
noble deeds OF glory. This day should be made
a national holiday, and universally kept asa
day of rejoicing.
BY this great victory, while but three states,
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri, were added
10 the south, six states, Kansas Nebraska,
Iowa, Colorado, Minnesota, and Dakota, all of
which were formerly a part of the Territory
of Orleans" were added to the galaxy of the
north. England had for hundred years been
trying TO dispossess France of this wealth of
vast territory, which. finally, Napoleon, before
declaring war against England, in 1903, sold to
the United States for the small sum OF Sll,U00,-
900.
In April, 1911, the triumphant entry of the
allied sovereigns into Paris and the crowning
ofLouis XVIII completed the downfall of Ma.
poleon. England once more breathcd free.
Now that her immense fleets ana veteran
troops, who fought at Waterloo, were no
longer needed, she cast her wistful eyes on
Louisiana. The expeditions for the burning
Of Washington city and the conquest of Louis.
lana were scarcity planned at the same time
by Lord Castlereagh, then prime minister, and
the British cabinet. The former expedition
was intended to conceal the real design
Of the British government from the peo-
pie of the United States. The execution
of these plans was confded to Sir
Admiral Cochrane and Gems. Keane aud
Packenham. Washington was burnt ON the
| 9th of August, 1914. The British fleet of fifty
sail, under Admiral Cochrane, sailed from the
Chesapeake on the 9Th OF october, giving out
that they were going to Halifax, when their
real destination was the island Of Jamaica ;
there TO await re.enforcements from England
before proceeding to New Orleans. Tho fleet
reached Jamaica on the I'd of November, with
the transports and troop-ships of Gems. Keane
and Packenham and impatiently awaited the
expected reinforcement of large squadron
under Commodore Lloyd, which, fortunately
for Gen. Jackson, did rot arrive until the 9th
| OF November. on the Goth OF November the
| whole fleet got under way. and arrived Off
| the Chandelier islands, near the entrance of
Lake Borgne, on the 9Th of December, 1914.
In the meantime Gen. Jackson, at the head
of 900 men, had attacked a British force at
| Pensacola-Florida being then Spanish prov
ince-and captured the place on the 9th OF No.
vembcr lie then returned to Mobile, where
| he remained until the 22d of November, hay.
ing despatched the greater portion Of his troops
| 10 New Orleans where he arrived on the ID of
December, 1914, just four days before the arrl-
val of the British fleet On the 10th of De.
cember, the British troops effected a landing,
and on the Esd marched within nine miles of
New Orleans. With only about 1000 troops
| Gen. Jackson attacked the enemy with such
force and fury that the British, supposlng he
must be at the head off grand army fell back,
and although heavily re-enforced during the
night, they made no attempt to renew the con-
nict. This gave Jackson time TO construct his
line of defense and receive re-onlorcements,
when the decisive battle OF the Sth of January
was fought, resulting in glorious victory.
| II has been shown that the British fleet and
| troop.ships were detained at Jamaica from the
| I'd to the aGth Of November, awaiting the ar.
! rival of the squadron of Commodore Lloyd.
| This delay enabled Gen. Jackson TO reach New
orleans Just four days before the arrival of the
| British feet, and was the actual cause of say.
| ing Louisiana from the grasp of the British
| lion.
The detention OF Iloyd's squadron was occa-
| stoned by his stopping at Fayal, one OF the
| A2orc islands, to capture the United States pri-
vatc armed brlg-oEwar Gen. Armstrong. then
commanded by Capt, Samuel G. Reid, with the
object of adding her to the expedition. On the
night of the 2Gth Of September, 1874, after the
burning Of Washington, and while Admiral
Cochrane's fleet was stlll lying at anchor in the
Chesapeake, q fearful retrlbution WAS being
wreakcd upon the British foe. A terrible
and bloody conflict ensued, the most dcspo
| rate and heroic naval engagement ever fought
| on the seas, by which the English lost ovGi
three hundred of their best men and officers
besides fourteen large launches, and the dis.
| Nbling of one of their ships Of war, They were
detained az Fayal over ten days repairing dam
ages, and were three days burying their dead
having sent back to England II large portion oi
their wounded.
The battle Of the Armstrong AZ Fayal Is thus
inscparably connected With the battle of New
Orleans, and was the remote cause of Geu
Jackson's Triumphant success; for had Capt
Reid not have made the heroic and wonderful
defense Of his vessel, Cophrau1s fleet would
have arrived at least ten days sooner when
Jackson was at Mobile, New Orleans then bglug
hopclessly deienseless, and might have been
captured without n blow.
II is remarkable that the name OF Admiral
COchmne, Lord Duudomald, should be thus
linked with that Of Capt. Reid, who exercised
such a fatal destiny over the former Theyar
both household woros In British and Amerl
can naval history, while that OF jackson Il
wreathed with imperishable fame. It wa:
Capt Reid who designed tho form of the
present American ilag as adopted by Congress
in 1918, and his son, Col. Sam c. Reid, well
known as talented writer and able lawye r.
Is now tsiding In this city. -