Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-08
THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.
An Interesting and Important Scrap Of
Paper Relative Thereto.

The BATTLE oE NEW ORLEANS.
An Interesting and Important Scrap Of
Paper Relative Thereto.
While looking over some personal papers
Mr.. Findlay Harris of The EVENING STAR last
evening inadvertently came across q scrap of
paper which is particularly interesting, as it 10
directly connected with the battle Of New
Orleans Of which today is the 77th anniversary.
The paper was found among some of the late
Alexander Findlay Of Abingdon, Va, grand
father of Mr.. Harris, and was written by o
surgeon of the English forces engaged in the
fight on the Sth Of January, 1915.
1t is as follows:
''12 PM, 10TH JAN'Y, 1914
'The bearer is directed by the principal
medical officer in charge of the British and
American wounded to report to the first APP
preaching American force the existence Of an
hospital containing wounded of both nations
and TO request communication with the first
American officer upon this subject agreeable to
the directions of the general commanding the
British forces. JOHN WAspELL,
Surgeon to His Britanic Majesty's Forces"
This note is written in a perfectly legible
running hand, and save a yelowness from age
the paper and writing is as perfect as the day
when written. Upon the back of this is the
following Endorsement by Mr.. Findlay:
This note was handed me by an assistant
surgeon of the British army on the day of its
date, being in command of the first American
force that approached the hospital mentioned
in the note, when placed corporal and guard
at the hospital and went myself to report to
Col Thomas Kinds, who commanded the Miss
lsslppi dragons. Failing to meet with Col Kinds,
he having gone down the bayou, the British COM
ing up, returned to the hospital. where found
George Poindexter, formerly United States
Senator from Mississippi. at DIR. Wasdelrs
quarters and who had during my absence taken
formal surrender of the British wounded and
was just about to accompany DR.. Wasdeli to
see Gen. Jackson. About the time Mr.. Poin-
dexter and DIR, Wasdell left for Gen Jackson's
quarters, ! took my command down the
Mississippi and on my return to the hospital
found COrnet Hay B. Harrison of the jefferson
troop, Mississippi dragons, in command of the
guard and hospital.
ALEXANDER FINDLAY,
Mississippi Dragons"
Accompanying this paper is statement of
MIR. Findlay concerning an incident which hap
pened just previous to the battle of New
Orleans and which has never before been
published.
THE note attached to this" wrote Mr. Find
lay, referring to the one handed him by the
British surgeon, II received as stated on the
back of it. In connection with my services
as in the United States army at New
Orleans are one or two circumstances
which may possibly be Of interest at
some future day and known now only by my
self and Col. Arthur p. Hayne of South Caro-
hna-the other person, Berry Prince, who was
cogniZant of them. being long since dead as l
believe. reached New Orleans on the night
of December %, 1914, belonging to the Jeffer-
son troop OF Mississippi dragons, Lieut.. Isaac
Dunbar in command Of the company. Col
Thomas Kinds in command of battalion or regi-
ment of twenty-third division. The dragons,
as soon as it was said the British had reached
adj
were sent in advance Of the army. Col. Hayne,
inspector general, accompanying them. When
we came in sight of the advance of the British
army Col. Kinds made move with his COM
maEd to the left, from the river toward the
swamp, leaving Berry Prince and myself on the
levee to hear any orders from Col Hayne. Col
Hayne had rode on some short distance in
front OF Prince and myself. After reconnoi-
tering the British forces to his salts
faction he rode back to where Prince
and myself were and directed one of us to tell
Col Kinds to order one company of the dra-
goons to the levee and requested to see Col
Kinds himself. l rode off and gave the orders
to Kinds and returned with him to the river
Col. Hayne requested an escort to Gen. Jack
son. Kinds said he would have to wait until
the troop came up unless he would put up with
Prince and myself. Col. Hayne said we two
would be sufficient and started i'm
medIately to meet Gen. Jackson, who was
advancing with the army. When we met the
general the staff fell back and let Col. H. make
his report. The colonel turned his horse i'm
mediately alongside of Gen. Jackson. Prince
and myself wheeled Immediately behind the
general and Col. H., cutting the staff entirely
off. Col. II. made his report, the general occa-
sionally asking question and throwing in
word. Col Haynes said there were
but few of the British and ad-
vised Gen. jackson to cut the levy to pre-
vent their getting to the city and save the lives
of the soldiers. Gen. Jackson's reply was il
there be but few of them we will whip them
the easier, and Immediately gave the colonel
orders for the attack.
Prince was sent with orders to some part of
the army and with orders to Col. Hind The
engagement commenced and saw no more of
Col. Hayne or the general that night. Gen.
Jackson's determination to fight that night no
doubt saved the city.
ALEXANDER FINDLAY.
Abingdon, Va, January %, 1860.
A New Captain for the Ordway Rifles.
In pursuance to Especial Order No. /, head
quarters District Of Columbia national guard"
the enlisted men of company d, fourth bat
TALON (Ordway Rifes), assembled at their ar
mory last evening for the election of a captain
to fill the vacancy created some time since by
the resignation OF II. b. Durant. Mai Camp
bell called the meeting to order promptly at
o'clock and two candidates were nominated
namely, Mr.. VIM. E. Horton and Mr.. A. h
Craulee. On the first ballot Mr.. Horton re-
ceived a majority of all the votes cast and he
was declared elected, after which Maj. Camp
bell made few appropriate remarks, which
were responded to by the newly elected CAP
tain. Mr.. Horton is young man about
twenty three years of age and resides on Cap
itoI Hill, where the company has its armory
When attending the high school he had the
honor of having the best-drilled company in the
battalion.
The Industrial Home School.
Tho lin Of {ba