The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-12-29

IL Thanksgiving
with which the
hero was received
by the people Of New Orleans q few days
after the battle was characteristic of the
people and the times.
The story of the fight has often been
told. The fact, not known for some
weeks afterward, that the treaty of peace
was signed at Client a day and q fort
| night before the battle does not detract
a jot from the fame of the sturdy soldier
who won along with his victory over the
British the idolatry of his contempora-
ries and a shrine in the hearts of Amer
cans as long as the republic shall last.
Jackson did some hard fighting in
Florida just before he went to New Or
leans. Victory had been uniformly with
his arms, and his coming was eagerly
awaited at the Crescent City. As soon as
he arrived on Dec. 8, 1914, he set about
putting the city in a state of defense.
On Dec. 90 he made the celebrated night
attack Of the first division of theBritish.
which had effected a landing some eight
miles down the river from the city. The
losses on both sides from this engag
ment were about 200 killed and wound
ed, equally divided. On New Years day
there was another engagement, which re-
suited in defeat for the British. Then
both sides began to prepare for what
both thought was sure to be decisive
engagement as far as New Orleans was
concerned, little dreaming that neither
had any further cause to fight.
The British forces numbered IL 1000
men. There were but 5000 Americans,
and hardly half of them fred a shot
during the short, hot fight that began
with daybreak on that January morning
10 years ago. When the contest was
over, the loss in killed to the English
footed up 700, in wounded twice as
many and in prisoners 500. The Ameri-
cans lost but 8 killed and Is wounded,
and but 25 minutes elapsed between the
firing of the first and last shots.
1t was not until Jan. 81 that jackson
with his army re-entered New Orleans.
The c~onquering hosts were met in the
suburbs by an enthusiastic throng. in
Guiding almost the entire population of
tho city, of all ages and both sexes, and
were greeted with the most e~xtravagant
expressions of gratitude and delight.
Jan. % was set apart by the municipal
authorities as a day of thanksgiving.
To the preparations for the observance
Of that day the utmost energies Of all
were bent. Booming of cannon ushered
in the dawn of a typically bright sub
tropical winter morning. During the
previous day and night men and women
had been busily engaged in decorating
with evergreens the old Spanish cathe-
dral in which the religious ceremonies
were to be held. In front of the cathe-
dral in the center of the public square,
where the equestrian statue of jackson
now stands, temporary arch of triumph
had been erected. 1t was supported by
SIX Corinthian columns and festooned
| with flowers and evergreens.
Beneath the arch stood two beautiful
little girls holding In their hands q civic
crown Of laurel. Near them were two
young women personating Liberty and
Justice. Ranged in two rows, extending
from the arch to the cathedral, were
young girls, the very flower Of the creole
beauty Of that city, full Of female lowell
ness. robed in white, yelled in blue gauze
and each bearing on her brow q silver
star. These ~personated the states and
territories Of the Union that the hero Of
thedayhad donesomuch to preserve from
the vandal hand Of the British invader.
Each OF these girls carried q basket of
flowers and q flag bearing the name Of
the state or territory she represented.
Behind each q lance upholding a shield.