The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-09
JACKSON'S DAY.

Yesterday was the anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans. The victory of
Jackson was an extraordinary piece Of
good luck. The enemy were veteran
troops who had fought under Wellington
in Spain; they were commanded by Sir
Edward Pakenham, Wellington's brother
in-law, gallant British bulldog, who
made the same mistake of despising his
enemy that Braddock made at the Monon-
gahela, that Abercrombie made at Ticon-
deroga, that Howe made at Bunker Hill,
that Tarleton made at Cowpens, that Sir
George Coliey in our time made at Maiuba.
An energetic advance on part of the Brit
ish az the first moment would have won
New Orleans. The English lost their way.
fired into each other, disobeyed orders,
neglected ordinary military precautions.
On the Sth of January, 1915, the English
assaulted Jackson's redoubts; they were
overconfdent; were repulsed with great
slaughter, losing among their killed
Pakenham and q number Of other
veteran general and field officers
Only on the west bank of the
river did the English gain some adj
tage. where Gen. Jackson said "the
Kentucky troops ingloriously fed" Had
good general instead of mere gallant
grenadier commanded the English, the
main attack would have been made on the
vest side: the English would have won
that position and would have more than
counterbalanced all Jackson's success on
the east bank, for the batteries on the
west bank could easily have been made to
command Jackson's camp and works. but
Pakenham stupidity made his main attack
on the front of Jackson's position, that
was defended by 5000 marksmen armed
with Kentucky rifles, instead of striking
the point of fatal weakness OF Jackson's
position with his main attack. Burnside's
blunder at Fredericksburg and Lees
blunder at Malvern Hill was committed
by Pakenham, and he met the same fate.
The treaty of peace had been signed at
Client December "a, 1914, two weeks be-
fore the battle took place, and the news of
peace stopped further operations in
Louisiana, but they captured Fort Bowyer,
on Mobile point, February II, 1915. Jack
son did display wonderful military energy
and daring but it cannot be said that he
displayed any superior generalship, for the
position he selected from which to fight
the English was fatally weak against a
general of ordinary prudence and re.
spectacle skill. Nevertheless, the brilliant
and totally unexpected victory of New
Orleans made Andrew Jackson the popu-
lar military hero of the country and paved
the way for his astonishing political sue
cess. Except under Jackson the war of
1928 had been a melancholy military
disappointment. Canada had not been
conquered. Only on the sea did our few
frigates vindicate the national honor by
brilliant triumphs. During the war the
banks suspended, heavy taxation became
necessary and the public finances were
brought to the verge Of bankruptcy.
When the news of peace arrived Fen
ruary Is, 1915, our s per cent. bonds had
sold for so and IS in a currency of bank
bills deprecated 20 or 25 per cent; a
grand CONSUMPTION bill was in prepare
ton. and the Hartford convention of the
adjourned. So unfortunate had our mill
tary operations been that the first condi-
tions of peace talked of by England in
VOWED the cession of Michigan and Ohio.
as we'll as concessions of trading privileges
and navigation of the Mississippi. The
popular feeling in the autumn of 1914 was
one of deep dependency and gloom, and
r
which reached the North about the
same time as the news Of peace, gave
boundless delight, since it was a
great consolation TO the nations pride.
which had been deeply wounded by
military failures and by the capture of
Washington by the military and naval ex-
petition under Admiral Cochrane and
Gen. Ross. Jackson got the whole credit.
which he deserved, for the Greek campaign
of 1914 and for the victory of New Orleans,
so that between September, 1918, and
January, 1915, he rose from the condition
of an obscure Tennessee planter to that of
the most distinguished and popular man
In the country. He was q man of extra
| ordinary energy and daring, and he was a
man of extraordinary good luck, but of the
higher qualities of generalship, displayed
| by Warrington or Greene. he manifested
| nothing.
Gen. Jackson's whole career marks him
rs a man Of picturesque and striking indi-
| vduasity, but he was anything but a great
| soldier, and had not a single statesmanlike
| quality except his passionate patriotism
| and sturdy devotion To the Union. The
| original sincerity Of his opposition TO
| notification aud secession as q priacfDle
Is open to grave suspicion. President
| Jackson allowed the state of Georgia to
! nulify the decisions of the United States
| supreme court. Georgia refused to obey
the mandate o: the United States supreme
! court, but Jackson from first 10 last re-
! fused 10 enforce by executive action the
! decision OF the court, AMI allowed the
| state of Georgia to nulify the Fedora!
! laws ana treaties made with the Cherokees
! by the Federal government, utterly re-
| fusing to enforce the treaty rights Of the
| Indians. Chief Justice Marshall held tn at
! the laws Of Georgia about the Cherokees
| coutTayenei Federal treaties and were
| voii, ana ordered the men convicted
! under these unconstitutional laws 10 be
| released. Georgia refused 10 obey and
! Jackson refused 10 enforce the ORDER Of