The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-30
THE BATTLE OFNEW ORLEANS.
A Description of the Engagement by
General Jackson.

General Jackson.
In the January Century William Hugh
Robsrts has an article entitled "Naro.
Icons Interest in the Battle of New
Orleans" In this is quoted a hitherto
rnpu blished letter written by General
jackson to Mr.. James Monroe. A portion
OF the letter follows:
There was very heavy fog on the river
that morning, and the British had
formed and were moving before 1 knew
it. The disposition OF the riiemen was
very simple. They were told of 10 num-
hers one and two. Number one was to
fire first, then stsp back and let number
two shoot while he reloaded. About 600
yards from the rifiemen there was great
drainage canal running back from the
Mississippi River to the swamp in the
renr of the titled land on which we were
operating. Along this canal tho British
formed. under tie fire of the few artillery
pieces / had near enough to them to get
their range. But the instant 1 saw them /
said to Coffee, whom / directed to hurry
TO bis line, which was to be fret at
tacked: "By--, we have get them; they
are ours" Coffee dashed forward. and
riding along his line, called out. "DoE't
shoot till you can see their belt buckles"
TIE British were formed In mass, well
closed up. and about two companies
front.
The British, thus formed, moved on at
a quick step, without firing a shot, to
within one hundred yards of the kneeling
rifemep, who were holding their fire till
they could see the belt-buckIss of their
enemies. The British advance wss exe-
cuted as though they had been on parade.
They marcbei shoulder to shoulder, with
the step of veterans, as they were. At
cne huDdrod yard distance from our line
the order was given, extend column
front" "Doubls quick, march! Chsrgen
With bayonet ct the cnsrye, they came
on us at run. own it was an anxious
moment; / well knew the charging
column was made Ht, -ef THE picked troops
OF the British army. They had been trained
by the duke himself, were commanded
by bis brother-in-I law, and had succe, sfully
hell off the ablest of Napoleon's mar
shals In the Spanish campaign. My rifle
men had never seen such IN attack, nor
had they ever before fought white men.
The morning. too, was damp; their
powder might not burn well. "God
htlp us" ! muttered, watching the
rapidly advancing line. Seventy. sixty,
fifty, finally forty yards, were they |
from the silent knceling rifiemen. AL |
~ M mn 4 N.t 4
rifles rested on the logs before them.
They obeyed their orders well; not shot |
was fred until the redcoats were within
forty yards. / heard Coffes's voice as he
rosred out, snow men, aim for the cen
ter OF the cross belts Firer' second
after the order a cracking, blazing flash
ian { l. along the line. The smoke hung
20 heavily in the misty moraing air that
could not see what had happened.
,alled Tom Overtou and Abner Duncan
,f my staff, and wo gsIloped toward.
Joffee's line. In few seconds after the
lrst fire there came another sharp ringing
'oley. AS came within one hundred
md Efty yards Of Coffee, the smoke
lifted enough for me to make out wnst
vas nap euing.
The British were falling back in q con.
used, disorderly mass, and the entire
irs, ranks OF their column were blown
way. Far two hundred yards In our
ront the ground was coversd with a
pass Of writhing wounded, dead, and
lying redcoats. BY the time the rites
we're wiped the British line was reformed,
nd on 1t came again. This time they
we're led by General Pakonham In person,
mounted, ond riding as though
lie was on parade. Just bsfore he got
within range of CoDse's line l heard a
ingle riflesnot from group Of country
arts we had been using, about one hun
Ired and soventy-five yards distant, and
moment thereafter saw Paken ham reel
nd pitch out Of his saddle. / have al