Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-04
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.
4 Description Of the Engagement By Gener.
al Jackson.

In the January Century William Hugh
Robarts has an article entitled Napole-
on's Interest in the Battle Of New Or
leans" In this is quoted hitherto UNI
published letter written by General Jack.
son to Mr.. James Monroe, A portion of
the letter follows.
river that morning, and the British had
formed and were moving before knew
it. The disposition of the ritietnen was
then step back and let No. 2 shoot while
he reloaded. About six hundred yards
from the riiem$n there was 49, a great Eat
Mississippi river to the swamp in the rear
of the titled land on which we were oper-
ating. Along this canal the British
pieces / had near enough to them to get
their range. But the instant | saw them
! said to Coffee whom directed to hurry
Sd line which we was have to Be got r1 th
they are ours" Coffee dashed forward,
and riding along his line, called out !:
Don't shoot till you can see their belt
| buckles" The British We're formed In
mass. well closed up. and about two COM
| panieS front.
The British, thus formed, moved on at
a quick step, without firing Shot TO
within, one hundred yards. Of the kheel-
ing rifiemen. who were holding their fire
till they could see the belt buckles Of
tne,r enemies ne bf thay bad been
I
parade: They marched shoulder to shout
der with the step OF veterans as tney
We're. At one hundred yards distance
Extend column front" Double quick,
march! Charge.' With bayonets at the
charge. they came on us at a run. | own
it was an anxious moment. | well knew
the charging column was made up OF the
picked troops of the British army. They
had been trained by the Duke himself,
were commanded by his brother-in-law.
and had StlrcnSSfuIlV held off the n blGSt of
Napoleons marshals in the Spanish cam
paign. My rifemen had never seen such
an attack. nor had they ever before
fought white men. The morning, too, was
damp; their powder might not burn well.
God help us!' | muttered. Watching
the rapidly advancing line Seventy, Sin
| from the silent kneeling riAemen. All of
my men | could see was their long rifles
rested on the logs before them. They
obeyed their orders WELL not a shot was
! fired until the redcoats were within forty
yards. heard Coffees voice as he roared
out: Now. men. aim for the center of
the cross-belts; Fire A second after the
order a cracking. blazing flash ran all
! along our line. The smoke hung so heav-
lily in the misty morning air that | could
not see what had happened. | called'Tom
/ and we galloped toward Coffee's line. In
Il few seconds after the first IRE there
came. another sharp, ringing voley. As
l came within one hundred and fifty yards
!
| to make out what was happening.
| The British We're falling back i'll con-
! fused. disorderly mass and the entire first
| ranks of their column were blown away.
| For two hundred yards in our front the
| ground was covered with mass of writh-
! ing wounded, dead and dying redcoats.
| BY the time the rifles We're wiped the
| British line was reformed. and on it came
again. This time they We're led by Gen.
| eral Pakenhanl in person. CALAMITY
! mounted. and riding as though he was on
! parade. Just before he got within range
Of Coffee's line ] heard Il single rifle shot
| been using. about 10 yards distant. and a
moment thereafter | saw Pakenham reel
and pitch out OF his saddle. ! have al
ways believed he fell from the bullet of
| Il free man of color, who was j; famous
| rifle shot. and came from the Atakappas
region of Louisiana. The second advance
| was precisely like the first in its ending.
| In five volleys the 1900 or more ritlemen
| killed and wounded 2l11 British soldiers.
two-thirds of them killed dead or mortal
| ly wounded did not know where Gen
| eral Pakenham was lying, or | should
have sent to him. or gone in person. to
l was told he lived two hours after he
was hit. His wound was directly
through the liver and bowels. General
Keene. / hear. was killed dead. They
sent flag to me. asking leave to gather
up their wounded and bury their dead
which. of course, was granted. l was told
by q wounded officer that the rank and
file absolutely refused to made third
charge. I'VE have no chance with such
shooting as these Americans do they
said