Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-02-06
THEIR DEADLY FIRE.
The AMERICAN RlFLEMEN AT THE
BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

a Description Of the Engagements by Gen-
eral Jaekson-A Letter From sold Hiclx-
orye-TIow Paelenhe,n,s Veterans were
peseated BY Frontiersmen.
In The Contury William Hugh Rob
arts has an article entitled "Napoleon's
Interest In the Battle Of New Orleans. +"
In this isquoted hitherto unpublished
letter written by General jackson to Mr..
James Monroe A portion Of the letter
follows:
There was q very heavy fog on the
river that morning, and the British had
formed and were moving before knew
it. The disposition Of the riflemen was
very simple. They were told of In Nos.
l and g. No. was to fire first then
step back and let No. Q sheet while he
reloaded. About GOO yards from the rife.
men there was great drainage canal
running back from the Mississippi river
to the swamp Ia the rear Of the titled
land ON which we were operating Along
this canal the British formed, under the
fire Of the few artillery pieces had
near enough to them to get their range
But the instant | saw them I said TO
Coffee, whom ! directed to hurry to bis
line, which was TO be first attacked:
by --. we have got themi They are
oursp' Coffee dashed forward, and, rid
ing along his line, called ont, "Don't
shoot till you can SEQ their belt bucklesl'
The British were formed In mass, we'll
closed up, and about two companies
front
The British, thus formed, moved on
at quick step, without firing shot, 70
within 100 yards Of the kneeling rifle-
men, who were holding their fire ELL
they could see che belt buckles Of their
enemies. The British advance was ore
outed as though they had been On pa
rede. They marched shoulder 10 ehoui-
der, with tho step OF veterans, % they
were at 100 yards distance from our
line the order was given: Extend COD
umn 'front.' Double quick, marchI
Chargep With bayonets at the charge,
they came on us at run. own Is wns
an anxious moment / we'll knew the
/ charging column was made up OF the
picked troops Of the British army. They
had been trained by tho duke himself
were commanded by bis brother-in-lAv
and had successfully held Off the able6
Of Napoleons marshals 10 tho Spanish
campaign. My riflemen had never seen
such an attack, nor had they ever bofdpo
fought white men. The morning, too,
was damp. Their powder might NOS
burn we'll. Goa help usp muttered,
Watching the rapidly advancing line.
Seventy, go, 3D. finally 40 yards, wese
they from the silent kneeling rffemen
All of my men that could SEQ was their
long rifles rested on the logs before
them. They obeyed their orders we'll
Not q shot was fired until tho redcoats
were within 40 yards heard Ooffeo's
voice as he reared out: Nov, men, atm
for the center Of the cross beltsl Firei,n'
| a second after the order craoklinR
| blazing flash ran all along our line. The
smoke hung so heavily In tho misty
morning air that | could not see whe6
had happened / called Tom OveYtcn
and Abner Duncan Of my staff. and ve
galloped toward CofFees line. In few
seconds after the first fire there came
another sharp, ringing volley. As
came within 100 yards of Coffee tho
smoke lifted enough for me 10 make out
what was happening.
The British were falling back In
confused, disorderly mass, and the en-
tire first ranks Of their column were
blown away. For 200 yards In our front
the ground was covered with mass Of
writhing, wounded, dead and dying red
coats. By the time the rifles were wiped
the British line was reformed, and @
it came again. This time they were led
by General Pakenham In person, gal
lantly mounted and riding as though be
was on parade. Just before he got withiq
range Of Ooffee's line heard single
rifle shot from group Of country carts
we had been using, about l75 yards dis
tant and a moment thereafter ] saw
Pakenham reel and pitch out Of his sad
die. have always believed he fell from
the bullet Of freeman Of color who
was famous rife shot and came from
the Atakappas region Of Louisiana. Tho
second advance was precisely like bhe
first in it's ending. In five volleys the
1000 or more riflemen killed and
wounded 2,117 British soldiers, two
thirds Of them killed dead or mortally
wounded. I did not know where Cen
eral Pakenham was lying, or shonld
have sent to him or gone in person 30
offer any service in my power to render.
was told he lived two hours after
he was hit His wound was directly
through the liver and bowels. General
Keene, hear, was killed. They seat
flag to me. asking leave to gather
up their wounded and bury their dead,
which, Of course, granted / was told
by a wounded officer that the rank and
file absolutely refused to make third
charge. "We have no chance with such
shooting as these Americans do they
said.
Hereditary Suicide.
z.ar., frctovanc, 10 ha~oIf- :.