Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-06
Philadelphia ledger


Ibe custom became as partisan us the
last century PRACTICES OF drinking tn
the GLORIOUS and immortal Fnenlory'
or to the king over the water. -
In some towns tho Sth OF January
dinners become sectional. and, whiln
jackson was family praised, tho real
hero was Calhoun, whose dialoyal ton.
denotes Jackson loathed and hatol.
Since the war for the Union the ira
ditions OF Gettysburg and Appomattox
have pushed jackson into the back.
ground. A new generation has arisen,
and when that generation hears of
tine battle Of New Orlsausn it thinks
of Farragut's feet ami Buffers stern
rule. Indeed, within the last few years
newspaper writer's, with an ignorance
that would be amusing we're il not
nauHeating, have referreu to the Sth of
January as Jnckson's birthday. Sucn
2 mistake, Az years ago, could not have
been malta by q boutblaCk or a wharf
laborer.
The real 9Th OF January, or rather
the military movements ending on that
wonderful day. should he matter for
national pride rather than partisan
speecbmaking. 1t would be well if
evsry militia organization kept alive
thu memory OF the 'grandest triumph
ever scored by our arms. The lads in
our boys brigades should he taught
/ that Thomas Dunn English's poem on
jackson is better worth their memoril
ing than Tennyson's description Of the
charge at Balaklava. IL would be a
subject for congratulation il military
writer of tho first rank should do for
Jackson what Napier did for the PENN
Hular War and what Mahan has uone
for New Orleans. As it ia, however,
the expedition against Nav Orleans has
adGed two useful booke to the worlds
library. One is "Jackson and New
Orleans" by Alexander Walker, an old
resident OF the CRESCENT City; the
other ia the wsll.known narrative of
1.-The SubRltern," British officer,
who gives manly account OF the ca II !.
paIgn from the British standpoint.
Anyone who leads a bright American
boy to read one, or, ntili better. both
OF these books, has done a patriotic
SERVICE.
Jackson's difficulties cannot easily be
exaggerated. The beginning of his
campaign found him suffering from
wounds and disease. His temper, never
mild one, had been tried by personal
quarrels, mutinous soldiers, Indian
ambushes, dishonest contractors and q
political feud OF long standing. Jetfer-
son and Jackson hated each other cor
daily, and Jefferson g ILL will descended
as legacy tn this Madison administrB.
tion. The youngest drummer hoy in
the camp Knhw that the ruling powers
were unfriendly to Jackson; that he
ad not always been respectful to tho
authurities, and that while he might
ieceive perfunctory, official support,
the Prusident and Secretary of War
would hs glad to put some one else over
his head. Andrew jackson, soldier,
lawyer and politician, knew that il he
was to win official favor at all. be
must win it by dosds SO brilliant that
10 public documents could hide thum {;
that he must SEMI in returns that could
not be doctored by auy canvassers 10
Washington.
The administration was not liksly to
help jackson, but it was too distant to
interfere with him. Other troubles
were close ut hand. jackson was at
odds with some of the leading men of
New Orleans and had various wrangles
with the Legislature Of the State. He
lacked guns to supply his troops. y
murs motley army has seldom been seen
since the followers of David mustered
10 the Cave of Adullam. 10 blend the
extreme of Southern ariHtocracy, the
free colored battalion and the smuggler
aud pirates of the coast into compact
corps was no easy task. Nor was it
easy TO prepare raw troops for combat
with veterans who had followed the
banner OF Wellington. Jackson, az a
boy. had s1en service in ths Revolu-
tiunary War, and knew that, as rIle
the discipline of the British soldiers
had given them victory in the open
field. The War of 1912 had oneued
with modification for our army, and
nothing in our history is more dis
graceful than the retreat at Bladens-
burg AS the average European soldier
viewed the invading aud defending
hosts, it seemed as il an army waH
going forth to slaughter mob. But
the American general had an advantage
which outweigheu all the odds in favor
OF bis enemies. lie was Andrew Jack
6ou.
A fight between the fotillas on Lake
Burgue was CALAMITY fought on both
sides. The British forco was decidedly
stronger, and gained the upper hand,
which meant the control of the lake
and the capture of several small vessels
useful as transports. Following up their
SUCCESS the British landed some troops
without tents. Rain and frost cauaed
number OF deaths, especially among
the colored troops from tho West
Indies. Still the British were con-
fident. The Flords Indians had
promised their aid. and deserters from
Jackson's camp had predicted speedy
victory. Gan. Keane began TO prepare
for a more extensive landing, and sent
troops ashore, despite cold rain. On
the Odd OF December news came that
the British were within nina miles OF
New Orlenna. and that night Jackson
attacked the enemy. Some of the
iiritish troops were hungry, all were
tired, many were asleep, pone knew thu
country around them, and suddenly the
schooner Caroline began firing into
their camp, while grape shot ana mus
kerry almost drove veteran soldiers into
panic. Tho British rallied, hut sen
try after sentry was picked of by the
ritlemen. Az in moRt night actions,
there was confusion and some hand to
hand fighting. jackson ordered his
msn to fall back under cover OF the
fog. The battle was not decisive, but
the Americans we're greatly encouraged
and the British almost dazed. 1t il
probable that the British loss exceeded
ours two TO one, and the boldness Of
the attack led them to suppose that tine
American force was fer greater thun
was really the cass. Only few hour
before the British bad been chuckling
over the cowardly ratreat from Rladens-
burg, Now they found that Americans