The Irish standard., 1900-01-13
British campaign was a, series of dis

British campaign was series of dis
asterS
Confident of a speedy triumph, as
they relied much, on their ships, the.
English spent three days in dragging
heavy guns from their fleet. Jackson
did likewise, landing the heaviest guns
from the Louisiana, forming battery,
manned, it is said, by natives of every
country except England. Commodore
Patterson and Lieutenant Thompson
had charge of this battery, which did
considerable damage to the Englisl,
fleet and land battery.
New Years day, 1875, began with a
tremendous fire from British guns,
manned by sailors who had seen Copen-
hagen and Trafalgar. Oddly enough,
both sides made serious mistakes. The
British rolled hogsheads OF sugar into
their parapets, and the American cam
non shot pierced the sugar without diff
ficulty, while Our sandy works were
only made more solid by the shot that
lodged in them. The Americans pressed
cotton bales into an embankment. Brit
ish shot set fire to the cotton and the
heavy smoke nearly Blinded our gum
ners. This cotton bale experiment was
our first and last.
ALL az fss~s
nonading and the British fire began to
slacken. The British embankments
were beaten in and the guns exploded.
By noon the British batteries, manned
by Nelson's veterans, were silenced, and
the gunner who dared show his head
fell almost instantly. A fierce skirmish
in the swamp ended with some loss to
the British. The British uniforms were
gay, and Jackson's troops were ragged
corps, but the Americans had plenty to
eat, and could eat in safety. Packen-
hams weary troops had to drag most of
their dismounted guns back to camp.
The English were reinforced by Gen.
Lambert, and they returned to the
charge. A few days were spent by the
English in digging canal, while the
Americans prepared for the final charge
The canal was failure, for on the night
of the 9TH the banks began to cave in,
and the current OF the river swept out
of place the English ships that were to
aid the land forces.
: On the 9th the British took refuge
on board their ships. Gen. Jackson,
upon their departure requested the
Right Rev. Dr. Dubourg, Catholic
upon their departure, requested the
bishop of New Orleans, to offer up to
heaven thanks for the victory. Permit
me-" he wrote, "to entreat that you
will cause the service of public thanks
giving to be performed in the Cathedral
in token of the great assistance we have
received from the Ruler of all events
and of our humble sense of it,"
The bishop, in compliance with the
generals request, appointed the 23d for
the celebration. On that day Jackson,
surrounded by his staff, marched to
the Cathedral through streets lined with
troops, and past windows and balconies
filled with spectators. Passing under
triumphal arch, he received crowns of
laurel from two young girls, another
congratulating him on behalf of Louis
lana, while there were ranged on each
side ladies dressed in white, represent
ing the several states OF the Union.
At the entrance to the sacred edifce
he was met by Bishop Dubourg, who
welcomed him most cordially and elo-
quently. The general. in the course of
his reply, said: II thank you, rever-
end sir, most sincerely for the prayers
which you offer up for my happiness.
May those your patriotism dictates for
our beloved country be first heard, and
may mine for your individual prosper
ity, as we'll as that of the congregation
committed to your care, be favorably
received"
He was then conducted by the bishop
to seat near the high altar, and the
Te Deum was sung with impressive
solemnity.
A considerable number of the defend
ers of New Orleans were of the same
origin as the hero of the fight One of
these. Nicholas Sinnot, a 'o8 "rebel,"
who had fought at Oulart and Vinegar
Hill, was sent in command of detach-
ment to which was intrusted the charge
of Fort St. John. When the sound of
battle reached their ears there was great
difficulty in preventing Sinnot from
leading his men to the scene Of action.
There" said he, "are the bloody vii
lains numbering my countrymen, and
myself stuck down in this internal mud
hole"
Spain's Irish Admiral.
The grand old Spanish sea-fghter,