Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-01-07
Tns CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
TUESDAY, JANUARY Z. 1902.
JACKSON DAY.

Tomorrow is Jackson Day.
Doubtless democratic societies all
over the country will httlngly
celebrate the day and glorify the
hero of New Orleans and laud
his memory to the skies.
He is an unique figure in
American history. Great he
was not, yet few men have been
50 idolized by great masses of the
people as was Jackson. Devoid
of scholastic training in any direc.
ton, of a fiery, impetuous temper,
of an imperious will, domineer-
ing spirit and quarrelsome, tur-
bulent disposition we wonder at
his immense popularity. But
these characterics, sources OF
weakness in other men, seemed
to be elements of strength in
him. Joined to superb courage,
most jealous patriotism and tre-
mendous energy when aroused to
action they made up character
which strongly appealed to the
backwoodsmen of Kentucky and
Tennessee because they under
stood it and felt it was in har-
mony with their own. They
felt he was one of themselves,
worthy to be trusted and for
them a safe and well qualified
leader; and so he was.
He conquered the Creek In
dams in 1914 and was placed in
command of the Army of the
South, with headquarters at Mo.
bile. His purpose was to drive
the Spanish out of Florida, and
he begged for orders to take Pen
sacola. He did not believe the
republic was safe while single
Spanish flag foated anywhere on
the north coast of the Gulf OF
Mexico. The people of the
Southwest were unanimous in
desiring to control Florida. Now
that the English were at Pensacola
Jackson was more than ever de-
sirous to sieze the place. He
had no orders to do so, yet he
tried his utmost to provoke a
quarrel with the Spanish govern
or. On November 3rd, 1874
he marched with forty-one hun
dred men, appeared before Pen
sacola the night of the sixth, car
ried the place by assault the
next day, and compelled the
British to evacuate and blow up
Fort Barrancas. Jackson was
back at Mobile on the eleventh.
The British expedition against
New Orleans was rapidly ap-
preaching, but Jackson seemed
to be stricken with apathy and
negligence. He sent a thous-
and men to chase Indians on the
Escamhia; he left twelve hun
dred at Mobile; he sent Gen.
Coffee with two thousand to
Baton Rogue and sent but one
regiment to New Orleans where
he himself arrived December end.
He found the city utterly un-
prepared to resist, although the
British expedition was then off
the coast of Cuba. He bent his
energies to the work of prepara-
ton. He proclaimed martial
law, and quickly massed his
troops at that city.
The battle of New Orleans is
familiar history. Never has been
such a motley, heter-
ogeneous lot of men as formed !
Tackson's command. The breast
works behind which they lay
lacked any sort of engineering
skill in their plan. They were
in a straight line, and SO most
difficult to defend. But they
we're defended by skilled marks.
men who wasted no powder and
cad. The attaching force was
composed of Wellington's
yeterans of the Peninsula massed
N solid column. The rihemen
If Kentucky and Tennessee
simply slaughtered them. AL
most seven hundred men were
slain in front of Jackson's line.
Three generals, seven colonies
md seventy-fve inferior officers {
we're counted with the dead. g
From this time on Jackson was a t
rational figure. Scott, Gaines, !
Brown and Miller had achieved
IL the success that had thus far
elieved the hu1niliating record !,
We had made on land. 1t was
eserved for Jackson to close the
var with a halo of glory resting
Lpon the American arms.
We follow Jackson to the Sem
mole war and see his energy cap
ure and destroy the Negro Fort
nd Saint Marks, but we find it e