The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-01-17

The great victory which Andrew
Jackson won over the English on Janu-
ary 8, 1915, was one of the most i'm
portant in American history in deter
mining the destinies of the young re-
public, which at that time was only
fairly entering upon it's career as an
independent nation. England deter
mined to strike a tremendous blow at
New Orleans, for, if successful, it
would give her a foothold on the Mis-
sissippi
New Orleans at this time was divid-
ed-the Governor and the Legislature
were at odds, and no money could be
had for the protection of the city. 1t
was a time of universal fault-fnding.
The people denounced the legislators.
The Legislature accused the Governor.
The latter divided the blame between
the Legislature and the people In
word, there was no central power
or man in New Orleans in whom the
people sufficiently confded, says the
Irish World.
On August Is, 1914, Jackson wrote
letter to Gov. Claiborne, of Louisi-
ana, requesting that all the quota Of
the militia to he furnished for the serv-
ice of the United tates be put in state
Of preparation to march to any point
required at moments warming. 1t
was indeed high time to prepare for
defense, for the English were fast ap-
preaching. Col. Nichols had landed
at Pensacola, Fla, established his
headquarters and proceeded to enlist
and drill without concealment the In
dams, who openly wore the English
uniforms. On August 20 Nichols is
sued the following proclamation:
'Natives Of louisiana! On you the
first call is made to assist in liberating
from faithless, imbecile government
your paternal soil. Spaniards, French
men, Italians and Britons, whether
settled or residing for a time in Louisi-
ana on you I call to aid me in this
Just cause The American usurpation
in this country must be abolished and
the lawful owners Of the soil put in
possession. I am at the heau Of
large body of Indians, well armed, dis
ciplined and commanded by British
officers
In the meantime the English were
CARRYING on with activity their plan of
invasion. Their first effort was direct
ed against Fort Bowyer, which, COM
manding the entrance of Mobile Bay
and consequently the navigation of the
rivers which empty into it, was point
of considerable military fmnortance.
particularly in contributing to the sue
cess Of the intended operations against
Louisiana. On the morning of Sep
tember 12 the enemy landed six hun
dred Indians and one hundred and thir-
ty marines. In the evening Two Eng
lish sloops, the Hermes and Caron, and
the brigs Sophia and Anaconda, anch-
ored within six miles of the fort. The
fort was guarded by only one hundred
and thirty Americans, while the Eng
lish forces amounted to thirteen hum
dred ana thirty men, two sloops and
two briggs.
The Hermes, having had her cable
cut, was carried away by the current
and presented her prov to the fort,
whose well-directed fire swept her
deck. At the moment when the fire
was most intense the flag staff of the
fort was shot away. When the
American flag thus accidentally dis
appeared the land forces, thinking that
the fort was to surrender, hastily ad-
vanced toward it, with loud shrieks
on the part of the Indians, but few
discharges Of grape shot sent them
away to seek shelter behind their sand
mounds.
During this interval the Hermes.
having not been able to repair the loss
of her cable, had drifted away with
the current about mile, when she got
aground and was set on fire and aban-
doned by the English. Soon after the
other ships, which had been much
damaged, retired beyond the reach of