Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1905-02-23

, on both sides Of the conflict Gen. An
drew jackson for the American forces
aud Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham for
the British army, believing that the
war was still 10 progress, placed their
commands 10 a posIti 10 clash at New
Orleans, the Briton on the aggressive
a1d the American on the defensive.
The Americans built breastworks OF
cotton bales. and the Bnusn assaulted
this stronghold with great yigor aud
gallantry. Thrice they charged the
hrtaetworks and thrice they were re-
pulsed, with heavy losses
The British loss is estimated at be-
tween 1000 and 5000 killed, wounded
and taken prisoners.
The American loss in killed was only
seven men, and the same number were
wounded
ln the battle the "Kentucky rifle
men" played a conspicuous part Most
Of these soldiers were raw recruits or
untrsined militia. They knew now TO use
squirrel rifles, but they had not been
accustomed 10 shooting at meu-at any
rate, men In large bodies.
On the other hand the British sol
dicrs who assaulted them we're seasoned
veterans Many OF them had fought 10
the Peninsular campaigns under the
Iron Duke, and later In TIE ZANE year
some Of the survivors participated 10
the great battle OF Waterloo
These we'll trained and hardened sol
diers, who had gained their experience
ia conflicts with Napoleon and other
European commanders, marched against
Old Hickory's Kentucky rihemen aud a
few regular soldiers. expecting TO win
an easy victory.
History records their mistake. The
Story published Cor the ti-st time, writ
ten by boy who fought behind the
cotton breastwotks, supplements his
tory in giving an account Of one soldiers
feelings and experiences under fire, and
also narrative OF the experience Of
the recruits in their trip down the river
10 engage the enemy, their camp life in
the Louisiana swamps, and the final
breaking up OF the victorious army and
the home. coming Of the soldiers.
The reader learns in this narrative 10y
the late Rev. Calhoun Love, OF Ken
lucky, whose son now resides in st.
Louis how the Kentucky recruits tloated
down the Ohio and the Mississippi in
hatboats, aud what they did for amuse-
mention the long and tedious voyage.
Mr.. Love wrote this nearly fifty years
after the battle, and with an old mans
memory for boyhood events he gave de
tails Of many incidents which met his
view during the five months campaign
in which he participated.
The boy soldier, in his old age, admits
without reserve that at certain periods
OF the battle he was badly scared. He
tells later, without any boastfulness,
how his courage came back TO him.
In this he may be likened to the hero
in "The Red Badge of Courage" 10y tho
Late Stephen Crane-a hero who was
frightened at the first fire, but became
mailman in courage when the fighting
grew hot There is this difference,
however Mr. Cranes hero ran away to
the rear; the Kentuckian stood his
ground, though much worried because
he lost his bayouet and was fearful lest
the british should get over the breast
works.
The narrative, copied from the old
now in the possession OF
Rev DIR. Il. S. Love, or st. Louis, fol- !
lows:
BY THE LATE REV. w. G LOVE.
In the fall of 1914 there had been
draft for men to go to New Orleans and |
meet the British for war had been |
going on between England and the
United States since 1912.
As some OF my companions we're
and Capt. John K. Oodds,
near neighbor, was going, took the no.