Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-12-27


time and time again of the reception
which Gen. Jackson gave to the British
on New Years day in the year of grace
1915, and believe can write It down
exactly as he repeated it to me, for
he was there, taking very active part
IN the ceremonies, If the reports OF his
superior officers are entitled to credit
las Of course they are.
You must know first of the situation
ut New Orleans on the dawning OF this
New Years day, and that can be told
IN few words.
General Jackson had on Christmas
day 1000 men, 20 pieces of artillery,
and two armed schooners with which
to defend the city; and the defense of
New Orleans meant the defense of
the state Of Louisiana and the entire
Mississippi valley. The whole British
army consisted of 1000 land troops,
with feet numbering more than 80
vessels of all sizes and rigs, not few
OF which were well armed.
Two days after Christmas the enemy
had succeeded in destroying one of
Gen. Jackson's vessels, the schooner
Caroline, thus leaving him only the
schooner Louisiana, and "a hours later
d battle was fought In which the Amer
icsns gained slight adsa7.age. -
Our people had thrown up breast
work three feet in height along the
entire front Of the army, and now the
British built three "half moon" batter
des, at equal distances apart, about 600
yards from Jacksons line, arming
them with 80 heavy guns, which had
been brought up from the fleet. These
batteries were formed of earth, hogs
heRds of sugar, and, in fact, of every
thing which it was supposed would
offer resistance to the missiles Of the
Americans.
Then came New Years morning,
when both armies were hidden under
. dense fog which did not lift until
nearly eight o'clock; but as soon as
dt was possible to see surrounding OBJ
dects the British opened fire from their
batteries, and 1t seemed much as If
every gunner aimed at the house in
which was Gen. Jackson's headquar-
ters. In less than ten minutes the
building had been struck by more than
q hundred shot and shell, and the COM
mander-in-chief, with his star, was
forced to seek some other place from
which to direct the troops in the battle
then Just beginning.
American Fire Effective.
As q matter Of course, the American
guns had not been silent while the
enemy was pouring into the city such
Q shower of iron. The 20 cannon,
which had been mounted at different
points along the line Of breastworks,
were opened on the British batteries
on the levee, and those in front Of our
position. until tze enemy began to un-
derntand that hogsheads Of sugar Of
fered a poor resistance to solid shot,
Tor Immediately one was knocked into
gplinters its contents ran out, thereby
making big breaches in the works.
When this battle of the guns had
continued for an hour or more, with
the American lines comparatively un-
harmed and the enemy's batteries
showing here and there great gaps
which told that they would be speed
lly demolished unless there was q
change In the method Of fighting, the |
British made a determined attack on
the left Of Gen. Jackson's line, which
extended into the swamp, and my
grandfather was among those sent for
ward 10 meet 1t.
And now TO tell the story from my
grandfathsF's own lips. ~ It were:
when ooffSs's Tennessee regiment,
of which ! was . member, gained that
portion Of cur line which the British
were threatsning, they were advAnc-
ing On The ohargs. moSt likely thinking
% frighten us By that long hno Of glis-
tening stssi bayonsts; but We had
gons there for Just such hind Of work,
and I venture 70 say that never one Of
us showed the Nhlts feather.
we poured into their ranks . show
e. q lead which cut many q vide gap,
but the BFitirhsrs only oiossd up The
line. coning forward lnEs machine.
and shouins ~ that AnsFioans vsrs
n1t ths oaly ones who knsv hoN % dis
,i sueh , ina .
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