The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-28

WHICH zen Jackson gave 10 the British
on New Years day in the year of grac,
1915, and believe l can write IL dow
exactly as he repeated it TO me. 70
he was there. taking a very active par
IN the ceremonies, If the reports Of hi
superior officers are entitled to credi
AS Of course they are.
You must know first OF the situation
At New Orleans on the dawning OF thi.
New Years day. and that can be toll
in few words.
General Jackson had on Christina:
day 1900 men, 20 pieces OF artillery
and two armed schooners with which
70 defend the city; and the defense O
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 a feet numbering more than so
vessels OF all sizes and rigs, not a few
81 which were well armed.
Two days after Christmas the enemy
bad succeeded in destroying n OF
Gen Jackson's vessels. the schooner
Caroline, thus leaving him only the
schooner louisiana, and "a hours later
a battle was fought in which the Amer.
cans gained a slight advantage.
Our people had thrown up a breast.
Work three feet in height along the
entire front Of the army. and now the
British built three half moon" batter
les, at equal distances apart. about 500
Yards from Jackson's line. arming
them with 30 heavy guns. which had
been brought up from the feet. These
batteries were formed of earth, hogs.
heads Of sugar. and, in fact. OF every
thing which IL was supposed would
offer resistance to the missiles OF the
Americans.
Then came New Years morning.
when both armies were hidden under
4 dense fog which did not lift until
nearly eight o'clock; but as soon as
Il was possible e see surrounding OBJ
iects the British opened fire from their
batteries. and IL seemed much as IL
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
a hundred shot and shell. and the com
mander-in chief. with his stan. was
forced 10 seek some other place from
TO direct the troops in the battle
then just beginning
American Fire Effective.
AS a matter OF course the American
had not been silent while the
enemy was pouring into the city such
4 shower OF iron. The 20 cannon.
had been mounted at different
along the line Of breastworks.
opened on the British batteries
On the levee. and those in front of our
position. until the enemy began TO un
1erstand that hogsheads of sugar Of.
a poor resistance TO a solid shot.
Immediately one was knocked into
splinters 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
he American lines comparatively un
and the enemy's batteries
here and there great gaps
told that they would be speed
ly demolished unless there was a
.hange in the method Of fighting. the
British made a determined attack on
he left OF Gen. Jackson's line. which
extended into the swamp, and my
grandfather was among those sen for
ward To meet II.
And o 10 tell the story from my
'~randfather's own lips, as 1t were:
When Conee's Tennessee regiment.
Il which | was a member, gained that
'ortion OF our line which the British
we're threatening. they were advanc.
ng on the charge, most likely thinking
o brighten US by that long line Of glis-
ening steel bayonets. but we had
ione there for just such kind Of work. I.
nd venture to say that never one OF ,
IS showed the white feather. .
I'VE poured into their ranks a show. :
r OF lead which cut many a wide gan :
ut the Britishers only closed up the
Inc, coming forward like a machine. 4,
showing US that Americans were .
OF the only ones who knew how to die !,
I such a time. !.
We'll, for a few moments they actu- !,
lily overran US with that line OF steel :
oints, and, having once discharged !
ur weapons. we had no chance to re-
'ad. The only thing for US. who did
OF intend TO be put out OF the fight
nth Il couldn't be helped. was to Crap =
le with that red coated machine. for
Q couldn't get nes enough. owing 70 >,
Re bayonets. TO strike a decent blow :
it'll our clubbed muskets. '
1T was as rough-and- tumble a FIGHT
, ! ever saw, sven when the com.
1tants were unarmed. and the fact y,
vat we clung to them like cats was
hat knocked the Britisher's out Of y,