The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-11

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49, Chalmette would be the more accu-
GSl rate name for il
% II was battle fought between the
" armies Of two nations who were
W technically 81 peace. because the
treaty ending The war between them had been
signed two weeks previously So il would seem
that the Is Americans and the 29I British who
were killed (as well as those Of the SO American
and the l262 British wounded who died later)
perished in vain, and that this might properly
be called the most useless battle in history"
Yet IL was not Even though il was brilliant
victory. from the strictly military point Of view
II had no value, insofar il had no influence
on the peace treaty ending the war. But from
the diplomatic angle il was tremendously impor-
tant
During the tine the American and British
peace commissioners ar Client were wrangling
over the terms OF that treaty, the representa-
dves OF England were holding al ace up their
sleeves They knew that General PRkenhsm with
his 10000 veterans was on his way 10 capture
New Orleans and they were confident that he
would do il They were thinking Of this and Of
Louisiana Territory which Jefferson had pur-
chased from Napoleon u years earlier when they
euphadcaIly declared 10 the American commits
sioners: I'VE DO not admit Bonapartes consuuc-
ton OF the laws Of the nations We cannot &C
eept II in relation 10 any matter before Us"
So if Pakenham had been successful; if he
had defeated .'Old Hickory" Jackson, who was
defending New Orleans. and captured that city,
Great Britain, bRsing her claim upon the dec
laratiou Of her commissioners that Napoleon had
no right TO sell Louisiana 10 the United States,
would have declared that the Treaty Of Client
did not apply TO Louisiana and, with Pakenham
in control Of New Orleans would probably have
made her claim good. So perhaps those frontiers
men who lost their lives ar Chalmette did not
die in vain
Besides being celebrated in Louisiana as New
Orleans day, January s is also observed in other
parts Of the country as Jackson day, raIlying
tine for members of the political party pledged
10 the principles Of "Jacksonian Democracy" II
would seem more appropriate If the Democrats
had made March Is, their hero's birthday Jack
son day. Or they might have selected November
g. 1929 date 10 commemorate, for il was
on that day that the principles of "Jacksonian
Democracy" first triumphed and sent "Old Hick-
DRY" TO the White House. So the observance Of
the date Of q military victory for 3 political
purpose is something Of q paradox and there
are those who would declare that the departure
Of the Democratic party Of today from those
historic principles makes il al the more para
doxicall
Another paradox connected with this historic
event, which occurred just 40 years ago, has TO
do with its immediate results. As might have
been expected, Jackson's victory made him the
hero Of the hour in New Orleans. OF the recep-
ton which awaited him when he returned there
from the battlefield of Chalmette, Marquis James
in his Andrew Jackson-The Border Captain"
published last year by the Bobbs-Merrin COM
pany, says:
:" The city gave him q Latin welcome
Pierre FaTrot, seated by a window overlooking
the Place d'Armes, undertook TO describe il TO
his wife. At this moment there are more than
$500 people in the Place awaiting the arrival
OF the General al least 1000 women, ladies &
young girls New Orleans gave itself over TO
feting the heroes and Monsieur Favrot wrote no
more that day. The rigors Of the siege were for
gotten. Jackson suspended the nine O'Clock cur
few and the gaiety lasted into the night In the
morning Favrot finished his letters a. NJ
Never, my dear, have seen such q crowd -.
All the troops arriving 10 the strains Of military
music & Of the cannons more than 1900
people of whom 5000 were armed Tomorrow
they :. i. win crown the General: twelve young
girls viii strew his path with flowers ."
This they did on the morrow, and much more.
AT the door Of the church he was received by
the Able DuBourg in his robes of Office and
attended by q college of priests. The choir
began 10 chant the majestic lines Of the Te
Deum. The people in the church took up the
hymn. II spread 10 the lips Of the throng that
filed the square al New Orleans poured forth
lis gratitude for deliverancer
But that gratitude short-hyed, and the
the next day, when New Orleans awakened
somewhat amazed 10 find itself, TO al intents,
once more in state of siege. The tight restrie-
tons OF martial law were reimposed Militia
companies which had looked forward TO prompt
disbandment were marched into camps and set
10 drilling Reserve companies not under arms
before because there were arms 10 give them
were called out the dilatory cargo Of War de-
partment rifles having arrived. Andrew Jackson
expected his victory 10 have bearing on the tedi-
negotiations he assumed TO be in progress at
Client. but he took no chances He knew the
tenacity Of the English and their reputation for
losing every battle except the last one
II must be remembered that news Of the sign
ing Of the treaty of Client had not yet arrived in
America and that although Jackson had smashed
Pakenham's amy. there was still strong British
force under Keane and Thornton on board the
British feet at the mouth Of Lake Borgne. There
assurance that they would not try again
10 capture New Orleans. So Jackson was wise 10
take chances Of being caught unprepared.
So his state Of readiness was maintained at