Evening star., 1936-08-16
Significance of the
Battle of New Orleans
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

words on the meaning OF American his
tory. some of them sound, sore of
doubtful value. 1t was Voltaire who
said that history was made of lies
agreed upon by historians, and there
can be no doubt that much of historical
literature is made of what might proper
ly be called folk-lies.
One Of the strangest has to do with
the battle Of New Orleans. The pop
ular story concerning this struggle is
the reverse of most folk tales, which
uniformly tend to glorify the home
country. But. oddly enough, even the
school books belittle the significance of
the battle of New Orleans, on the
ground that it was a needless battle,
fought a fortnight after the treaty of
peace ending the War of 1912 had been
signed at Client.
The real facts seem to be at variance
with this assumption, and reason is
put forward to claim that Andrew Jack
sons victory at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi was the second most important
in our military annals. Count the de-
feat of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga as
of the first Importance, in that it is ac-
counted the turning point OF the War
of the American Revolution and thereby
opened the door to independence. Then
comes the battle of New Orleans, be-
cause it clinched the national integrity
of the United States. Always it must
be remembered that Great Britain never
regarded the treaty of Paris, which
technically marked the successful end
of the Revolution, as anything more
than an armistice. At the time, the
War of 1872 was referred to by those
who supported it as the Second War Of
Independence. That is all pretty much
forgotten now.
Because there seemed so much con-
fusion in the matter. the Legislature Of
Tennessee not long ago appointed spe-
cial commission, of which Reau E. Folk
was named chairman, with Claude q
Bowers, historian, and now American
Ambassador at Madrid. with other dis
tinguished persons members. to con-
duct researches into the true facts. The
report of this commission, now available.
is document which might proftably be
studied by students of American history.
The established facts are that the
treaty of Client, which is counted as
having ended the War of 1872, was
signed at the Belgian city by the British
and American commissioners on Christ
mas eve of 1914 1t was ratified by the
Prince Regent on December 81 at Lon
don. 1t reached Washington February
IA, was sent to the Senate, which i'm
mediately advised its ratification, was
duty ratified by President Madison Feb
ruary II, and the ratification proclaimed
the next day.
The battle of New Orleans took place
on January 8, fortnight or so after
the signing of the treaty at Client, but
before the ratification took place. Be-
cause of this sequence of events it has
been urged that the battle of New
Orleans was unnecessary and that the
loss of life there is to be forever re-
gretted.
Such a statement does not reflect the
truth if the report of the Tennessee
commission is to be accepted. as 1t
seemingly must be, in view of the docu-
mentary and other evidence adduced.
Spain owned Louisiana. When Ma
poleon invaded and conquered the
Spanish kingdom he forced the cession
of Louisiana to France. Then, in 1908.
he sold that vast territory to the United
States He did this because of the
threat of war by Great Britain against
him. He realized that he could not de-
fend and hold so distant a province
against the British naval power and
knew also that if Louisiana remained
French territory the British would pro-
ceed to seize it. At the time he trans
ferred the Louisiana Purchase to the
United States he said
II know the full value of Louisiana.
A few lines of a treaty have restored 1t
to me and now must expect to lose 1t.
The English expect to take possession
of it and it is thus they will begin the
war. They have already 20 ships OF the
line in the Gulf of Mexico. The con-
quest of Louisiana will be easy. l have
not a moment to lose in putting it out
of their reach. The English have Sue
cesSively taken from France the Can
adaS. Cape Breton. Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia and the richest portion of Asia.
But they shall not have the Mississippi,
which they covet"
Now the treaty by which Spain had
ceded Louisiana to France contained a
clause saying that, should France ever
dispose of it, it should not be for for
eign country but back to Spain. Because
of the existence of this clause, vel
known in European chancellories. GreG
Britain always took the position tina
France had no right to sell Louisiana tt
the United States and that, therefore
the transaction was void.
X
The Client peace conference began ir
August of 1914. Because of slow com.
munications, it dragged for months
While it was in progress the British
outfitted an expedition, very large one
for the period-some 10000 men-to pro-
ceed against New Orleans. They felt
they must make sure of that vast terri
tory. A provision was written into the
treaty that it should not take effect until
it had been ratified by both sides. In
view of the American situation, they
felt certain that they would have Louisi.
ana by the time any ratification could
take place.
1t was known that New England was
disaffected. did not support the war
Indeed, the Hartford Convention was
practically a secession from the Union
of all New England. New York and
Pennsylvania were none too enthusiastic.
Great Britain felt that the American
Government would ratify the treaty
leaving New Orleans and all Louisiana
indeed. everything west Of the MisSis-
sippi-in British hands, because other
wise Britain could threaten to make
separate peace with New England, bring
ing all that friendly section back under
the British flag.
Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham reached