Evening star., 1945-09-02

would greatly facilitate negotiations and
that refusal to pay the bribe would
lead to war. War be it then,' replied
Pinckney; millions for defense, but not
a cent for tribute Pinckney and Mar
shall, who were Federalists. were or
dered to quit France; but Gerry, who
was a Republican, was allowed to re-
main'
This was the occasion when George
Washington, then in his retirement at
Mount Vernon, was appointed COM
mander in chief, with the rank of lieu
tenant general, and with Hamilton and
Knox as his major generals.
The War of 1872
The next war was with the mother
country, which went so far as to i'm
press our seamen and capture our ships,
and upon one occasion, when the Brit
ish government went so far as to send
war vessels into our own waters to seize
our ships as prizes, and refused to re-
linquish its offensive course, was war
finally declared, on June 10, 1872.
In this case, although the treaty of
peace had been signed by the plenipo-
tentiaries of the United States and
Great Britain at Ghent, on December
"a, 1914, yet major engagement was
fought at New Orleans on January 8
following, before the treaty arrived in
this country, due, of course, to the slow
ness of delivering communications at
that early date. However, the treaty
was not ratified by President Madison
until February II, 1915.
On the date of the Battle of New
Orleans, before referred to, a powerful
feet and force of $4,000 men under
Gen. Sir Edward Packenham under
took the capture of the Crescent City,
which was, as we know, successfully
defended by Gen. Andrew jackson. And
for this gallant act on the part of the
American troops, led by their intrepid
leader, the general received the thanks
of Congress on February ~, 1915, in
the following words:
THAT the thanks of Congress be,
and they are hereby given to Maj. Gen.
jackson, and through him to the Of
f1cers and soldiers of the Regular Army,
of the militia, and of the volunteers
under his command, the greater pro-
portion of which troops consisted of
militia and volunteers suddenly collected
together, for their uniform gallantry
and good conduct conspicuously dis
played against the enemy from the time
of his landing before New Orleans until
his final expulsion therefrom, and par
ticularly for their valor, skill and good
conduct on the 9th of January last in
repulsing with great slaughter, nu-
merous British Army of chosen vet
eran troops when attempting, by bold
and daring attack, to carry by storm
the works hastily thrown up for the
protection of New Orleans, and thereby
obtaining most signal victory over
the enemy with a disparity of loss on
his part unexampled in military an
mails.
Resolved, That the President of the
United States be requested to cause to
be struck gold medal, with devices en-
blematical of this splendid achieve
ment, and presented to Maj. Gen. Jack
son as a testimony of the high sense
entertained by Congress of his judicious
and distinguished conduct on that me-
morable occasion.
Resolved, That the President of the
United States be requested to cause the
foregoing resolution to be communicated
to Maj. Gen. Jackson, in such terms as
he may deem best calculated to give
effect to the objects thereof"
Gen. Jackson as Boy
Gen. Jackson served also in the Amer
ican Revolution entering the service
when he was but months more than
13 years of age, and fought in the Bat
tie of Hanging Rock. He was later made
prisoner, and the story of his refusal to
clean the British officers muddy boots
is quite well known. At the time the
officer in fierce anger at his refusal drew
his sword and struck the lad on the
head. Robert Jackson, his brother, was
treated likewise for his refusal, and this
was subsequently the cause of his death
In the early days, the Battle of New
Orleans was frequently celebrated in
Washington, one of the first being on
the eve of January 8, 1924, at the home
OF the then Secretary of State, John
Quincy Adams, then on the site of 1888
1885 F street NV. It being one of the
most notable functions of its kind eve,
held in this city and which was pictur-
esquely described at the time by John r
Agg in his poem, Mrs. Adams Ball"
The Wexican War
The Mexican War officially began or
May II, 1846, when the House ano
Senate by majorities of 174 to 10 and 4
to 2, decided to take this course, though
the first actual fighting of the war begar
II days earlier, before the town Of Mata.
moros. The Mexican resistance virtually
terminated on September 13, l847, aftel
the Battle of Chapultepec and the sur.
render was made the next day. BY tn,
treaty of peace which followed, Upper
California and New Mexico were cedet
to the United States, the latter payin,
to the former $15,000,0O0 and assum
ing such debts as were due bv Mericf