on the 2d of December. He found the people of New Orleans in the greatest alarm, but his presence soon restored quiet and confidence. By vigorous, and even rigorous measures (for he declared martial law),' he soon placed the city in a state of comparative security,' and when the British squadron, bearing General Packenham and about twelve thousand troops, many of them Wellington's veterans, entered Lake Borgne, he felt confident of success, even against such fearful odds.

On the 14th of December, a British fleet of barges, about forty in number, and conveying twelve hundred men, captured a flotilla of five American gunboats, in Lake Borgne, which were under the command of Lieutenant (late Commodore) Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. In the engagement the Americans lost, in killed and wounded, about forty; the British loss was about three hundred. The destruction of these gun-boats gave the enemy power to choose his point of attack; and eight days afterward [Dec. 22], about twenty-four hundred of the British, under General Keane, reached the Mississippi, nine miles below New Orleans. An American detachment, led by Jackson in person, fell upon their camp the following night [Dec. 23, 1814], but withdrew to a stronger position, after killing or wounding four hundred of the British. The Americans lost about one hundred.

CAVALRY

MORTAR

Jackson's H. 2rs..
JACKSON'S LINE

AM. RESERVE

DDD

CYPRESS

And now preparations were instantly made for the great battle which soon afterward ensued. Jackson concentrated his troops (about three thousand in number, and mostly militia) within a line of intrenchments' cast up four miles below the city of New Orleans, where they were twice cannonaded by the British, but without much effect. Finally, on the morning of the 8th of January, 1815, General Packenham, the British commander-in-chief, advanced with his whole force, numbering more than twelve thousand men, to make a general assault. Having been reinforced by about three thousand militia (chiefly Kentuckians), Jackson now had six thousand expert marksmen concealed behind his intrenchments, or stationed at the batteries on his extended line. A deep and ominous silence prevailed behind these defenses, until the British had approached within reach of the batteries, when the Americans opened a terrible cannonade. the

MISSISSIPPI

R.

BRITISH LEFT COL.

Canal Rodriguez

SWAMP

Here Packenham fell

BRITISH COLUMN

OBR.BATTERIES

师

BR.BATTERIES

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

Yet

enemy continued to advance until within range of the American muskets and rifles. Volley after volley then poured a deadly storm of lead upon the

Note 8, page 170.

All the inlets, or bayous, were obstructed, and the banks of the Mississippi were so fortified as to prevent the ascent of vessels. A battery was erected on Chef Menteur, at the entrance to Lake Pontchartrain.

These intrenchments were a mile in length, extending from the river so far into the swamp, as to be impassable at the extremity. Along this line were eight distinct batteries, with heavy cannons; and on the opposite side of the river was a battery with fifteen cannons.

invaders. The British column soon wavered; General Packenham fell in front of his troops, with not less than a thousand dead and wounded lying around him; and, utterly amazed by the terrible fire of the Americans, the entire army fled in confusion, leaving seven hundred dead, and more than a thousand wounded, on the field. The fugitives hastened to their encampment [Jan. 9],

and finally to their ships [Jan. 18], and escaped.' The Americans were so safely intrenched, that they lost only seven killed and six wounded, in this victorious battle. It was the crowning victory, and last land battle of moment, of the SECOND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE."

While the victory of the Americans at New Orleans saved that city from plunder and destruction, and the whole Southern country from invasion, the

4

While these operations were in progress on the Mississippi, the British fleet had not been inactive. Some vessels bombarded Fort St. Philip, below New Orleans, on the 11th of January, and continued the attack for eight days without success. In the mean while, Admiral Cockburn [page 430] was pursuing his detestable warfare along the Carolina and Georgia coasts, menacing Charleston and Savannah with destruction, and landing at obscure points to plunder the inhabitants.

2 During 1814, the war continued on the ocean, yet there were no battles of great importance. The Peacock captured the British brig Epervier, on the 29th of April, off the coast of Florida. The Wasp, Captain Blakely, also made a successful cruise, but after capturing her thirteenth prize, disappeared, and was never heard of again. Probably lost in a storm. The President, Commodore Decatur, was captured off Long Island, on the 16th of January, 1815; and on the 20th of February following, the Constitution, Commodore Stewart, had a severe action with the British frigate Cyane, and sloop-of-war Levant, and captured both. Soon after this, the British brig Penguin was captured, but the proclamation of peace had then ended the war. 9 Page 409.

It is asserted, upon good authority, that Packenham's watchword, as he led his troops toward the city, was "Booty and Beauty," thereby indicating that plunder and ravishment should be the soldiers' reward! We can hardly believe Sir Edward really contemplated such barbarity.

pro

brave Jackson, whose skill and prowess had been chiefly instrumental in ducing that result, was mercilessly assailed by some persons in official station, who could not appreciate his pure motives and sturdy patriotism. Perceiving the necessity of prompt and vigorous action, Jackson had taken all power into his hands, on his arrival at New Orleans, and declared martial law.' Governor Claiborne' wisely and generously seconded the measure, and surrendering all authority into the hands of General Jackson, led a large body of the militia of his State to the field. Three days after the battle, the news of peace arrived; and Judge Hall immediately ordered the arrest of Jackson, on a charge of contempt of court. He was tried; and the judge fined him a thousand dollars. The people hissed the official; bore the brave general upon their shoulders from the court-room to the street, and then the immense crowd sent up a shout, such as went over the land with emphasis thirteen years later, when he was a candidate for the Chief Magistracy of the nation'-"Hurrah for Jackson!" The blow aimed at him recoiled with fearful force upon his persecutors.

5

The country was made vocal with rejoicings on account of the victory at New Orleans; and Congress honored General Jackson with thanks and a gold medal. A little more than a month after the battle, a proclamation by the President [Feb. 18, 1815], that peace had been secured by treaty, spread a smile of tranquillity and happiness over the whole Union. For more than a year, efforts toward that end had been put forth. As early as December, 1813, the British government had sent overtures of peace to that of the United States. They were forwarded by the British schooner Bramble, which arrived at Annapolis, in Maryland, on the 1st of January, 1814, bearing a flag of truce. The President at once informed Congress of the fact, and immediate action was had. The overtures were promptly met, in a conciliatory spirit, by the government of the United States, and commissioners were appointed by the two powers to negotiate a treaty. For a long time the American commissioners were treated with neglect by the British government. They

1 Note 8, page 170.

William C. C. Claiborne was born in Virginia in 1775, and was educated at William and Mary College. He became an assistant clerk of the Federal House of Representatives at the age of sixteen years; and at the age of twenty-nine, President Jefferson appointed him governor of the Louisiana Territory. He had already become conspicuous as a lawyer in the West; and at the age of twen y-two he was a judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. He was elected to Congress the following year, and was a distinguished man in that body. He was elected governor of Louisiana when it became a State in 1812, and was acting in that capacity when the British menaced New Orleans. He left that office in 1817, when he was elected to the United States Senate. But his death was near, and he never entered that assembly. He died in November, 1817, in the fortysecond year of his age.

A member of the Louisiana Legislature assailed Jackson by a newspaper publication. Jackson ordered his arrest. Judge Hall granted a writ of habeas corpus. Jackson, in the proper exercise of his power under martial law, not only refused obedience to the mandates of the writ, but arrested the judge, and sent him out of the city. For this "contempt of court" Jackson himself was arrested. His noble defense was written by Edward Livingston. • Page 459.

As we have observed, intelligence of the signing of the treaty reached New Orleans three days after the battle. It was not formally proclaimed until more than a month afterward.

The United States commissioners were John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, John Russel, and Albert Gallatin. Those of Great Britain were Admiral Lord Gambier, Henry Goulbourn, and William Adams. These commissioners are all dead. Mr. Clay, who died in 1852, was the last survivor.