against the British vessels, that they were compelled to cut their cables and hasten out of the way, but not without the loss of their flag ship, which was set on fire and blown up. The loss of the assailants was believed to be very serious; on the American side it was trifling.

The conduct of the British in Florida, at this time, was such as could not be passed over unnoticed. They were in the habit of openly making use of the Spanish territory, for the purpose of carrying on their hostile schemes against the United States. The Spanish authority seemed to have been put down. At Pensacola and St. Augustine, the English had complete possession, and from those places distributed presents to the Indians to stir them up against the Americans. They also, from this foothold, prepared their land and naval expeditions against our territory. This had been insupportable, and would be, if permitted, highly dangerous to our safety. General Jackson having in vain remonstrated with the Spanish governor, resolved, on his own responsibility, to have recourse to more effectual means. In the beginning of November, he appeared before Pensacola with about 3,000 men; destroyed their forts, chaced off the British, and taught the dons a lesson which they would scarcely require to be repeated. He then returned with his force tó Mobile.

It was not long after his arrival at this place, before he was called upon to display his military talents on a more important theatre. The threatening clouds which had been gathering for some time seemed now ready to burst. The British fleet after leaving the Chesapeake, had gone chiefly to the Bermudas, and every day brought some account of important preparations for some enterprise against the Southern States. The mighty armament at

length made its appearance in the Gulf of Mexico, consisting of sixty sail, attended by a vast number of barges and transports. The foe was invited by the opulence of New Orleans, and its defenceless state; here they anticipated an easy and profitable conquest. There remains but little doubt that the British government intended to hold Louisiana permanently, and by the possession of that important country, render herself mistress of the continent. This magnificent scheme, under Divine Providence was frustrated in the most signal manner.

General Jackson hastened to New Orleans with his brave Tennesseeans, and his regulars, where he arrived on the 2d of December. Not a moment was to be lost; the enemy was at the door, and no preparation had been made to meet him. In fact every arrangement for defence was made at this late hour; the country had thus far, been exempted from the visitations of war, was unarmed and in every way unprepared. He superintended in person all the works which the time would allow him to construct, and reviewed the different corps of militia and volunteers of the city and country. The slaves were put in requisition, and the inhabitants were called upon to contribute all the aid in their power. The situation of the country is highly favourable for defence against an enemy invading by sea, provided sufficient time be allowed to fortify it. It is a low flat tract of land, accessible only by the Mississippi, or through the Lake, in shellow water. Excepting on the banks of the river where there is a narrow tract of dry land, probably not more than a mile in width, there is nothing but swamps and morasses, penetrated by deep natural canals, which are navigable for barges from the Lakes, or from the sea to the ridges of dry land.

On the 12th of December, the enemy's fleet appeared in the bay of St. Louis, and the American flotilla of gunboats commanded by Lieutenant Jones, then lying at Cat's Island, ascended the bay to take a position more favourable for watching the enemy's movements. Twe days afterwards the gun boats were attacked by forty launches and barges, manned by at least a thousand men, and after a most heroic resistance, in which many of the enemy were destroyed, the gun boats surrendered. The danger now was at hand; General Jackson ordered martial law to be proclaimed, and the whole of the militia was ordered out on duty. The Legislature then in session, made appropriations, and an embargo was laid on all vessels then in port. No exertion that could be made was omitted. On the 21st, General Carroll arrived from Tennessee, with four thousand men, many of them were however, not armed, and others badly. About this time the city received a new accession of force, from the arrival of the Barratarians, to take part in the defence of the country. These people had established themselves on some high land in the Lake of Barrataria, and as it is said, practised depredations on the commerce of all nations; certainly it is, that they openly braved the revenue laws, and had been outlawed as smugglers. To their leader La Fitte, the most tempting offers were made by the British to induce him to join in the projected invasion. But instead of acceeding to these offers he immediately communicated the whole affair to Governor Claiborne, who was so much delighted with this trait of magnanimity, that he pledged himself to procure a pardon for him and his band, provided they would join in the defence; they accordingly came and were received. The capture of the squadron of gun boats, left the

way

open to attack on the side of the Lakes.

It was there

fore necessary to close all the canals or bayous, which would enable the enemy to pass through the swamp, and reach the strip of dry land on the bank of the river. This important duty was entrusted to General Villere, a na tive of the country, and well acquainted with the secret passages. Unfortunately the guard stationed at the entrance of the bayou Bien-venu, were captured, and proceeding secretly they reached the dry land, and emergng from the forest arrived at the bank of the mighty river, about three o'clock, P. M. on the 23d of December. This force consisting of four thousand men, instead of moving directly on to the city, halted to prepare their meal, and to move towards the city at their leisure, as the city was now in their estimation, entirely in their

power...

Intelligence of this unexpected and alarming march of the British was brought to General Jackson by Major Villere who had been taken prisoner, but who seized an opportunity to make his escape. The General with that promptitude which distinguishes the great commander, hesitated not a moment on the course to be pursued. He immediately issued orders for the troops under the command of General Coffee, stationed some miles up the river, to march to the place of rendezvous, and giving orders for all the other corps to be collected with the utmost speed, he put himself at the head of the regulars, the city militia, and the battallion of coloured troops, and adyanced a few miles below the city, where he halted to give time for the remainder of his forces to join him. The schooner Caroline was at the same time ordered to drop down the river. General Jackson being joined by the other troops, now pursued his march, but it was some

time after dark, before he came near the British encampment. General Coffee with his riflemen was placed on the left near the woods, while the other troops, led by Jackson in person, attacked in front. The signal was given by a broadside from the Caroline, which did great execution, as the British were gathered around their fires, and entirely off their guard. The attack of the Americans in front, and Coffee turning their right penetrated even into the camp. The enemy were at first struck with consternation, but after some time being rallied, they formed and returned the fire of the Americans. A thick fog which about this time arose, and Jackson considering it imprudent to continue the fight any longer, sounded a retreat: a company of city riflemen, hówever, missing their way, fell in with a body of the enemy and were taken prisoners. The general retired to a piece of ground two miles nearer the city, where there formerly had been a mill race; this position offered considerable advantages, in the speedy creation of defences, as it would at once answer all the purposes of a ditch. The loss of the Americans in this bold and well advised attack, was 24 killed, 115 wounded, and 74. missing. The British loss was estimated at 46 killed, wounded, and 64 missing. This battle, it is now universally conceded, saved the city of New Orleans, for had the British marched the next morning it would have been utterly impossible to have withstood them. Fortu-. nately all the prisoners who fell into their hands concurred in magnifying the American force to ten or fifteen thousand men.

167

In the mean time, a prodigious effort was made to fortify the American position. Bales of cotton were used to expedite the erection of the breast work. In a few