While General Jackson was making preparation, for his contemplated attack on Pensacola, an assault was made by the British troops from that post, upon Fort Bowyer, which was situated on the Mobile river. On the 15th of September, 1814, Colonel Nicholls attacked the fort by land, while several vessels, mounting altogether about ninety guns, approached by sea. The expedition ended in blowing up one of the English ships, greatly damaging another and sending off Colonel Nicholls with the loss of one of his ships, and, as it was said, one of his eyes. Major Lawrence commanded the American fort. His brave band consisted of only one hundred and thirty men; while the force of the British was ninety guns by sea, and Nicholls assaulted the fort by land, with a twelvepound howitzer, and several hundred marines, sailors, and savages. This affair was highly creditable to Major Lawrence and his men. The disparity of force was very great; and this disgraceful beating at the outset must have had a considerable effect upon the enemy. Jackson was still more firmly resolved, after this attack, to break up the rendezvous at Pensacola; and on the 6th of November, 1814, he marched against it, demolished all its defences and protections, drove out the British and the savages, and taught Nicholls and the Spanish governor, that there was still one country left which was not to be insulted with impunity by the satellites of despotism.

CHAPTER VII.

1814. Jackson marches to New Orleans-Preparations to defend the city-Surrounded by traitors and spies-Situation of the country-Strength of the British expedition-Firmness of JacksonThe city placed under_martial law-Vigorous measures rendered absolutely necessary-Landing of the British-Alarm in the cityJackson determines to attack them-Disposition of his forcesBattle on the night of the twenty-third of December-Gallant conduct of the American troops-Repulse of the British-The complete triumph of the Americans prevented by the darkness of the night -Adventure of Colonels Dyer and Gibson-The Americans fall back to a new position, and prepare to fortify it-Effect of the battle. 1814.

AFTER administering this severe, but deserved rebuke, to the Spanish governor, General Jackson immediately repaired, with a small portion of his army, to the city of New Orleans, at that time the most vulnerable point on the southern frontier. He arrived there on the 1st day of December, 1814, and on the 4th it was rumored that a British fleet was approaching the coast. Two days after, the report was confirmed, and it was positively known that Admiral Cochrane and Sir George Cockburn, who had been compelled to retreat down the Chesapeake after the burning of Washington city, had sailed for the Gulf of Mexico with the forces under their command. Jackson did not lose a single moment, but at once applied himself vigorously to the work of preparation. Previous to his arrival, the inhabitants had become desponding and indifferent. The influence of a master-mind soon aroused every thing into activity. Confidence was speedily restored. Resources that none had ever dreamed of sprang up at his bidding. His genius and perseverance soon found means for the crisis, desperate as it appeared, while his determined energy and resolute will, manifested on all

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occasions, in the midst of danger and alarm, excited the hopes of the timid, and infused new courage into the breasts of the wavering and faint-hearted.

The city of New Orleans, at this time, contained a population of about 30,000 inhabitants, most of whom, as the territory of Louisiana had but recently been purchased. were of French and Spanish descent. As a very natural consequence, their attachment to their new government was any thing but ardent or sincere. Jackson had no only prejudices and jealousies to contend against, but treason lurked everywhere around him. Spies were constantly engaged in observing his motions, and the very men whose firesides he came to protect from outrage and molestation, corresponded with the enemy at Pensacola. In addition to these difficulties, the American general was seriously embarrassed from the want of arms, ammunition, and troops. The Tennessee militia under General Carroll, and the mounted riflemen, commanded by General Coffee, arrived soon after Jackson reached the city. In order to conceal his real weakness from the enemy, these troops were encamped a few miles out of town, and their number intentionally represented to be much larger than it really was. He did not wish his detachments to be counted; and it was a part of his policy to exaggerate his force, to deceive the spies and impose upon the enemy. Besides this, the appearance and accoutrements of the western volunteers, though exactly suited to their mode of warfare, were not particularly calculated to inspire confidence or courage in those who would have been more highly gratified at beholding all "the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war." In distributing his forces, Jackson took especial care to place them in such a manner, that they could be readily assembled in a single mas upon New Orleans.

The city itself was the point really menaced. It is situated around a bend of the Mississippi river, on the eastern bank. It is generally approached by vessels, from the river, although small craft, such as schooners and sloops, navigate lakes Pontchartrain and Borgne. A narrow strip of land, varying from a few hundred yards to

two or three miles, borders the river, gradually tapering off into a swamp, as it recedes, until it reaches the lakes. This strip of land is covered with plantations, and is protected from the inundations of the river by an embankment of earth, called the "levee," which extends far above the city, on both sides of the river.

The expedition fitted out by the British against New Orleans was truly a formidable one. The fleet under Admiral Cochrane numbered more than eighty sail, previous to the arrival of the reinforcements. On board the transports were eleven thousand "heroes of the Peninsula," fresh from the blood-stained field of Vittoria, commanded by four able and experienced generals; two admirals, and twelve thousand seamen and marines, with fire-ships, rockets, ammunition, and artillery in abundance. This array of strength, which lost nothing of its terrors in the rumors circulated by the agents of the British government, was not by any means to be despised. General Jackson foresaw the danger, and determined to avert it. He felt that it was one of those rare occasions which will sometimes occur, when it was absolutely necessary for the will of one man to guide and control every thing. The press itself had been, in part, suborned by the enemy, and the legislature was too much under British influence to listen to his wise suggestion in favor of the repeal of the Habeas Corpus Act. He accordingly resolved, without a moment's hesitation, to assume the power which cowardice dared not exercise. The city was placed under martial law, and in one instance, where a traitor whom he had imprisoned had been set at liberty by Judge Hall, he ordered the judge himself into confinement for interfering with his authority. The sequel conclusively showed that these vigorous measures were absolutely necessary for the safety and protection of the city, and a grateful country did not fail to appreciate the patriotic motives which prompted him in the exercise of this supreme power.

The English armament, instead of coming up the river, entered the lakes which connect with the gulf, and on the 23d of December commenced landing their forces on the narrow strip of land bordering the river. They reached

this point by means of the Bayou Bienvenu and Villere's canal, through which they passed in their boats. They were at this time ignorant of the extent of the preparations made by Jackson to receive them, and instead of marching directly upon the city, which would have been the safest course, their commander encamped where he had landed, on the plantations of two or three French settlers. When Jackson received the intelligence that the British had efected a landing, he determined to attack them on the night of the 23d. Generals Coffee and Carroll were ordered to proceed immediately from their encampment, and join him with all haste. Although four miles above, they arrived in the city in less than two hours after the order had been issued. These forces, with the seventh and forty-fourth regiments, the Louisiana troops, and Colonel Hinds' dragoons, from Mississippi, constituted the strength of his army, which could be brought into action against the enemy. It was thought advisable that General Carroll and his division should be disposed in the rear, for the reason that there was no correct information of the force landed through Villere's canal, and because Jackson feared that this probably might be merely a feint intended to divert his attention, while a much stronger and more numerous division, having already gained some point higher on the lake, might, by advancing in his absence, gain his rear, and succeed in their design. Being thus ignorant of their movements, it was essential that he should be prepared for the worst, and by different dispositions of his troops be ready to offer an effectual resistance in whatever quarter he might be assailed. General Carroll, therefore, at the head of his division, and Governor Claiborne, with the state militia, were directed to take post on the Gentilly road, which leads from Chef Menteur another landing-place, to New Orleans, and to defend it t the last extremity. With the remainder of his troops, about two thousand in number, Jackson hastened down the river, towards the point where it had been reported the British had effected a landing.

Alarm pervaded the city. The marching and counternarching of the troops, the proximity of the enemy, with