The Ogden standard. [volume], January 02, 1915, 4 P.M. City Edition, MAGAZINE SECTION, Image 15

About The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1913-1920

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I 1 : IMt. S1AMDAKD MAGAZINE SECTION OGDEN, UTAH, JANUARY 2, 1915. H
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When Every American Could Shoot I
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One hundred yean a?o on the
elchth of January t lie Americans
and British fought their i;ist battle.
In the interim a groat change has
come o er tiic American people. In
stead of the rough and ready men
of the back woods who couldn't af
ford to waste a bullet, there lias
been developed a generation of
Americans who hardly know how to
handle a rifle. The men who
fought the British at New Orleans
were probably the best hand to hand
lighters the world has ever reen
gathen. d together in one army.
These men were recruited from
Kentucky and Tennessee, from the
streets cr Xew Orleans and from
the bandits of the Gulf Coast. So
rough were these Kentucky and
Tennessee fighters thai they were
referred to contemptuously by the
,V British as the "Dim Shirts." This
aggregation of militia men Andrew
Jackson assembled for tho defense
of Xew Orleans knew little about
drill. Their military drill knowledge
consisted of how to forward march,
charcc and fire. There were 3.000
In this arms Of militia men. On
the British side there were 12.000
trained veterans who had fought
with Wellington. They were vet
erans from the Spanish Peninsular
campaign and from other great
battlefield? of Europe.
The secret of the success of An
drew Jackson's men was that they
knew how to shoot. Every man In
Old Hickory's army took careful
aim before firing and when t he
day was done General Lambert,
i in commander of the shattered
I British forces found 2.017 of his
'I men were dead or wounded. Fie
hundred were taken prisoner. Even
the commander owed his office to
tho fortune of battle, for the British
chief commander Gen. Edward
Pa kenham fell with his men.
On the American side the losses
were only eight killed and thirteen
wounded.
Historians reneraTlv discredit the
Importance of the Battle of Xcw
.' Orleans. H was fought a month
after the treaty of peace between
the United States and England had
been signed at Ghent. Had the
British won the day they doubt
less would have been forced to
Withdraw as the terms of the treaty
gave then-. n territory.
But in tho days of the War of
1S12 there were no cable? under
the se-n There were no fast ninil
ocean greyhounds to race across
tho Atlantic with words of peae.
In America word from Washington
to Xew Orleans traveled by plow
poat ar.d Andrew Jackson did not
know peace had been declared.
Neither did tho British.
General Packenham conceived
the idea of capturing Xew Orleans
ond taking the whole of Louisiana
Territory which had been ceded to
America b Xapoleon only twelve
years before. With an expedition
of picked men he sailed into the
Gulf of Mexico lor the attack,
l General Ja kson had been directed
by tho War Department at Wash
ington to attack Pensaoola, which
at that time belonged to Spain. All
of Florida was Spanish territory In
those days. Spain was not at war
v.'ith tho United States but the
Spaniard. In Florida had allowed
the English to violate their neu
trality v. ilh Impunity, The English
tiBcd Pensacolfl as an outfitting sta
tion fr m which naval and military
movements were made against Mo
bile and against American shipping
coming down the Mississippi for
West Indian potts.
JACKSON HEARS OP
New ORLEANS plot.
Jackson drove tho British out of
i Fensncola anil destroyed the wharta
there as punishment to the citizens
for allowing their port to be used
&a a base for British operations.
But he- did more than win a victory.
Ho discovered a plan was on foot
to attack New 'Orleans. If Jackson
had lived a hundred years later ho
would have wired to Washington
II for Inst ructions, but there was no
time. He wrote a letter to Wash
ington i.-ii'im hi superiors ho was
Ik 3n Iim way to New Orleans and ho
2 Put the letter In care of a trusted
messenger, who was instructed to
Ht the teller rather than let it fall
Into th hands of another.
Mounted on his favorite white
horse he moved to Xew Orleans by
Forced marches. He reached there
to find the- city almost indifferent
to its fate. They were loyal to tho
United States and hated England,
bur they did not believe the Eng
lish would come In force largo
enough to conquer them The
British already had defeated the
American flotilla of six small ves
sels and had entered Lake Borgne
at the time Jackson arrived. Gov
ernor Claiborne had begged tno
legislature to declare martial law
sriil impress everybody into mili
tary service, but the legislature did
not wish to act Jackson accom
plished what Claiborne could not do.
Troops were mustered and drilled
for the battle. Among the troops
was a company of free neproes and
another of Choctaw Indians.
Jackson's enthusiasm fired the
city and recruits offered themselves
for BOrvii e Women and children
sang In the streets. For the mo3t
part the Inhabitants were French
Creoles. They sang "La Marseil
laise1 "Le Chant du Depart" as
the soldh rs drilled. Jackson's "Dirty
Shirts" from the backwoods taught
them how to sing Yankee Doodle
and soon the French Creoles were
Blnging not only their old French
songs, but were liberal with the
strains of Yankee Doodle.
While Jackson was building forts
and throwing up breast works and
making plan against every contin
gency a visitor came to his head
quarters one night and offered his
services.
T would like to fight," said the
visitor. "Hut I am proscribed. In
X-w Orleans they call me a pirate.
Ms brother recently escaped from
fall there. They have hunted me
in tnc swamps ana uiey nave meet
to burn my ships In the channels
Of the river. I am John Lafllto of
Bn rat aria "
I know you for s hellish bandit."
said Old Hickory. "You have
robbed from everybody and have
sold your booty in the markets of
Xew Orleans through your agents.
You ought to be hung. I do know
that you are a fearless man. and I
have a half notion to accept your
offer for we need men who can
shoot in the battle which is com
ing." "If I come I will bring my brother
Pierre on whose head there is a
reward of $1,000. Both of us would
light for you and the only request
we have is that you pardon us our
past and permit us to live in peace
the rest of our das. We will on
our part promise to abide by the
laws of the United States no matter
how Irksome they are to u "
JACKSON' ACCEPTS OHTR
OF PIRATE BROTHERS.
Jackson agreed to accept the aid
of the pirates, but he could not
promise them clemency after the
battle. He- said they would be
safe, however, until the British
were repelled and then if the State
o Louisiana saw fit to punish th m
for their past deeds he would k.c
them a chance to get back to tho
bayous and swamps. However, if
they fought bravely he would rec
ommend clemency for them. The
brothers agreed.
Baratarla was a pirate strongold
on one of the sluggish channels of
the Mississippi River below Xew
Orleans. The inhabitants had made
their living not only by pirating
on commerce, but they had smug
gled in slaves from Africa. Just be
fore the invasion by Packenham
the British had made overtures to
the Baratarlans They wished the
pirates to aid them in the capture
of Xew Orleans. Lafltto half way
agreed to Join them and In that way
gained Information as to the size of
the British force.
He gave all the information to
Jackson. When he Joined tho
American Army ho brought with
him his band of freebooters.
Tho country below Xew Orleans
was so swampy it was not Inhab
ited at the time of the Battle of
Xew Orleans except by the pirates
and a few adventurous hunters.
THE: hattletieki where fp
Jackson heal the Brit- -iSBw
ish near New Orleans, as
While it was known the British
were landing on Lagc Borgne their
exact location could not be deter
mined Pickets were scattered over
the countrya but when a man has
an arms of only 3,600 men ho can
not spare many pickets.
One of these pickets stationed at
an important location on Lake
Borgne was captured .and from him
the British learned where the oth
er pickets were stationed. These
were picked up one by one. On
December 2 3 the British landed at
a little Ushers' illaf;e on the shoi S
of Ivike Borgne. Their scouts had
been over a great deal of the land
In the meantime and had decided
on their approach to Xew Orleans.
From the fishers' village they
pushed on along the shores of a
bayou and entered a swamp. Skirt
ing a plantation at the edge of the
swamp they marched until they
arrived at the banks of the Missis
sippi River shortly before noon of
the same day. Jackson was com
pletely surprised. The cathedral
bells were rung In alarm and the
trooos hastily assembled to give
battle.
The British paused to rest and
await thcrcft of the army. Jack
son s men v.ero given supper and
then they moved on the British.
While the army marched down on
the banks of the stream, the Amer
ican river boat, Carolina, dropped
down alongside. The Carolina
sh lied t be Brit ish. The :-hellin" u ;is
followed by an order from JackSOU
to charge. The battle was fought
in the dark. Thcr. were no par
ticular results. Historians say
Jackson's chief aim in lighting was
to gain prestige.
Before daybreak he drew back
about two miles to what Is now tho
suburbs of Xew Orleans The Brit
ish erected breastworks and awalti d
re-enforcements. Cannon were un
loaded and broughT across 'h
country for the British, while Jack
son's final detachment of back
woodsmen also arrived from Ken
tucky and Tennessee.
On Xew Year's Pay the British
advanced to the attack. Jackson's
men Aero defended by cotton bales
and earthworks. The British out
classed them In artillery. The bat
tle was nothing but ;i skirmish as
far as the fighting on shore was
concerned. Shot from the British
guns, however, wrecked the Caro
lina. Her guns were brought ashore
and from then on were used by
Jackson's land force.
Oh the day of the final battle
Jackson's lino of defense stretched
from a BWamp to the river, a dis
tance of a half-mile. He had only
twelve cannon, but the guns were
manned by the best gunners in the
world. Among those who manned
the guns were artillery men from
the United States regular army,
ome French soldiers under Flau
le&O. who had fought under Xapo
leon, sailors from the burnt Caro
lina. New Orleans Creoles and the
Bafilte brothers with their pirate
bands. All knew how to handle ar
tillery and on the day of the battle
they gave a good account of them
selves. From battery to batten' the line
was filled out with a confusion of
arms and trappings. On the extreme
right under the levee of the Missis
sippi v;is a company of regular in
fantry and a company of Orleans
Bitles with dragoons who handled
a howitaer.
Next was a battalion of Lousiana
Creoles In gay and varied uniforms.
Tho sailors of the Carolina came
next with their cannon. Xear them
were the pirates with two guns,
Then w as a battalion of negroes and
mulattoea At their left were tho
Frenchmen under Flaujeac. Along
side the Frenchmen were the Ten
ncsseeans in homespun clothes and
It Was Just 100 Years From I
January 8, When I
Andrew Jackson's Back- 1
woods Sharpshooters, ffl
Beat the Flower of the J
British Army at
New Orleans I
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fl.mnel shirts under the command
of Colonel Carroll. Adair s Ken
tuckians were next to Carroll and
next to the swamp were Colonel
Coffee's Tcriiiosseeofliis-
It was against this mingled force
thai Gen Edward Packenham threw
his army the morning of January 8.
Part of his force was sent across
the Mississippi Biver to attack Com
modorc Patsrson, who had a marine
buttery on tho west bank of the
river opposite Jackson's entrench
ments. On the east ride of the river Gen-
ral Packenham 's brilliant array be
gan the movement against tho
Americans at daybreak. It was a
far different urmy from those who
fought on the other side, instead of
n motley array of men tho British
were all In brilliant uniform. Gener
al Packenham rode on a black horse
and led his troops. He was a brave
General, if there ever was one, but
he had never led an urmy against
sharpshooters and he did not know
what he was golns against. Ho was
the target for many guns and long
before the day had grown old, both
Packenham and his black charger
had fallen mortally wounded. Sever
al of his Generals fell with him. At 8
p. m General Lambert, who had
risen to the command through the
slaughter of his superiors, led the
shattered soldiers from the field.
Several daj's later they disembarked
at Lake Boyne and left America for
ever.
The house where General Jackson
had his headquarters remained
standing until four years ago. It
was then torn down to make room
for the switch yards of the Frisco
& Rock Island railroads. Until it
was razed It was one of the show
places of Xew Orleans. Bullets still
were embedded in the wall3 of the,
place. For many years before its
destruction it was the country home
of Henry T. Beauregard.
A monument marks the battle
ground site.
Every schoolboy knows how the
American people honored Andrew
Jackson by making him President
of the United States. It is interest
ing to know what happened to the
Lafitte brothers. They were grant
ed amnesty for all they had done
before the battle and John Lafltte
became a prominent ward politician
of Xew Orleans.
An Epileptic Camp.
Life in the open air with healthy
employment Is proving 100 per cent
more beneficial in the treatment of
epilepsy than experiments with rat
tlesnake venom or other much
heralded drugs, according to the
recent report of the Pennyh anla
Epileptic Hospital and colony farm,
at Oak-bourne, Chester County.
The hospital is a little commun
ity of itself. Segregated from the
rest of the world, seventy-five pa
tients find their tasks and pleasure
nlthln the limits of the extensive
farm, and are not only improving
their physical condition, but are
making farming a practical experi
ment. There is work for every one,
whether in the fields, the dairy or
future wellbelng. I
To perfect the wnrk, Samuel "W, J
Morton, president of the hospital I
and farm, has urged that $160,000 I
be added to the present endowment I
fund. With added pr I vision for I
maintenance, it Is hoped 'that mor M
advanced work in tho "study and I
treatment of epilepsy can be car- fl
rled on.
Trails Mate Twenty-Seven Tears,
Mrs. Mary X. Grainger, an En- jfl
glish woman 50 years old, saye she I
has found In Kansas City the father B
of her two children who deserted ',M
her In Canada twenty-seven years
ago. j
Francis Grainger, the man Mrs. 1 I
Grainger claims as her mate, is mar- i I
rled and has a family. He conducts I
a hardware store at 2216 East ' I
Eighteenth street. Ho denies he I
knows Mrs. Mary Grainger. I
After traveling more than 5,000
miles and searching for her hus- 1
band for a generation, Mrs. Grain- 1
ger came to Kansas City. 1
The story told to Virgil Yates, an iJ
assistant prosecutor, sounded like a 1
passage from a novel and caused a I
warrant to be issued against Grain- J
ger, charging wife abandonment. -M
Mrs. Grainger said sho knew her I
husband as Isaac Grainger. V
"It was in England that I met him 1
near forty years ago,-' Mrs. Grain- 1
ger told the assistant prosecutor. I
"He was in the English Army and M
I was a girl who lived near a rifle
range where the soldier boys prac- ?(
"As I was WMt'-hing them one day, 'V J
with my knitting in my hand, one v, Bffj
of the soldiers came over and took
my scissors He laughingly told me
he was going to keep them. I was
llattered by his neat fitting uniform
and his smile, and I said I didn't
"That was the beginning After ! m
that I went to the rifle range often ilj
each time seeing the man I was u
beginning to love. In three years he 1 J
m m I
the truck patch. During the last
year, $i,4::3 was realized, as a re
sult of the farm produce raised. The
orchards brought in SS9.44, and
$804.13 was earned by the patients
in raising vegetables.
Girls and women at the colony
have been busy making tho vari
ous harvests profitable Jellies and
preserves are put up and enough
vegetables canned to last until next
e;ir. Sewing classes also show
splendid results and each patient
takes considerable pride In the num
ber of new dresses she is ablo to
make for her own use.
An efficient corps of social work
ers among tho patients endeavor to
Interest all In the surroundings and
increase tho homo feeling. So soon
as possible, each patient is given
responsibility for some department,
and the results show that colony
life in the country under wise and
Judicious management is solving tho
problem of epileptic care.
It is for the childrer that au
thorities of the hospital hold most
hope. With a perfectly equipped
Schoolroom and teacher, the little
onei gradually aro grasping the pos
sibilities of their environment and
building splendid foundations for
j
was discharged from service, and ll
we lived together in England for Ijl
several years Then we went to
Canada, where two children came flH
into our home. "We never were mar- f!
rled, but became husband and wife lll
under common law. 'fl
"One night, just twenty-seven
years ago last month, he left and H
never returned. I waited and watt- H
ed, hoping he would return to me.
Finally I decided to find him. I l
came to the Unjted States and when
my work permitted me, I went from ifl
city to city in search of the father i
of my children. !
"I heard he was in Kansas City fl
and T came here. I found my hus- iH
band had lived here twenty years
and was married and had children.
I went to his store and there I told
him who I was." jM
Job Missed It.
"Bout de only trouble dat Job
missed," said Uncle Bben, "was jm
runnhV fur office SB' bavin' friend I
come aroun' de mornln' after clec I J
tion to tell him whur he made hit K
mistake." Washington Post. Jfl