CHAPTER IV 



1815 



THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS 



The war on land generally disastrous British send ex 

 pedition against New Orleans Jackson prepares for the 

 defence of the city Night attack on the British ad 

 vance guard Artillery duels Great battle of January 

 8, 1815 Slaughtering repulse of the main attack Rout 

 of the Americans on the right bank of the river Final 

 retreat of the British Observations on the character 

 of the troops and commanders engaged 



WHILE our navy had been successful, the war 

 on land had been for us full of humiliation. 

 The United States then formed but a loosely knit 

 confederacy, the sparse population scattered over a 

 great expanse of land. Ever since the Federalist 

 party had gone out of power in 1800, the nation's 

 ability to maintain order at home and enforce respect 

 abroad had steadily dwindled ; and the twelve years' 

 nerveless reign of the Doctrinaire Democracy had 

 left us impotent for attack and almost as feeble for 

 defence. Jefferson, though a man whose views and 

 theories had a profound influence upon our national 

 life, was perhaps the most incapable Executive that 

 ever filled the presidential chair ; being almost purely 



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