The Battle of New Orleans 217 



one object of defending New Orleans. No man 

 could have been better fitted for the task. He had 

 hereditary wrongs to avenge on the British, and 

 he hated them with an implacable fury that was ab 

 solutely devoid of fear. Born and brought up among 

 the lawless characters of the frontier, and knowing 

 well how to deal with them, he was able to establish 

 and preserve the strictest martial law in the city 

 without in the least quelling the spirit of the citizens. 

 To a restless and untiring energy he united sleepless 

 vigilance and genuine military genius. Prompt to 

 attack whenever the chance offered itself, seizing 

 with ready grasp the slightest vantage-ground, and 

 never giving up a foot of earth that he could keep, 

 he yet had the patience to play a defensive game 

 when it so suited him, and with consummate skill 

 he always followed out the scheme of warfare that 

 was best adapted to his wild soldiery. In after years 

 he did to his country some good and more evil ; but 

 no true American can think of his deeds at New 

 Orleans without profound and unmixed thank 

 fulness. 



He had not reached the city till December 2d, and 

 had therefore but three weeks in which to prepare 

 the defence. The Federal Government, throughout 

 the campaign, did absolutely nothing for the defence 

 of Louisiana; neither provisions nor munitions of 

 war of any sort were sent to it, nor were any meas- 



VOL. X. J 



