The Battle of New Orleans 299 



lutely false, to the extent of even reversing the 

 relative strength of the combatants on Lake Cham- 

 plain, where the Americans won, although with an 

 inferior force. In the one noteworthy British vic- 

 tory, that of the Shannon, all British authors fail 

 to make any allowance for the vital fact that the 

 Shannon's crew had been drilled for seven years, 

 whereas the Chesapeake had an absolutely new crew, 

 and had been out of port just eight hours; yet such 

 a difference in length of drill is more important than 

 disparity in weight of metal. 



As a whole, it must be said that both sides showed 

 equal courage and resolution; that the Americans 

 usually possessed the advantage in material force; 

 and that they also showed a decided superiority in 

 fighting skill, notably in marksmanship. 



END OP VOLUME TEN 



