This operation was completed on the 7th, and the next morning fixed for the assault, which was to take place on both banks at the same time. The 8th of January will long be memorable in the annals of the American republic. The preservation of an important city from plunder and violation; the defeat and destruction of the most powerful army that ever landed on the American shores, by a band of undisciplined militia-such were the consequences of the events of this day. Having detached a strong party to the right bank, under Colonel Thornton, the British commander moved early in the morning with his remaining force to the assault, in two divisions, under Generals Gibbs and Keen, the reserve being commanded by General Lambert. When they arrived within reach of the batteries, a heavy cannonade was opened, and as they approached nearer, a stream of well-directed fire from the unerring rifles of the militia, carried destruction into their ranks. After vainly attempting to advance, the assailants broke and fled in confusion. A second time did they approach the ditch, with equal ill success. A third attempt was made to bring them to the charge, but such was the havoc made among their officers, and in their ranks, that nothing could induce them to return. Their commander-in-chief had been killed; Generals Keen and Gibbs were severely wounded, and the plain was strewed with the dead and dying. In this state of things, General Lambert, upon whom the command had devolved, determined to give up the contest, and, collecting together the remains of his army, returned to camp. The attack on the right bank had in the meantime been made, and was attended with greater success. The body of undisciplined militia by which it was defended, had ingloriously fled, through fear of being outflanked, and the enemy quickly obtained possession of their works. The defeat on the left bank, however, left the enemy little disposition to profit by this advantage; and a stratagem of General Jackson induced him to abandon it. General Lambert having proposed an armistice, the proposal was agreed to by the American commander, with a condition that it should not extend to the right bank, to which no t reinforcements should be sent by either party. Deceived by this reservation, which led him to suppose that the Americans had been reinforced in that quarter, General Lambert withdrew his troops, and the lines were immediately re-occupied by General Jackson. Never, perhaps, was a victory gained with a greater disproportion of loss than on this occasion. Of the Americans, only 7 were killed and 6 wounded; while of the enemy, upwards of 2000, including almost all their general officers, were killed, wounded or prisoners. The patriot is often compelled to weep over the carnage by which his country has been delivered from foreign invasion; but how exquisite is his gratification, when that holy end is effected with little bloodshed, and when, in the beautiful language of the defender of New Orleans, "Not a cypress leaf is interwoven with the wreath of triumph." The loss of human life is always to be regretted; but humanity itself must cease to lament, when those whose purpose is violation, plunder, and destruction, perish in the attempt to effect their object. The enemy had been equally unsuccessful in his endeavour to force a passage up the Mississippi. A part of the British fleet entered that river, and anchored opposite fort St. Philip, on which they commenced a cannonade on the 9th of January, which was continued until the 17th, when, finding that no impression was made, they gave up the contest and retired from the river. From this place, they proceeded to Mobile bay, where the remainder of the fleet had assembled, with the troops of General Lambert, which had re-embarked after their repulse from New Orleans. Fort Bowyer was invested by this formidable force on the 18th of February, and surrendered on the 11th of March. The garrison, to the number of 366, were made prisoners of war. The news of peace, which arrived soon after this event, put a period to all further hostility. The following is from a number of Niles' Register, issued on the arrival of part of the glad tidings of the victory at New Orleans: "Advance our waving colours on the walls! "Glorious News from New Orleans. "Glory be to God, that the barbarians have been defeated, and that, at Orleans, the intended plunderers have found their grave! Glory to Jackson, Carrol, and Coffee, and the hardy and gallant Tennesseeans, Kentuckians and Louisianians, who seized opportunity by the forelock' to 'demonstrate' what freemen can do in defence of their altars and firesides. Glory to the militia, that the soldiers of Wellington,' the boastful conquerors of the legions of France, have shrunk from the liberty-directed bullets of the high-souled sons of the west! Sons of freedom-saviours of Orleans-benefactors of your country and avengers of its wrongs, all hail! Hail, glorious people-worthy, thrice worthy, to enjoy the blessings which Heaven, in bounteous profusion, has heaped on your country! Never may its luxuriant soil be trodden unrevenged by insolent foreigners in arms!" The news of the victory of New Orleans was soon followed by that of a treaty of peace, which was signed at Ghent, on the 24th of December, 1814. On the 17th of February, this treaty was ratified by the President and Senate. The Dey of Algiers, who had committed many depredations on our commerce, was soon after brought to his senses, by a terrible castigation which he received from our naval heroes. In this war, Commodore Decatur showed himself one of the greatest naval warriors that any age or country ever produced. PART V. THE FLORIDA WAR. CHAPTER I. Character of the War-Distinguished Officers engaged in it-Indian CouncilSketches showing the general Character of the Fighting in Florida, "Austere remembrance of the deed will hang Upon its delicate spirit like a cloud, And tinge its world of happy images THE Florida war consisted in the killing of Indians, because they refused to leave their native home-to hunt them amid the forests and swamps, from which they frequently issued to attack the intruders. To go or not to go, that was the question; and although it was unjust on the part of our government to drive the original occupants from their homes, yet the officers engaged in that war are not responsible for such injustice, as they did their duty in obeying the government. Among these, the most conspicuous are Generals Scott, Jessup, Gaines, Clinch, Worth, &c. Many a brave man lost his life and now sleeps beneath the sod of Florida. And yet neither these nor the heroes who exposed themselves there to so many dangers and sufferings, could acquire any military glory in such a war. For this reason, even if our space would admit of it, we should not enter into a detail of the campaigns, as they would be dull and uninteresting.-And now to the Indians. It would seem very doubtful from the following proceedings in a council held at fort King, whether it was the determination of some of the chiefs, who were now hostile, to persist in their opposition to removal, provided they could be so far separated from the influence of the Creek councils as to leave them in the enjoyment of their hereditary possessions; or that the President would allow them a separate agent, to watch over their interests and protect them from the encroachments of other tribes: for it is obvious that their greatest objections to leaving Florida have been based upon the liability of losing their slaves when they should have removed to the new country. In all their councils, this subject has been discussed, over and over again, and again reiterated even to the last day recommendation after recommendation has followed from agents and friends of the government, but these solicitations have been responded to by the cry of "economy." "Economy in the administration of our government is the order of the day;" and thus the sacred rights of the Indian have been bartered away in the endeavours of the government to preserve the vain boasting of "retrenchment and reform." This council was convened, on the 19th day of August, 1835, at the request of the undernamed chiefs, and sub-chiefs, and the talk was delivered in the presence of several of the officers stationed at fort King. Kolata Amathla was then requested by the chiefs to address the officers, and make known to their great father, through |