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Show S52 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. than either authority or duty. On the present occaX. sian, this resort was not omitted; and inducements ~were held out, than which nothing more inviting 1815' could be off.:;red to an infuriated soldiery.* Let it ~::~;:" be remembered of that gallant but misguided general, word. .who has been so much deplored by tl1e British nation, that to the cupidity of his soldiers, he promised the wealtl1 of the city, as a recompense for their gallantry and desperation ; while, with brutal licentiousness, they were to revel in lawless indulgence, and triumph, un· controlled, over female innocence. Scenes like these, our nation, dishonoured and insulted, had already witnessed; she had witnessed 'them at Hampton and Havre- de-Grace: but it was reserved for her yet to learn that an officer of high standing, polished, generous, and brave, should, to induce his soldiers to acts of daring valour, permit them, as a reward, to insult, injure, and debase, those whom all mankind, even savages, reverence and respect. The history of Europe, since civilized warfare began, is challenged to afford an instance of such gross depravity ,-such wanton outrage on the morals and dignity of society. Englis~ writers may deny the correctness of tl1e charge ; 1t certainly interests them to do so : but its authe.nticity is too well established to admit of doubt, wlule its ~riminality is increased, from being the act of a people, who hold themselves up to surrounding nations, as examples of every thing that -is correct and proper. • ''Booty and beaut!!,'• \vas the watch word. of Sir Edward Packenham's army. in 1hf' battle of the 8th. LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 355 The events of this day afford abundant evidence CHAP. of the liberality of the American soldiers, and show a X. ~ striking difference in the troops of the two nations. 1815• While one were allured to acts of bravery and duty, by the promised pillage and plunder of the inhabitants, and the commission of crimes abhorrent in the sight of earth and heaven; tl1e ot11er fought but for his coun-try, and, having repelled her assailants, iostantly forgot all enmity, viewed his fallen foe as a brother, and hastened to assist him, even at the hazard of hi~ own life. The gallantry of the British soldiers, and no people could have displayed greater, had brought ma-ny of them even to our ramparts, where, shot down by our troops, they were lying badly wounded. When Generos;. the frring had ceased, and the columns had retired, ty of the our troops, witl1 generous benevolence, advanced over ;~'!:J~~~~~· their lines, to assist and bring io the wounded, which lay under and near the walls ; when, strange to tell, the enemy, from the ditch they occupied, opened a fire -upon them, and, though at a considerable distance, succeed~d in wounding several. It was enough for our generous soldiers, that they were doing an act which the benevolence of their hearts approved, and, with charitable perseverance, they continued to admi-nister to the wants of these suffering men, and to carry them witl1in their lines, although, in their efforts, they were continually exposed to danger. Let the apologist for crime say, wherefore were acts thus unpardonable committed against men, who were administering to the wants, and relieving the sufferings of the dying countrymen of those, who thus repaid the most laud-able humanity, with wanton and useless cruelty. ,. y y |
