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Show 564 'LIFf~ OF GEN. JACKSON. CIIAP. nor to be abandoned but for advantages evidently cerXI. tain, and which admitted not of question. To have ~ 1815, pursued, on a route protected and defended by canals, redoubts, and entrenchments, would, at least, have )Jeen adventuring upon an uncertain issue, where success was extremely problematical. Thus, at last, in total disappointment, terminated ~n invasion, from which much had been expected. Twenty-six days ago, flushed with the hope of certain victory, had tl1is army erected its standard on the banks of the Mississippi. At tlmt moment, they would have treated witl1 contempt an assertion, that in ten days iliey would not enter. tl1e city of New Orleans. How clmnged the portrait, from ilie expecteu reality! But a few days since, and iliey were confident of tl1e hour of triumph, and successful termination of ilieir labours : now, vanquished, beaten, and cut to pieces, at midnight, under cover of its darkness, they are silently abandoning their camp,-breaking to pieces their ar· tillery ,-fleeing from an enemy, who, but a little while before, tl1ey held in utter contempt, ~md submitting their wounded to his clemency. A demonstration is given, which a Briton, short of absolute proof, would have been among the last to have admitted, that fourteen thousand troops, who, oftentimes, against tl1e sternest opposition, had signalized iliemselves in battle, and marched to victory, could, under any circumstances, be beaten, and. one-third of them destroyed, by an inferior number of men, who scarcely knew how to form in cohimn, or deploy into lines: but tl1ey knew what was of infinitely more service, in nerving with strengtl1 the soldier's arm, and dispelling every LIFE OF GEN .. JACKSON. SG5 thing like fear,-that tl1ey were contending for ilieir CIIAI'. rights, against a power which was causelessly seeking XI. their destruction,-for privilege against usurpation,-~ for liberty, in opposition to oppression :-iliat they JRlS. were fighting for a country they loved, and for enjoy. ments, which, ~mce lost, could never be regained. Prompted by these considerations, they lmd entered the field, and under their influence had acted. For tl1eir toils and privations, they were amply remune-rated: tl1ey had met ilieir own and country's expectations,- had saved a city from destruction-its inhabi-tants from cruelty and dishonour, and were carrying witl1 tl1em tl1at consolation, which the recollection of a faithful discharge of duty- never fails to inspire, The_re was no certainty that the contest was finally ended. The enemy had indeed retired, and, " for the present," relinquished further operations against tl1c country : but of what continuance their forbearance might be, wheilier they would not avail themselves of the first flattering opportunity, to renew the struggle, and wipe off the stain of a defeat so wholly unexpected, could not be doubted. The hopes and expectations indulged, in England, of the success of this expedition, had inspired the whole army ; and failure had never been anticipated. They had now retired; yet, from their convenient situation, and hav, ing command of tl1e surrounding waters, it was in their power, at a short notice, to re-appear, at the same, or some more favourable point,-causc a repetition of the hardships already encountered, and perhaps succeed in ilie accomplishment of their views. These considerations led general Jackson to conelud<', that, al- |