JACKSON AND NEW ORLEANS - 1856 - I N T R O D U C T I O N - T r r mis no campaign in modern military history, which, for its txtent, was more complete in all its parts, and more brilliant in its results, than that conducted by Andrem Jackson in 1814-15, in the defence of New Orleans. In the brief period of twenty-six days, a town of less than eighteen thousand inhabitants, including all sexes and ages, without forts-natural or artificial defences-exposed to approach and attack on all sides, by land and water-with an army of less than five thousand militia, hastily raised en nzasse, and illy armed and accoutredwas not only successfully defended against a veteran army of ten t. hous nd of the best soldiers in the world, but was made forever glorious by the most brilliant victory, which has been achieved since the illrention of gunpowder. The peculiarities of this victory are the astonishing and unprecedented disparity of loss betweeu the combatants, and the. marvellous proofs of steadiness, of skill and rapidity in the use of fire-arms, displayed by the American militia. The splendor of the closing victory has obscured many features of this campaign, which contribute2 largely to the final result, and, as valuable lessons and glorious illustrations of the valor of our citizen soldiers, and of the genius of the great Chief and Hero-whose lofty soul was the fountain of inspiration, from which all engaged in that defence, drew courage, confidkoee, and patriotic resolution-ought not to be forgotten or hastily glanced over. These sketches have been written with the hope of preventing such unpatriotic lapses of memory in the present generation. t believed that the campaign of 181615 has not received full justice, in the narratives, which have been published, the numerous merits of have been marred by serious errors. By comparing these various versions and by constant consultations with those, who played prominent parts on both sides in this drama, it is believed that the folloming account, which does not aspire to the dignity of history, and is divested of cumbrous details and of military technicalities, is as faithful and exact as it is practicable to render a narrative of this description. There are in most of the h, istories of this campaign, errors of a serious character, which ought to be corrected before the evidence thereof has or disappeared. Personal and political feeling and prejudice, which, in so many histories, have warped and tinged the facts of this epoch, have been studiously excluded from the mind of the writer of these sketches. His sole desire has been to do full justice to American valor and patriotism, and to present truthful and vivia pictures of that memorable defence, and of the conduct of he great t Chief, vhos, pringing from the people, a frontier warrior, without science, art or experience in military affairs, was enabled through the smiles of Providence, by his stout heart, his sagacious intellect, and ardent patriotism, to repel, punish, and nearly destroy one of the best appointed armies ever sent forth by the greatest Power of the earth... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.