This little command lying behind the lines at Chalmette received the attack of 6,000 men. Over 2,000 of the British attacking column were sacrificed, and Jackson remained master of the field, with a loss of seventy-one.

This brilliant success proved that Jackson was a good soldier, which in due time helped to make him President of the United States. It proved also that American militia behind breastworks could repel the attacks of twice their number of experienced soldiers who had recently helped to overthrow Napoleon.

CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE
From the painting by Gilbert Stuart

The greatest result of the War of 1812 was to make the Americans realize at once their weakness and their strength. Just at the end of the war Robert Fulton put on the waters of the Hudson a steamship of war, forerunner of the majestic steam fleets of today. Our forefathers suffered for want of roads by which they could convey their armies and their supplies to the frontiers. Therefore they set out to remedy that condition, and four years after the peace they had the Cumberland Road completed from the upper Potomac to the Ohio River. Six years later the Erie Canal was opened to Lake Erie. The people had suffered for want of a national bank during the war: in 1816 Congress created one. Their trade had been disturbed for over twenty years: in 1816 they passed a tariff, designed to establish American manufactures. War, and especially such a disappointing war as that of 1812, has many bad effects upon a nation; but it does strengthen the feeling of a common danger and a common duty.

WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE
Commodore in the United States Navy.
From the portrait by J.W. Jarvis

The War of 1812 also for the first time gave the United States an unquestioned place in the sisterhood of modern nations. Though the population in 1815 was only about eight and a half millions, the success of the navy inspired a wholesome respect for Yankee ships and Yankee sailors. In place of the captured ships a new merchant marine was quickly provided, which developed into the famous clipper ships, the triumph of American skill and the glory of the seas. From this time dates the friendship of several European nations, particularly of Russia, whose Czar Alexander was a friend and correspondent of Thomas Jefferson.

THE "CHESAPEAKE" LEAVING THE HARBOR
Captain Lawrence, commanding the "Chesapeake," was mortally wounded, and his vessel was captured by the "Shannon" off Boston Roads. It was in this engagement that he uttered his famous words, "Don't give up the ship." From a painting by Carlton T. Chapman
From "Naval Actions of the War of 1812," by James Barnes.
Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers

Our former enemy, Great Britain, was converted into a respectful friend who saw the advantages of friendship. The proof is that eight years later George Canning asked the United States to join in a declaration with Great Britain in favor of the Latin-American States; and the idea developed into our independent Monroe Doctrine. The American people were entitled to forget their weakness and defeats; for the net result of the War of 1812 was to inspire the greatest naval and colonial power in the world with a respect for American character and an acceptance of the United States as a great National power.

THE "CONSTITUTION" TAKING THE "CYANE"
The "Cyane" was one of the crack sloops of war in the English service. The "Constitution" after a running fight captured both this ship and the "Levant." From a painting by Carlton T. Chapman
From "Naval Actions of the War of 1812," by James Barnes.
Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By Henry Adams

THE LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON

By John Spencer Bassett

THE NAVAL WAR OF 1812

By Theodore Roosevelt

A FULL AND CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE MILITARY OCCURRENCES OF THE LATE WAR BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By William James

THE CANADIAN WAR OF 1812

By Charles Prestwood Lucas

SEA POWER IN ITS RELATIONS TO THE WAR OF 1812

By Alfred Thayer Mahan

RISE OF AMERICAN NATIONALITY, 1811–1819

By Kendric Charles Babcock

NAVAL ACTIONS OF THE WAR OF 1812

By James Barnes

⁂ Information concerning the above books and articles may be had on application to the Editor of The Mentor.

THE OPEN LETTER

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

If the telegraph had been in existence a century ago, the battle of New Orleans would not have taken place. It was unique in history as a battle fought after a war was over. And it was the only real victory won by the land forces of America in the War of 1812. It was one of the most conclusive battles in history, and a brilliant demonstration of the military ability of Andrew Jackson. General Jackson believed in preparedness. During the second year of the War of 1812 he learned that the British planned to invade Louisiana, so he concentrated troops four miles below New Orleans in a line of entrenchments a mile in length, extending from the Mississippi River far into the swamp, making both ends impassable. Jackson had 3,500 expert marksmen at his command. They were a strange mixture of men, including long-limbed, hard-faced backwoodsmen, Portuguese and Norwegian seamen, dark-skinned Spaniards and swarthy Frenchmen, besides about 1,000 militiamen selected from the Creoles of Louisiana. They were a rough and violent lot. Theodore Roosevelt characterizes them as: "Soldiers who, under an ordinary commander, would have been fully as dangerous to