ach to the wretch who could deprive them by
his cowardice of those invaluable blessings.

* * * *

"TO THE MEN OF COLOR.--Soldiers! From the shores of Mobile I
collected you to arms,--I invited you to share in the perils
and to divide the glory of your white countrymen. I expected
much from you; for I was not uninformed of those qualities
which must render you so formidable to an invading foe. I
knew that you could endure hunger and thirst, and all the
hardships of war. I knew that you loved the land of your
nativity, and that, like ourselves, you had to defend all
that is most dear to man. But you surpass my hopes. I have
found in you, united to these qualities, that noble
enthusiasm which impels to great deeds.

"Soldiers! The President of the United States shall be
informed of your conduct on the present occasion; and the
voice of the Representatives of the American nation shall
applaud your valor, as your General now praises your ardor.
The enemy is near. His sails cover the lakes. But the brave
are united; and, if he finds us contending among ourselves,
it will be for the prize of valor, and fame its noblest
reward."--_Niles's Register_, vol. vii. pp. 345, 346.

Thus in line with the white troops on the soil of Louisiana, amid a
large slave population, the negro soldiers were highly praised by the
commanding General. The British had already made their appearance on the
coast near the mouth of the Mississippi, and at the time of their
landing, General Jackson went out to meet them with two thousand one
hundred men; the British had two thousand four hundred. This was on the
23rd of December. The two armies met and fought to within a few miles of
the city, where the British general, Pakenham, who had arrived with
reinforcements, began on the 31st to lay siege. On Jan. 8th the short
but terrible struggle took place which not only taxed the energies and
displayed the great courage of both forces, but made the engagement one
of historic interest. In the short space of twenty-five minutes seven
hundred of the British were killed; fourteen hundred were wounded and
four hundred were taken prisoners. The American army was so well
protected that only four were killed and thirteen wounded. It was in
this great battle that two battalions of negroes participated, and
helped to save the city, the