Andrew Jackson the appointment of major-general in the United States army, and marked him as the man to defend New Orleans and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico against the threatened British invasion. He hastened to Mobile, which place he reached August 15, and proceeded to strengthen the defenses at that point. Having been reinforced by 2,800 fresh volunteers from Tennessee under General Coffee, and learning that a British force was occupying Pensacola, he crossed the Spanish line, in disobedience of orders, and entered Pensacola November 7, 1814, driving the British from the town and from Fort Barrancas. It was known that a British land and naval force was collecting in the West Indies for the invasion of the Southern States, but it could only be conjectured at what point the landing would be at tempted. Jackson now made his dispositions to meet the attack. Leaving a portion of his force at Mobile, he moved with the remainder to New Orleans. The result is historic and needs no recital here. Mr. Theodore Roosevelt thus refers to the defense of New Orleans, and its defender: "But greater credit still belongs to Andrew Jackson, who, with his cool head and quick eye, his stout heart and strong hand, stands out in history as the ablest general the United States produced, from the out break of the Revolution down to the beginning of the great rebellion. " (Naval War 1812, p. 493.) The expedition under Pakenham had been designed to drive the United States from all Florida and Louisiana. Be fore the battle of New Orleans, however, the plans of Great Britain had undergone an important change, and peace had already been made.
In addition to this, events were taking place in the United States, tending to a crisis in the affairs of government. New England was approaching a state of revolt. A sentiment of violent opposition to the administration had grown up in the Northeast. This sentiment seems to have been founded on a variety of motives. It
