1815, January 26 GENERAL ORDERS ISSUED TO THE MILITIA BY GOVERNOR W. C. C. CLAIBORNE (printed broadside). D. I p. French. Mortimer. The Governor and Commander-in-Chief congratulates the State Militia for expelling the enemy, whose audacity caused them to invade our land and threaten our capital. Filled with a tremendous gratitude for the particular protection that Divine Providence has granted us, we do not cease to render justice to the distinguished fighting qualities of the United States's army and navy, and time will never erase from our memory the services rendered by the heroes from the States of Tennessee and Kentucky and also from the Mississippi Territory, who came just in time to give us their powerful help. It is now that we recognize the advantages of that union which makes of us one people only; it is our strength, the shield, the bulwark that protects us. It has been the object of our fathers' most tender care, and it will be worthily valued and maintained by their descendants. The States who have acquired such vast claims to Louisiana's gratitude through the help they brought will learn with pleasure that Louisiana has been faithful to the union and faithful to itself. It has brought into play all the means of defense it possessed. A pleasant harmony in thought and act reigned between the Government and the people. Everywhere there is the same spirit and while all of the people wished for the internal and external safety of the State, they were active in preserving it. The Governor and Commander-in-Chief has already rendered justice to the celerity with which the last requisition made by the President of the United States for a part of the Louisiana Militia has been executed, and to the zeal displayed by the brave volunteers of Feliciana, the Attakapas, and Rapides who rushed to assemble under their country's flag. It is with pleasure mixed with pride that he remembers the promptness with which his subsequent orders were executed calling all of the Militia into active service, as well as that noble desire, expressed by many and manifested by all, to be led against the enemy. Should it be possible for him to single out any particular corps who surpassed the others by its patriotism, he would remind the young Louisianians of the glorious example set by their fathers. Never will he forget that in answer to his call, heads of families throughout the whole state whose age and infirmities exempted them from military service assembled into military companies and, equipped as soldiers, took charge of maintaining calm within the State while their sons rushed to fight the enemy. The Governor feels the highest satisfaction in seeing that part of the Louisiana militia who fought in the memorable battles of December 23 and January 8 deserved and received the dis- tinguished recognition of the General-in-Chief. He believes that if fate had permitted the other corps of that State's Militia to play a part in those glorious actions, they would have equally deserved their country's gratitude. When a general call to arms was sounded on the 23rd, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief himself witnessed the eagerness with which the First, Second, and Fourth Regiments of New Orleans Militia and the cavalry of Captain Chauveau, commanded by Brigadier General Labatut, went to the rendezvous, the enthusiasm they manifested when they received the order to attack, and the steadfast firmness which shone in their eyes. He shared the regret and the displeasure felt by the detachment when its route was changed and an order was given for it to take its stand on the Gentilly road. When the defense of a State is at stake, all of its strategic points have to be guarded. It would have been too risky to assemble all of the available forces in one locality. It is true that it is on a battlefield that a soldier can prove more visibly how well inclined he is to sacrifice his life for his country, but in fulfilling his duties with pleasure and constancy before the hour of danger, he furnishes the assurance that, when this hour comes, he will fulfill them just as loyally. When troops obey their generals' orders, when they gladly hurry to their assigned posts and wait there with firmness for all of the dangers that may threaten them, nothing more can be asked from them; they have done their duties well and they deserve their country's approval. Such was the conduct of the various detachments of this State's Militia that were stationed on the Gentilly road, at the point of Chef Menteur, Fort St. John, the Little Coquilles [Shell Beach], Chifoncte [Tchefuncte], Lafourche, on the Teche, at Baton Rouge, and elsewhere. The officers, non-commissioned officers and privates who made up these detachments have earned the gratitude of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, who offers them his sincere thanks.he volunteers who were invited on December 17th [20th?] to assemble under the flag of the United States have fulfilled their duties. The General-in-Chief has rendered homage to their ability and their courage and the Governor, faithful to his promise, has already informed the President of their courageous behavior on the battlefield. It is with eagerness that the Commander-in-Chief seizes the present opportunity to urgently recommend to the Militia of that State not to diminish the efforts made up to this day, to acquire perfection in military arts, to maintain complete harmony among its members, and to try to strike up a mutual friendship with their fellow countrymen from the west, who endured great deprivations and risked so many dangers by their cooperation to their defense of that part of the Union. Our enemies are still on our coasts; their leaders are eager to avenge themselves on our dear country. They may still attempt to invade Louisiana, to break the ties uniting it to the great American family, but its brave defenders will never fail. Louisiana will never step down from the high rank it has just reached; the spirit animating it will always guide its children along the path of virtue, patriotism, and glory. The honorable manner in which heads of families behaved has already been mentioned, but there is another circumstance we will never forget: it is the interesting and truly admirable conduct of this amiable sex whose smiles soothe life's misfortunes and whose charms add another price to the benefits of liberty. The sincere wishes and the fond memory of that enchanting sex accompanied soldiers to battlefields; it was thanks to their delicate hands that a sentinel during cold wintry nights had his protective clothes; it was those same hands that brought comfort to soldiers who were still suffering from bloody wounds. Let us thank the Supreme Being! Fighting has ceased for the present. Thousands of dead enemies covered our plains while a small number, yes, a very small number of our liberators will never return to their families and friends. God was willing to favor our cause; it was among the ones He likes to protect because it is a just cause. The Governor and Commander-in-Chief does not claim any other privilege for himself than to have shared with his fellow citizens that feeling of honorable patriotism which inspired all of them and to have sincerely been inclined to do all that his moral and physical faculties enabled him to do for the public good. When he was called to act, at any time, in any place, he has found all of his staff eager to assist him; all of them can be assured that the confidence and esteem they had already inspired in him only became greater and stronger. General Joseph Alvarez de Toledo's conduct deserves special men- tion; this worthy foreigner, as a volunteer aide and engineer, rendered services that are highly and justly appreciated. WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE
