“I asked General Jackson, General Adair and General Coffee, the latter having the immediate command of a brigade of Tennessee and Kentucky sharpshooters, whose long rifles mainly did the work of death, if there were cotton bales used at all, and they all answered that the only works the Americans had were of earth, about two and a half feet high, rudely constructed of fence-rails and logs laid twenty-four inches apart, and the space between them filled with earth, and if there had been any works constructed from cotton bales they must have known it.”  General Harney was made by the Washington Herald to say that in 1825 he was promoted to captain in the first infantry, and sent to Nashville, Tennessee, to recruit for his regiment, and while there he met with Generals Jackson and Coffee, from whom he obtained many points of the battle which have never been in print.

Fernando had seen no service since leaving Mariana on the Maryland coast.  His riflemen were eager to meet the foe; but in the night encounter they had been detailed to guard the city, and preserve the peace.  Day by day they had expected the enemy to advance to the attack; but the 7th of January, 1815, passed, and the British had not yet moved to the attack, further than some skirmishing and cannonading.  On the night of the 7th, the Americans slept on their arms, for they knew Packenham would not long delay.  The memorable morning of January 8, 1815, dawned at last.

There was a heavy fog on the river, and the British troops had actually formed and were advancing before Jackson had made his arrangements.  Fernando had just roused Sukey, who, having been on guard most of the night, slept late, when he saw General Jackson on his white horse gallop up to where General Coffee and his staff stood.  At this moment the fog lifted a little, and the formation of the British army was seen, and Fernando heard Jackson exclaim: 

“By G—­, they are ours!”

“They are coming, Sukey!” said Fernando.  “Get your gun!”.

“Won’t they give me time to eat my breakfast?” Sukey asked.

“I am afraid not.”

At this moment, Job, who was Fernando’s cook, came running forward with some broiled beefsteak on the end of a ramrod.  He gave it to Sukey and said: 

“Heah, massa, take dis an’ chomp um down foh dey git near enough to fight.  I’s gwine ter git my gun an’ teach ’em dis chile ain’t got no Angler Saxun blood in his veins.”

Sukey presented an odd figure, for he wore no uniform.  His head was covered with an old, low, broad-brimmed hat.  He sat on the carriage of a brass gun near and ate his breakfast, while watching the enemy advance to the attack.