The battle of New Orleans was the last great military event of the second war with Great Britain. In point of fact, it was fought after a treaty had been signed by the commissioners of Great Britain and the United States, assembled for the purpose at Ghent. This battle was of immense importance. It saved the city of New Orleans from capture and plunder. General Jackson’s services on this occasion, and his difficult and perilous campaign against the Creek Indians, raised his reputation to a very high point; and subsequently occasioned his elevation to the president’s chair. After the conclusion of the treaty of Ghent, a squadron of the United States navy was sent to chastise the Barbary powers for attacking our commerce during the war with Great Britain. The Barbary powers concluded treaties without a struggle, and the country, except a few skirmishes with the Indians, remained at peace till the war with Mexico, of which we will now proceed to give some sketches. [Illustration: DEATH OF RINGGOLD.] [Illustration] THE MEXICAN WAR. BATTLE OF PALO ALTO. In the course of the year 1845, the government of the United States ordered General Taylor, with about three thousand men, to take possession of the country lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande, which country was the subject of dispute between the governments of Mexico and Texas. General Taylor reached the Rio Grande, in April, 1846. Now, the Mexican government looked upon this movement as a trespass upon their territory, and therefore declared war. Leaving a small force to occupy Fort Polk, opposite Matamoras, General Taylor, with the main body of his army, marched to Point Isabel, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Soon after, he heard that the Mexicans had commenced to bombard Fort Polk, and that General Arista, with a large body of troops, had crossed the river. There was great difference in the strength of the two armies, but General Taylor was a very determined man, and he said he would go and relieve Fort Polk, and fight whoever opposed him. He started on the morning of the 7th of May, and about two o’clock the next day, encountered the Mexicans at Palo Alto. A dreadful battle was then fought. The Mexicans were much more numerous than the Americans, but the Americans were braver soldiers, and they had some fine guns, which could be quickly moved to any part of the field. While conducting the movement of these guns, Major Ringgold, a very brave and skilful officer, was shot through both thighs and fell to the ground. To add to his sufferings, his horse fell on him. He was taken off the field, and died, after enduring great pains for two or three days. The battle was chiefly fought with the artillery. But at one time, about one thousand Mexican lancers moved forward to attack the Americans. This splendid looking body of cavalry, however, was driven back by the dreadful fire from the American guns, and the whole Mexican army retreated.