The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Collection Reference Number GLC01825
From Archive Folder Documents Relating to 1828 
Title Monumental Inscriptions!
Date 4 July 1828
Author Binns, John (1772-1860)  
Document Type Broadside
Content Description Depicts 6 fictitious funeral monuments, each to a militiamen executed by Jackson on 21 February 1815, after the Battle of New Orleans, for being deserters. The tombstones bear inscriptions detailing how each was a good man and soldier, and regardless of this, was "By the Orders of General Andrew Jackson, Shot to Death." Each monument was supposedly erected on 4 July, 1828. One monument reminds the reader "Let not the splendor of Military renown Blot out from your indignant recollection this bloody deed DONE BY A HERO." Includes a verse at the bottom entitled "Mournful Tragedy." Jackson had not actually ordered the men to be shot, but had signed off on the military court's verdict. Used as Anti-Jackson campaign propaganda in the 1828 presidential election, a campaign full of personal attacks on slanders on both candidates. Binns is attributed as the author of a like-named piece which bears the same text at the American Antiquarian Society (Shoemaker 32382). GLC08460 contains almost identical text in pamphlet form.
Subjects Battle of New Orleans  President  War of 1812  Militia  Desertion  Military History  Military Law  Death  Death Penalty  Monument  Propaganda  Election  Politics  Journalism  Battle  
People Binns, John (1772-1860)  Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845)  
Place written Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Theme The Presidency; Government & Politics; War of 1812
Sub-collection The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information John Binns published the "Democratic Press" in Philadelphia, a paper that opposed Jackson.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Related documents Monumental Inscriptions.