美国学生历史 第116期:第二次独立战争(8)

 　　270. Jackson's Defense¹ of New Orleans, 1814-15. 270．杰克森保卫新奥尔良（1814~1815年）

　　Jackson had scarcely finished this work when he learned of the coming of a great British expedition to the mouth of the Mississippi River. 杰克森刚忙完克里克人这边的事，就听说一支强大的英国远征军来到了密西西比河的入海口，

　　He at once hastened to the defense of New Orleans. 他马上催促士兵投入保护新奥尔良之战。

　　Below the city the country greatly favored the defender². 新奥尔良城下的地形对他们极为有利，

　　For there was very little solid ground except along the river's bank. 因为除了河岸沿线很少发现有坚实的地面。

　　Picking out an especially narrow place, Jackson built a breastwork of cotton bales and rubbish. 杰克森选出一处特别窄的地方，用棉包和废物构筑一个齐腰高的工事，

　　In front of the breastwork he dug a deep ditch. 并在工事前面挖了一条深沟。

　　The British rushed to the attack. 英国人发起冲锋，

　　Most of their generals were killed or wounded, and the slaughter³ was terrible. 他们的大部分将军被杀死或负伤，战场上的拼杀异常残酷。

　　Later, they made another attack and were again beaten off. 后来，英国人再次发起攻击，但再次被打退。

　　271. The War on the Sea, 1814. 271．海战（1814年）

　　It was only in the first year or so of the war that there was much fighting between American and British warships⁴. 美英两国海军军舰之间的多数战斗都发生在战争开始后的前一两年，

　　After that the American ships could not get to sea, for the British stationed whole fleets off the entrances to the principal harbors. 此后美国的舰船再也不能出海，因为英国在主要港口入口处不远的地方安插了整编的舰队，

　　But a few American vessels⁵ ran the blockade and did good service. 但是，仍然有一些美国舰船可以冲破封锁并做出一番事业来，

　　For instance, Captain Charles Stewart in the Constitution captured two British ships at one time. But most of the warships that got to sea were captured sooner or later. 如查理斯o斯特瓦特船长指挥"宪法"号一次就捕获两艘英国船，但多数入海的美国战舰都或早或晚被英国人所捕获。

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

3 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

4 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

5 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》