The American Flag Daily: The Battle Of New Orleans

Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, the final major battle of the War of 1812, fought in 1815 after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in Europe but before this fact was discovered by forces in this battle. The American victory over the British in this battle raised American morale in the final days of the war and also made Andrew Jackson a household name. In honor of the American victory, we raise the Star-Spangled Banner today, the flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes which was the standard during the War of 1812.

One of my ancestors was a political opponent many years standing of Andrew Jackson. Another was his surgeon at the Battle of New Orleans and the attending physician at the death of his wife. We’ve got all opinions of the man covered.

I had a couple of ancestors who fought in the Battle of New Orleans.

One had been off living in the Barataria with Jean Lafitte, and that crew showed up on the day of the battle with some cannon. Uncharitable sorts accuse these Baratarians of being ‘pirates’.

I’ve always found it interesting how the war of 1812 seems to be the war almost no one these days knows about.

Yup. Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans seems to have convinced many Americans it's a war we won.

Actual fact is that thru most of the war (most) American forces performed pathetically. Given the correlation of available forces, US should have conquered Canada easily in the first year.

It is appalling that a British general could burn our capital with a raiding party of less than 5000 (!) men. Utter incompetence by all the leaders responsible for the defense of DC, starting with Madison. He was a great Founder, but he was far and away the worst war president in our history.

There were magnificent exceptions to the general story of American incompetence, especially in the Navy, and the Army improved greatly towards the end of the war.

In defense of the American Army, its military history since shows nothing even vaguely resembling the poor performance of early days in the War of 1812.

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