The outcome at New Orleans was obvious. The general commanding the British Army was an idiot who decided to assault the walls with ladders that were known to be too short and refused to delay the attack. He ended up being deservedly killed in the disaster of his own making.
Having said that, Britain did win the last battle of the war by taking Fort Bowyer just before the planned assault on Mobile, Alabama. It was only then the word reached that the war was over, and the British left...
Not exactly. The British general was Edward Pakenham, who had fought under Napoleon throughout the Peninsular War against Napoleon, and had been highly successful and honored for it. He was most definitely not the stereotypical upper-class British officer twit.
Jackson, however, outthought, outfought and outmaneuvered him throughout the campaign. And Pakenham was indeed let down by some of his subordinates. The length of the ladders, while an example of incompetence, made little practical difference, since the troops carrying the too-short ladders threw them down and ran away before they got them to the wall.
The British had about 8000 men in the battle, the Americans 3000. The Brits had about 2000 casualties, the Americans 71, making this one of the most severe defeats in all British military history.
Which just went to prove it's generally a bad idea to attack across an open field into the fire of the best riflemen in the world.
Not exactly. The Brits were in the position they were because of Jackson's maneuvering and resistance.
At the battle itself the British had 8000 men, the Americans about 3000. British casualties were about 2000, while Americans lost 71.
This was one of the most severe defeats in British military history. It just goes to show that it is generally a bad idea to advance 1/4 mile across an open field into the fire of the best riflemen in the world.