Posted on 01/06/2018 11:45:25 AM PST by NonValueAdded
[British General Edward] Pakenham delayed his main assault until Jan 8, when he had brought up nearly 10,000 men, and planned to attack with about 5,500, keeping the rest in reserve.
[snip]
The men on both sides knew an attack was planned on the 8th. Jackson, clearly felt that some sort of night attack was coming . Jackson, was awakened by a messenger who arrived from Morgan across the river, requesting more troops. Morgan and Patterson could see some activity by the British on the river and feared they were going to send a large force across the river to bypass Jackson and recross the river to take New Orleans .Jackson told the messenger to report back that he had no men to spare and that he was confident the main attack would be against his line. Jackson looked at his watch. It was 1:00 a.m. He then awoke his aides, telling them the enemy would be upon them in a few minutes . At 4:00 a.m. General Adair marched his marched his 1,000 Kentucky militia about 50 yards behind the American line as a reserve.
(Excerpt) Read more at battleofneworleans.org ...
Victory Celebration
There was a grand victory celebrating in New Orleans on Jan 23. The center of the public square, in front of the Cathedral, where the equestrian statue of Jackson now stands, was erected a temporary triumphal arch, supported by six Corinthian columns, and festooned with flowers and evergreens. Beneath the arch stood two beautiful little girls, each upon a pedestal, and holding in her hand a civic crown of laurel. Near them stood two damsels, one personifying Liberty and the other Justice. From the arch to the church, arranged in two rows, stood beautiful girls, all dressed in white, and each covered with a blue gauze veil and bearing a silver star on her brow. These personified the several States and Territories of the Union. At the appointed time, General Jackson, accompanied by the officers of his staff, passed through the gate of the Grand Square fronting the river, amid the roar of artillery, and was conducted between lines of Plauché’s New Orleans battalion of Creoles (which extended from the gate to the church) to the raised floor of the arch. As he stepped upon it the two little girls leaned gently forward and placed the laurel crown upon his head. A Te Deum was held in St. Louis Cathedral.
Battle of New Orleans ping
Please FreepMail me if you want to be added to or removed from this somewhat low volume ping list. Ping requests gladly accepted.
Also note that posts pertaining to The War of 1812 will carry the keyword 1812 (clickable) for your searching pleasure.
Wasn’t the battle fought two weeks after the war end d?
All I know about the war of 1812 is from Johnny Horton.
Yes, but news traveled much slower back then.
I lived in new Orleans in the early 60’s. Jackson Square, with the iconic statue of Andrew Jackson and the Saint Louis Cathedral was my favorite place!
I got the correct answer to a history quiz based on that song.
I missed the one about who the combatants were in the Spanish-American War.
Yep. An absolutely cruel twist of fate...Hundreds of good soldiers killed, thousands maimed, fighting a war that had already ended.
Did anyone attend the 200th anniversary celebration (assuming there must have been one)? Your report would be most welcome here.
I hope the statue is still standing and did not fall victim to that feeding frenzy.
It were better did the author employ a proofreader.
Never mind the news could not make it in time - it was not RATIFIED by American Congress either until March or April. So even if they knew about BRITS signing it, it was not fully valid.
Yes, the secessionist thing is something post-CW Yankees want everyone to forget, and henceforth think secession is somehow “treasonous” or “unconstitutional”. BS.
Speaking of “common knowledge” of 1812 history, no one really appreciates what happened at Baltimore. Battle of BALTIMORE, not “Ft. McHenry” which gained overarching fame just due to a song.
This stopped the Brits in their tracks and they didn’t get anywhere in the “mainland” so turned sights on the outskirts.
Baltimore and environs dug and fortified a 5-MILE-LONG “trench” north of the harbor from where the Ft. would be. After much regular fighting starting along North Point, Brits see the gigantic defenses mounted at them, coupled with ships’ failure, and turned tail.
That is the song I was thinking when I read the headline!
Pakenham was appointed to replace General Ross, killed at Baltimore, as head of British land forces in North America in September 1814. At New Orleans however, he was subordinate to British Royal Navy Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane, a fact that led the Duke of Wellington to blame Pakenham's death upon the Admiral. Pakenham did have secret orders to continue fighting until officially and personally informed that the Peace Treaty (Treaty of Ghent) had been ratified by the US President's signature.
While the British were expecting to fight the local militias, they thought that New Orleans, having only become part of the US in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, would offer weak resistance. Before Pakenham arrived on the battlefield, a night battle on 23 December was fought by advancing US forces under General Jackson with 2100+ men against a weaker British force, General John Keane and 1800 men. While the American forces withdrew, the strength of the battle at Lacoste's Plantation, 'stood up' the British, giving Jackson time to fortify his defense lines.
In sum, the veteran British, leaders and troops, were first class and able soldiers. The fact that they were completely defeated at New Orleans probably had a lasting impression on Great Britain and may have kept them from further mischief in the following US Civil War. They were twice burned and that does give pause.
Right across from the Jax brewery!
Lousy internet speeds?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.