The attack was doomed from the start because General Packenham was an idiot who ordered an attack on intact earthworks with no ladders long enough to scale them. Didn’t take a military genius to win that battle for the Americans. Fortunately, Packenham had the good sense to get himself killed and his army taken over by someone with more wit, who shortly after managed to take Fort Bowyer and was about to take Mobile when news of the treaty arrived. Thus, Britain won the last land engagement of the War and the only thing that saved Mobile was news of the Treaty arriving.
Firstly, the elite formations were in Europe fighting Napoleon. What fought in 1812-14 were good, but not elite regiments.
Secondly, as usual, Americans grossly exaggerate the ‘downhomeness’ and the training of the US armies in 1776-83 and the war of 1812. This idea that the Americans were all pitchfork carrying, rags wearing men is a nonsense. In fact, it insults the quality and training of the US troops of both wars.
Next year is the 40th anniversary of the American defeat in Vietnam. Just thought you might have forgotten.
There’s a reason for that:
Their diet: tea and crumpets.
Our diet: raw squirrel meat and whiskey.