192 Years ago today.........

[captskillet]

January 8, 1815

The Battle of New Orleans

Two weeks after the War of 1812 officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, U.S. General Andrew Jackson achieves the greatest American victory of the war at the Battle of New Orleans.

In September 1814, an impressive American naval victory on Lake Champlain forced invading British forces back into Canada and led to the conclusion of peace negotiations in Ghent, Belgium. Although the peace agreement was signed on December 24, word did not reach the British forces assailing the Gulf coast in time to halt a major attack.

On January 8, 1815, the British marched against New Orleans, hoping that by capturing the city they could separate Louisiana from the rest of the United States. Pirate Jean Lafitte, however, had warned the Americans of the attack, and the arriving British found militiamen under General Andrew Jackson strongly entrenched at the Rodriquez Canal. In two separate assaults, the 7,500 British soldiers under Sir Edward Pakenham were unable to penetrate the U.S. defenses, and Jackson's 4,500 troops, many of them expert marksmen from Kentucky and Tennessee, decimated the British lines. In half an hour, the British had retreated, General Pakenham was dead, and nearly 2,000 of his men were killed, wounded, or missing. U.S. forces suffered only eight killed and 13 wounded.

Although the battle had no bearing on the outcome of the war, Jackson's overwhelming victory elevated national pride, which had suffered a number of setbacks during the War of 1812. The Battle of New Orleans was also the last armed engagement between the United States and Britain.

PS..........also led to a famous Johnny Horton song of the same title and a pretty good flick starring Heston and Yul Brenner...[;)][:D]!

[Fokkov2]

for what it's worth , Belgium as a state whas not founded before 1830, and Ghent was still parts of the Netherlands in 1815.[:-]

[tocaff]

Then the USA turned around and stabbed it's pirate friend in the back as thanks for the info, ammo and men supplied.

[Terminus]

Well, Lafitte was a bit of a criminal...

[Mike Scholl]

You would have thought that "Bunker Hill" would have taught the British that attacking American Militia frontally when they are dug in and waiting was a less-than-terrific idea. Penalties of over-confidence and lack of respect for your foe can be brutal...

[Mynok]

Recently discovered that an ancestor's brother fought with the militia and died after the battle from causes unknown (disease likely).

[scott64]

ORIGINAL: Mynok


Recently discovered that an ancestor's brother fought with the militia and died after the battle from causes unknown (disease likely).

[X(][X(][X(][X(] We had aliens on our side during the battle? [:'(]

[Mynok]

Always have. You just can't recognize them..... [:D]

[Terminus]

Yeah, they don't all wear scrub brush helmet and white sneakers...[:D]

[Mynok]

Hey....back when I was doing undercover work, I fit right into the 10th legion.

[Terminus]

I didn't know Roman Legionaries wore sneakers...[:'(]

[Mynok]

Winter sandals, actually, not sneakers......