Presidents at War: Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans
Andrew Jackson obtained his reputation as a military hero primarily in two battles. The first was the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, when he defeated forces from the Creek first nation, effectively ending the Creek War. But his more notorious victory occurred the following year on January 8, 1815, in what would become the final major battle of the War of 1812. It was the Battle of New Orleans, where Major General (and future President) Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army that was intent on seizing New Orleans. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed on December 24, 1814, ending the war, but news of the peace would not reach the combatants until February, and so this battle was fought without either side knowing that the war was actually over.
In the early morning of January 8, British forces waged a two-pronged assault against the American troops that were protecting the city of New Orleans. The British encountered some problems in preparing for the attack. A canal being dug by British sailors collapsed and the dam made to divert the flow of the river into the canal failed, forcing the British sailors to drag their boats through deep mud. The British attack began under darkness and a heavy fog, but as the British neared the main enemy line the fog lifted, exposing them to artillery fire. The British had forgotten the ladders and temporary bridges needed to cross a canal and scale the earthworks, and confusion followed. Most of the senior British officers were killed or wounded, including General Edward Pakenham and Major General Samuel Gibbs.
The delay in crossing the river and the artillery fire left the British unsuccessful in their attempt storm the main American line. The American 7th Infantry moved forward, and fired on the British and within half an hour many of the invaders were killed in the main attack. British infantrymen either flung themselves to the ground, huddled in the canal, or were mowed down by a combination of musket fire and grapeshot from the Americans. The two large main assaults on the American position were repulsed. The British Commander, General Pakenham and his second-in-command, General Gibbs, were fatally wounded. With most of their senior officers dead or wounded, the British soldiers, had no orders to advance further or retreat. They stood out in the open and were shot down. After about 20 more minutes of bloodletting, General Lambert assumed command and eventually ordered a withdrawal.
At the end of the day, the British had 2,042 casualties: 291 killed (including Generals Pakenham and Gibbs), 1,267 wounded (including General Keane) and 484 captured or missing. The Americans had 71 casualties: 13 dead; 39 wounded and 19 missing.
The news of victory spread fast and improved American morale. The battle also boosted the reputation of Andrew Jackson and later helped to propel him to the White House. The victory seemed to go to Jackson's head though. Following the victory, Jackson ordered the arrest of U. S. District Court Judge Dominick Hall in March 1815, after the judge signed a writ of habeas corpus calling for the release of a Louisiana legislator that Jackson had arrested. A New Orleans newspaper challenging Jackson's refusal to release the militia, after the British ceded the field of battle. Jackson had claimed the authority to declare martial law over the entire City of New Orleans. After ordering the arrest of a Louisiana legislator, a federal judge, and a lawyer, Jackson finally relented following the intervention of Joshua Lewis, a State Judge, who was also serving under Jackson in the militia.
In the early morning of January 8, British forces waged a two-pronged assault against the American troops that were protecting the city of New Orleans. The British encountered some problems in preparing for the attack. A canal being dug by British sailors collapsed and the dam made to divert the flow of the river into the canal failed, forcing the British sailors to drag their boats through deep mud. The British attack began under darkness and a heavy fog, but as the British neared the main enemy line the fog lifted, exposing them to artillery fire. The British had forgotten the ladders and temporary bridges needed to cross a canal and scale the earthworks, and confusion followed. Most of the senior British officers were killed or wounded, including General Edward Pakenham and Major General Samuel Gibbs.
The delay in crossing the river and the artillery fire left the British unsuccessful in their attempt storm the main American line. The American 7th Infantry moved forward, and fired on the British and within half an hour many of the invaders were killed in the main attack. British infantrymen either flung themselves to the ground, huddled in the canal, or were mowed down by a combination of musket fire and grapeshot from the Americans. The two large main assaults on the American position were repulsed. The British Commander, General Pakenham and his second-in-command, General Gibbs, were fatally wounded. With most of their senior officers dead or wounded, the British soldiers, had no orders to advance further or retreat. They stood out in the open and were shot down. After about 20 more minutes of bloodletting, General Lambert assumed command and eventually ordered a withdrawal.
At the end of the day, the British had 2,042 casualties: 291 killed (including Generals Pakenham and Gibbs), 1,267 wounded (including General Keane) and 484 captured or missing. The Americans had 71 casualties: 13 dead; 39 wounded and 19 missing.
The news of victory spread fast and improved American morale. The battle also boosted the reputation of Andrew Jackson and later helped to propel him to the White House. The victory seemed to go to Jackson's head though. Following the victory, Jackson ordered the arrest of U. S. District Court Judge Dominick Hall in March 1815, after the judge signed a writ of habeas corpus calling for the release of a Louisiana legislator that Jackson had arrested. A New Orleans newspaper challenging Jackson's refusal to release the militia, after the British ceded the field of battle. Jackson had claimed the authority to declare martial law over the entire City of New Orleans. After ordering the arrest of a Louisiana legislator, a federal judge, and a lawyer, Jackson finally relented following the intervention of Joshua Lewis, a State Judge, who was also serving under Jackson in the militia.