In 1814 We Took a Little Trip
Another recent anniversary (which was not addressed in this community on its anniversary date) was the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, which took place on January 8, 1815, just over 196 years ago. This was was the final major battle of the War of 1812 at which American forces, commanded by not Colonel as the song says, but Major General (and future President) Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army 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, the British waged a two-pronged assault against the American troops protecting the city. Preparations for the attack had some initial problems, as a canal being dug by British sailors collapsed and the dam made to divert the flow of the river into the canal failed, leaving the 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 ensued. Most of the senior British officers were killed or wounded, including 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 arrived, 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 Commanger, General Pakenham and his second-in-command, General Gibbs, were fatally wounded. With most of their senior officers dead or wounded, the British soldiers, having no orders to advance further or retreat, 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, one man recalled, "came upon the country like a clap of thunder in the clear azure vault of the firmament, and traveled with electromagnetic velocity, throughout the confines of the land." The battle boosted the reputation of Andrew Jackson and helped to propel him to the White House.
The victory raised national spirits following the previous defeats suffered in the war. If reading this entry has put the Johnny Horton song "Battle of New Orleans" stuck in your head, I can't do much about that, other than amuse you with this Lego version of the song in the YouTube video below.
In the early morning of January 8, the British waged a two-pronged assault against the American troops protecting the city. Preparations for the attack had some initial problems, as a canal being dug by British sailors collapsed and the dam made to divert the flow of the river into the canal failed, leaving the 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 ensued. Most of the senior British officers were killed or wounded, including 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 arrived, 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 Commanger, General Pakenham and his second-in-command, General Gibbs, were fatally wounded. With most of their senior officers dead or wounded, the British soldiers, having no orders to advance further or retreat, 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, one man recalled, "came upon the country like a clap of thunder in the clear azure vault of the firmament, and traveled with electromagnetic velocity, throughout the confines of the land." The battle boosted the reputation of Andrew Jackson and helped to propel him to the White House.
The victory raised national spirits following the previous defeats suffered in the war. If reading this entry has put the Johnny Horton song "Battle of New Orleans" stuck in your head, I can't do much about that, other than amuse you with this Lego version of the song in the YouTube video below.