AMERICAN ARMY TURNS BACK BRITISH IN NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans, Louisiana (JFK+50) On January 8, 1815, an outnumbered American army, led by Major General Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, repelled the attack of British redcoats five miles South of New Orleans at Chalmette Plantation.
Up until that day, the fortunes of war had not been in the favor of the United States. The treasury was near bankruptcy and the national capital had come under attack. At New Orleans, however, American fortunes took a quick turn for the better.
The British army under General Edward Pakenham*, who was killed in the battle, surrendered after having lost almost 300 dead. More than 1200 of the King's soldiers were wounded while the Americans counted but 13 of their own dead, 39 wounded & 19 missing.
Ironically, the battle proved unnecessary as a peace treaty had been signed in Ghent, Belgium 2 weeks earlier ending the War of 1812 but news of the peace settlement had not yet reached America.
An American soldier describes the end of the battle...
"When the smoke...cleared...we (had) a fair view of the field, it looked, at 1st glance, like a sea of blood. It was not blood...but the red coats in which the British soldiers were dressed. Before (us) the field was entirely covered with prostrate bodies."
*General Edward Michael Pakenham (1778-1815) was born in Ireland & served in the Irish House of Commons (1799-1800) & in the 23rd Light Dragoons. EMP was promoted to Major General during the War of 1812.
SOURCE
Battle of New Orleans
Painting by
Edward Perry Moran (1910)
