Source: Brian Kilmeade & Don Yaeger. Andrew Jackson And The Miracle of New
Orleans - The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny (2017)
Orleans - The Battle That Shaped America's Destiny (2017)
Jackson could see the entire battlefield from the ramparts, and 2/3’s of the open plain was filled with British redcoats. The 32 pounder, loaded with musket balls, fired, and the forward elements of the British center suffered terribly, but the British troops from behind kept pushing forward. Rennie’s men advanced very close to the targeted redoubt, but after Rennie was killed with a shot to his head, his men retreated. When the British were 200 yards away from the US center, the deadly musket fire started, especially from the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Riflemen. Jackson’s men took turns firing, then falling back to reload; some fired as quickly as they could after reloading, while others took their time.
All the while, Jackson was there, directing, encouraging, and inspiring his men. The Volunteers and Riflemen, most armed with .38 caliber long rifles (42 inch barrels), couldn’t miss hitting what they aimed at. Keane’s column had started to fall back under the intense musket/artillery fire, and after Keane was wounded, they fell back even faster. The British troops that reached the canal found that their footing was not nearly good enough to advance up the grade, and all the while Jackson’s men fired down on them. To the British, Jackson’s men seemed to be almost invisible; even to soldiers that survived battle during the Napoleonic Wars, this battle had become overwhelming.
On the British right, Gibbs was carried off the field, and Pakenham and his aides raced to fill the void and to take command. The troops were rallying when Pakenham was shot in the knee, and then Pakenham’s horse was killed by another shot. In the process, Pakenham had been wounded again, this time being shot in an arm. As the twice-wounded Pakenham was getting help mounting another horse, a cannon ball ripped into his groin, mangling his spine. Pakenham was taken from the field, and his last command as he lay dying was to bring up the reserves. British casualties were horrific, while Jackson’s men suffered hardly a pinprick by comparison.
All the while, Jackson was there, directing, encouraging, and inspiring his men. The Volunteers and Riflemen, most armed with .38 caliber long rifles (42 inch barrels), couldn’t miss hitting what they aimed at. Keane’s column had started to fall back under the intense musket/artillery fire, and after Keane was wounded, they fell back even faster. The British troops that reached the canal found that their footing was not nearly good enough to advance up the grade, and all the while Jackson’s men fired down on them. To the British, Jackson’s men seemed to be almost invisible; even to soldiers that survived battle during the Napoleonic Wars, this battle had become overwhelming.
On the British right, Gibbs was carried off the field, and Pakenham and his aides raced to fill the void and to take command. The troops were rallying when Pakenham was shot in the knee, and then Pakenham’s horse was killed by another shot. In the process, Pakenham had been wounded again, this time being shot in an arm. As the twice-wounded Pakenham was getting help mounting another horse, a cannon ball ripped into his groin, mangling his spine. Pakenham was taken from the field, and his last command as he lay dying was to bring up the reserves. British casualties were horrific, while Jackson’s men suffered hardly a pinprick by comparison.
The attack across the bank, which was Pakenham’s best hope for victory, occurred far too late. The British had been delayed further due to the strong current of the river, which carried them far downstream from their planned landing point, which led to a four mile march. As the British advanced, they could see Patterson’s guns firing across the river into the main British force. The ramparts on the opposite shore proved to be no problem for the British to overrun, but before that occurred, Patterson ordered his men to spike the guns (an iron rod was hammered into the vent, a.k.a. the touch hole, at the back of the gun), which was a very time-intensive and laborious process to undo. The British controlled the position, but they were unable to use the US artillery, which meant that Jackson’s main force would not be under deadly flanking fire.
By midday, Jackson received the flag of truce at the HQ house. Before he had left for the HQ house however, Jackson had walked the entire line of defense, thanking and congratulating his officers and his men. Jackson agreed to a ceasefire so the British could deal with their dead/wounded. During the last part of the battle, a British officer had waved a handkerchief on his bayonet as a flag of truce, an that British officer gave up his sword, which had been the first real sign that Jackson’s men had accomplished the impossible.
By midday, Jackson received the flag of truce at the HQ house. Before he had left for the HQ house however, Jackson had walked the entire line of defense, thanking and congratulating his officers and his men. Jackson agreed to a ceasefire so the British could deal with their dead/wounded. During the last part of the battle, a British officer had waved a handkerchief on his bayonet as a flag of truce, an that British officer gave up his sword, which had been the first real sign that Jackson’s men had accomplished the impossible.
The Americans from their line watched not only the horrors of the massive numbers of KIA British soldiers on the ground, but also the hundreds that simply got up from the ground that had barely suffered a scratch. The casualty count for the British was never truly confirmed, but estimates were stunningly high; a total of 3000 KIA/WIA was not an unrealistic estimate (Jackson eventually settled on 2600 KIA/WIA . . . Jackson only had 12 KIA).
Jackson had secured the mouth of the Mississippi River for the US. Jackson’s multi-ethnic / multi-class army did what Napoleon had failed to do, which was to destroy the finest fighting force in the world. Jackson had proven to possess superior military instincts, planning, and ferocious leadership compared to his British counterparts. From the HQ house, Jackson kept the artillery going, letting the British know he was watching them as well as determined to see them leave the vicinity as soon as possible.
Sixty miles downriver, Cochrane was firing on Fort St. Philip with five warships. Cochrane fired more than 1000 rounds over 9 days but didn’t inflict any real damage on the fort. Jackson held his position at the canal, and on 19 January 1815, the British force decamped with an overnight withdrawal.
Jackson had secured the mouth of the Mississippi River for the US. Jackson’s multi-ethnic / multi-class army did what Napoleon had failed to do, which was to destroy the finest fighting force in the world. Jackson had proven to possess superior military instincts, planning, and ferocious leadership compared to his British counterparts. From the HQ house, Jackson kept the artillery going, letting the British know he was watching them as well as determined to see them leave the vicinity as soon as possible.
Sixty miles downriver, Cochrane was firing on Fort St. Philip with five warships. Cochrane fired more than 1000 rounds over 9 days but didn’t inflict any real damage on the fort. Jackson held his position at the canal, and on 19 January 1815, the British force decamped with an overnight withdrawal.
20 January 1815: Jackson returned to New Orleans for the first time in a month, and on 23 January 1815, the city had a formal celebration with Jackson being the recipient of most of the attention and adulation. Jackson suspended the curfew that night, and the citizens of New Orleans celebrated until dawn.
While the British had retreated from land, they remained a strong presence in the surrounding waters. Jackson was concerned that the British might go after another strategic location such as Fort Bowyer, and Jackson was right. Cochrane didn’t think the war was over since no word from London to that effect had yet reached him. Cochrane now had a much larger fleet under his command, now in excess of 60 ships, and that fleet set sail for Fort Bowyer on 27 January 1815. If nothing else, Cochrane wanted to regain lost prestige, not only for his navy, but especially for himself. On 8 February 1815, Cochrane landed 5000 men several miles from the fort. Before he ordered the onslaught, Cochrane sent an officer under a flag of truce to demand the fort’s surrender.
The commander of Fort Bowyer had no real choice but to surrender since he only had 360 men, and on 12 February 1815, Fort Bowyer surrendered. Jackson wrote Monroe of his absolute mortification of the surrender since now the British had an open route to Mobile. But on the next day, a British frigate arrived, and Cochrane received orders to stand down since the Treaty of Ghent was in effect. Cochrane was also ordered to set sail for Britain, but Jackson refused to believe Cochrane would do so until he received absolute confirmation.
While the British had retreated from land, they remained a strong presence in the surrounding waters. Jackson was concerned that the British might go after another strategic location such as Fort Bowyer, and Jackson was right. Cochrane didn’t think the war was over since no word from London to that effect had yet reached him. Cochrane now had a much larger fleet under his command, now in excess of 60 ships, and that fleet set sail for Fort Bowyer on 27 January 1815. If nothing else, Cochrane wanted to regain lost prestige, not only for his navy, but especially for himself. On 8 February 1815, Cochrane landed 5000 men several miles from the fort. Before he ordered the onslaught, Cochrane sent an officer under a flag of truce to demand the fort’s surrender.
The commander of Fort Bowyer had no real choice but to surrender since he only had 360 men, and on 12 February 1815, Fort Bowyer surrendered. Jackson wrote Monroe of his absolute mortification of the surrender since now the British had an open route to Mobile. But on the next day, a British frigate arrived, and Cochrane received orders to stand down since the Treaty of Ghent was in effect. Cochrane was also ordered to set sail for Britain, but Jackson refused to believe Cochrane would do so until he received absolute confirmation.
On 14 February 1815, President Madison received a copy of the Treaty of Ghent, and he submitted the treaty to the Senate without delay. The Senate ratified the treaty 35 - 0, even though many were miffed that there was no mention of British actions that started the war such as impressment. Meanwhile, over a thousand miles away, Jackson was still waiting for news. Jackson refused to lend any credence to the rumors he heard that the war was over, or even to the clippings of British newspapers that some had shown to the general. Jackson kept martial law in effect in New Orleans, and most citizens of the city had come to view Jackson as a jailer instead of a deliverer. Rachel’s presence eased Jackson’s tensions at least somewhat, and finally, on 8 March 1815 after receiving “persuasive evidence”, Jackson cut New Orleans loose from the restraints, and he released his men so they could return home.
Jackson didn’t start for home until early-April, but when he returned to Tennessee, it was as a national hero. Thanks to Jackson, the US would never again be invaded by a foreign power. The victory at New Orleans overshadowed the previous humiliations of the war, such as the burning of DC. The nation’s memory of the war would remain forever centered on Jackson, since he was the figure given the most credit for restoring the honor of the nation. Fort McHenry, successes on the Great Lakes, and especially New Orleans gave the US a sense of nationhood for the first time, and recognition and respect from Europe was an added bonus.
Jackson didn’t start for home until early-April, but when he returned to Tennessee, it was as a national hero. Thanks to Jackson, the US would never again be invaded by a foreign power. The victory at New Orleans overshadowed the previous humiliations of the war, such as the burning of DC. The nation’s memory of the war would remain forever centered on Jackson, since he was the figure given the most credit for restoring the honor of the nation. Fort McHenry, successes on the Great Lakes, and especially New Orleans gave the US a sense of nationhood for the first time, and recognition and respect from Europe was an added bonus.
On 15 February 1815, Congress authorized a medal to be struck with Jackson’s profile. Patterson would eventually be in command of the USS Constitution, and by 1839, the year he died, he was the commander of the Washington Navy Yard. Jones would cross paths with a navy deserter named Herman Melville, and Melville featured Jones as Commodore J___ in Moby Dick. Lafitte was pardoned, but he remained a pirate, setting up shop in Galveston in Spanish Texas. Lafitte died in 1823 during a ship-to-ship battle, but over the succeeding years, he became the stuff of myth and legend.
The Duke of Wellington placed the blame for the British defeat squarely on Admiral Cochrane, pointing out that the trek across Lake Borgne meant that the British troops were not connected to their supply base. Jackson’s failure to secure the river bank opposite of his position has raised questions about his battle preparations and strategies . . . no matter, since Jackson was the man of the hour that deserved all the honors and plaudits. Jackson’s decision-making and instincts before/during the battle proved to be stellar.
The Duke of Wellington placed the blame for the British defeat squarely on Admiral Cochrane, pointing out that the trek across Lake Borgne meant that the British troops were not connected to their supply base. Jackson’s failure to secure the river bank opposite of his position has raised questions about his battle preparations and strategies . . . no matter, since Jackson was the man of the hour that deserved all the honors and plaudits. Jackson’s decision-making and instincts before/during the battle proved to be stellar.
Jackson was invited to the 25th anniversary celebration of the battle held in New Orleans. Jackson believed that 8 January 1815 mattered in US History just as much as 4 July 1776. By 1839, Jackson’s health was poor; he spent the last five months of his Presidency bedridden, almost dying for a serious attack related to the musket ball that was still in his chest from the duel in 1806. Despite his fame and importance, Jackson was cash-poor, and he refused to borrow money to go to New Orleans. But the battle was such a huge part of his life that he insisted that he continue to be addressed as general.
December 1839: Jackson decided to go to New Orleans, and he borrowed against his cotton crop to do so. Jackson left Nashville on 24 December 1839, and it took for days to travel 125 miles to the mouth of the Cumberland River, where Jackson boarded the Gallatin and headed down the Ohio River. Jackson arrived in New Orleans in the morning of 8 January 1840, and Jackson was seen by a crowd of about 30,000 cheering Americans. After the celebrations, Jackson boarded the Vicksburg and headed upriver, back to the Hermitage. Jackson died on 8 June 1845 must months after his protege, fellow Tennessean James Knox Polk, took office as the nation’s 11th President.
Addendum: Henry Clay and The Treaty of Ghent . . .
December 1839: Jackson decided to go to New Orleans, and he borrowed against his cotton crop to do so. Jackson left Nashville on 24 December 1839, and it took for days to travel 125 miles to the mouth of the Cumberland River, where Jackson boarded the Gallatin and headed down the Ohio River. Jackson arrived in New Orleans in the morning of 8 January 1840, and Jackson was seen by a crowd of about 30,000 cheering Americans. After the celebrations, Jackson boarded the Vicksburg and headed upriver, back to the Hermitage. Jackson died on 8 June 1845 must months after his protege, fellow Tennessean James Knox Polk, took office as the nation’s 11th President.
Addendum: Henry Clay and The Treaty of Ghent . . .