On January 8, 1815, American forces, under General Jackson, decisively defeat the British forces trying to capture New Orleans. The battle, which takes place after the Treaty of Ghent has been signed, is the most decisive American victory of the war.
Multimedia Battle Presentation
On January 8, 1815, American forces, under General Jackson, decisively defeat the British forces trying to capture New Orleans. The battle, which takes place after the Treaty of Ghent has been signed, is the most decisive American victory of the war.
?The British chose New Orleans as their major objective. They ruled out a water assault on New Orleans and instead chose to mount a ground assault. They chose to bring their ships to Pea River in the mouth of the Mississippi. Guarding this entry to the Mississippi were five American gunboats. Their 29 guns and 145 were no match for the 45 British barges manned by 1200 men with 43 guns. The British ships swiftly dispatched the American in a short battle on December 23 1814. The American ships however gave General Jackson the commander of American forces in New Orleans some additional time to prepare the defenses of the city, as well as make clear the direction of the advance of the British forces. The British forces then came ashore at the mouth of the Bayou Bienvenu unopposed. They hoped to head up the Bayou five miles to the Mississippi and then another 12 to New Orleans. An advance guard of 1500 men moved forward and captured the Viillere plantation. One of the American officers managed to escape and get to New Orleans to warn Jackson.
Jackson ordered an attack on the British positions. He sent the 14-gun schooner downriver to bombard the British positions, while at the same time order General John Caffee to attack the British and try pin their soldiers against the river. The Americans met with some initial success, but ultimately the British lines held. Jackson called off the attack and his men withdrew to defensive positions along the Rodriguez Canal between the Macarty and Chalmette Plantations. This ended the first part of the battle. The two sides then spent the better part of two weeks preparing their positions for further battle. The British welcomed a new commander Lieutenant General Sir Edward Pakenham. Pakenham was not happy with lack of British progress. He developed a complicated plan the involved and attack on both banks of the River, the problem crossing the river was more difficult then initially envisioned. It was not until January 8th that a force could be dispatched. In the meantime General Pakenham prepared for a direct assault on the center of Americans lines. General Jackson and his men were ready with well-prepared defensive positions and well position cannons. Jackson had 4,000 troops ready for the British. In the last minute Jackson positioned his reserve troops at the exact spot that the British would aim their assault at. As dawn broke the British began their assault, this despite the fact that the planned coordinated attack on the other bank of he Mississippi was running hours behind. The British soldiers gallantly attacked, but the Americans were too prepared and their artillery wreaked havoc on the advancing British. General Pakenham tried to rally his men and continued the assault despite the fact that two horsed were shot out from under him and he was wounded. Eventually he was mortally wounded and died on the battlefield. Within an hour the battle was over. Three British General and eight colonels were among the 251 British killed, 1,259 wounded and 484 missing in the battle. The Americans lost a total of 11 killed and 23 wounded. It was the greatest American victory of the war and it was against the finest of the British army. Of course the tragedy of the battle is that it took place after a peace treaty had ended the war.
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