On 8 January 1815, the Battle of New Orleans was fought between the United States under Andrew Jackson against the British under Edward Pakenham during the War of 1812.
Why did it happen?
On 18 June 1812, US President James Madison declared war on the British Empire due to its attempt to blockade trade across the Atlantic Ocean and Madison’s desire to annex Canada. Initially, the Americans made progress, but the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814 freed up British soldiers to blockade the east coast of the United States and burn down public buildings in Washington, DC. On 24 December 1814, hostilities between the US and Britain officially ended with the Treaty of Ghent, although it took weeks before the news crossed the Atlantic to reach North America. At the same time the treaty was signed, British forces under Edward Pakenham landed in Louisiana to capture the strategically important city of New Orleans. In response, Major General Andrew Jackson declared martial law and mustered soldiers, civilians, and pirates to defend the city from the British. After launching a night raid on the British camp, Jackson constructed a defensive line known as Line Jackson along the Rodriguez Canal, where he repulsed British attacks on 28 December and 1 January.
Who was involved?
The US forces at New Orleans numbered 5,000 infantry and 24 artillery. Most of the American army, 4,000 men and 20 artillery, were positioned along the Rodriguez Canal behind a rampart. Andrew Jackson was in overall command, with John Coffee commanding the left wing, William Carroll leading the centre, Jean Baptiste Plauche holding the right wing, and John Adair in reserve. In addition, 1,000 infantry and 4 artillery held the west bank under David Morgan. The British force at New Orleans numbered 8,000 infantry and 16 artillery. Edward Pakenham was in overall command, with John Keane commanding 1,000 infantry on the left wing, John Lambert commanding the centre (including the artillery), and Samuel Gibbs leading 1,900 men on the right wing. In addition, William Thronton led a small force of British soldiers against the American defences on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
What happened?
At 8am on 8 January, the British artillery opened fire upon the US positions in front of Rodriquez Canal while Edward Pakenham launched a three-pronged assault against it. On the British left wing, Colonel Rennie captured an American redoubt before his entire force was killed. At 8.30am, the British centre and left wing under Samuel Gibbs and Edward Pakenham moved against the American centre and left, but a lack of ladders prevented them from overcoming their defences. At 9am, John Lambert wheeled his regiment towards the centre to assist Gibbs and Pakenham, but American snipers mortally wounded both, and the British column was forced to fall back. At 9.30am, Colonel Thronton crossed the Mississippi River to capture an American artillery battery on the west bank but was too late to support British soldiers on the east bank. At 10am, Lambert ordered one more advance against the US position with his reserves before he realised the futility of the attack. After recalling Thronton from the west bank, he retreated beyond the range of the US artillery. British losses amounted to 700 killed and 1,400 wounded, while US casualties numbered 8 killed and 13 wounded.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of New Orleans was an American victory. In the aftermath of the battle, Andrew Jackson re-entered New Orleans and addressed his troops, hailing them for their courage in saving the country from invasion. On 18 January, after news arrived in North America of the cessation of hostilities, the British withdrew from Louisiana, and Congress ratified the agreement on 16 February, bringing the war to an end. At the time, the Battle of New Orleans was considered a great victory that stirred national pride and made Andrew Jackson a national hero. However, after Jackson became the seventh President of the United States in 1829, he passed the Indian Removal Act, which evicted the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, and Choctaw from their tribal lands by 1837.
Bibliography
David, Saul. War: The Definitive Visual History. New York, Dorling Kindersley, 2009.
Grant, R.G. Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5,000 Years of Combat. London, Dorling Kindersley, 2005.
History.com Editors. “Battle of New Orleans.” History. Last revised August 9, 2022. www.history.com/topics/19th-century/battle-of-new-orleans
Snow, Peter. Battles Map by Map. London, Dorling Kindersley, 2021.