Description Of The Battle Of New Orleans

The United States suffered many defeats to British, Canadian and Native American troops throughout The War of 1812. Hope was running low in the American spirit. With the burning of the nation’s capital in Washington D.C., on August of 1814, we had to take a stand. On January 8, 1815, The U.S. and Britain meet in what is known as the Battle of New Orleans. Military general, Andrew Jackson was elemental for the U.S. victory of the battle. With Jackson’s aggressive tactics, American troops were able to defeat British invasions in New Orleans. The victory over the British lifted Jackson to being praised as a national hero. The victory also helped foil plans for a British invasion of the American frontier. However, the Battle of New Orleans ultimately
British forces raided the Chesapeake Bay and moved in on the U.S. capital and captured Washington, D.C.. They began burning government buildings including the capital and the White House. British Forces left Chesapeake Bay and headed for New Orleans, Louisiana. The problem with the advancement is on December 24, 1814, commissioners signed the Treaty of Ghent which technically meant the war had ended. On January 8, 1815, British forces attacked New Orleans expecting a final punch to the United States. However, General Andrew Jackson and a force of 5000 Americans repulse an invading British army of 7500 soldiers. Nicknamed “Old Hickory” for his legendary aggressiveness, Andrew Jackson sends a letter to his army in General Orders:Major-General 2d Division, Tennessee. November 24,
Being the major turning point of the war, it offset the British into retreat. The battle takes place on the Plains of Chalmette, approximately ten miles south of New Orleans on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The battle took place on January 8, 1815. It was early morning and Andrew Jackson has set up a barrier guarding New Orleans, Louisiana. British Major, General Sir Edward Pakenham, devised a strategy to try to trap Jackson’s forces. Pakenham proposed that three troops would strike Jackson’s defense barrier. A fourth troop would then lurk around the defense barrier and take control over the American artillery guns. Jackson's army was mostly a bunch of inexperienced volunteers. They were free blacks, Tennessee and Kentucky riflemen and Louisiana militiamen and some pirates. It was very improbable that this inexperienced set of men could take down the largest naval power in the world. However, British naval support continued to be a problem. Even though the British force led by Colonel William Thornton was able to take control over the American artillery, the naval reinforcements were too late. By the time the Royal Navy delivered Thornton’s troops, the battle was already lost. The British saw no hope after minimal progress. The defeat was one of the worst suffered by the British in any war, and the losses were dramatically lopsided. Nearly 2,300 British dead to only thirteen