December 3, 1814

New Orleans – Gen. Andrew Jackson inspects his troops in Place d’Armes (a small park across from St. Louis Cathedral that will one day be called Jackson Square). The troops are mostly Louisiana militia with some elements of the 7^th US Infantry and 44^th US Infantry Regiments. Several hundred troops is all Jackson can muster at the moment. Others are coming. The lack of troop numbers is noted by British spy Harold Lowe in his latest dispatch to the fleet. He brims with confidence. Most of the Americans will be militia. Just like the militia the British routed outside Washington City when they burned it.

from BATTLE KISS, Part 2, “The British Invade” www.oneildenoux.net