January 9, 1815
Chalmette Plantation – The British bury their dead. A lone
piper begins a mournful strain that bounces off the trees of the cypress swamp.
Americans behind their breastworks watch as other bagpipers pick up the song
and ‘Amazing Grace’ echoes over the battleground. Gen. Jackson had commented
earlier, “They bring hundreds of years of history at us.” Capt. Carmenbray
replied, “Gen. Jackson, I think we made a little history ourselves today.”
Fort St. Philip, downriver from New Orleans – Arrogant
British Admiral Cochrane has not given up. He sends a frigate, a sloop-of-war,
a schooner and two bomb-ketches, each with a large sea-mortar, to anchor around
the bend in the Mississippi from the American fort blocking the Royal Navy from
coming upriver. The mortars fire 43 cannon balls at the fort. The nearest plops
in the river fifty yards away. British Captain McGovern discovers the mortar’s
artillery commander is cross-eyed. Seriously.
from BATTLE KISS, Part 4, “Aftermath” www.oneildenoux.net
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