Account of THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS from BATTLE KISS

Battle of New Orleans battlefield in the 21st Century

TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY

January 8, 1815, New Orleans

Climactic Engagement of THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

(from BATTLE KISS, Part 3, “The Battle of New Orleans” www.oneildenoux.net)

Before dawn, British General Sir Edward Pakenham’s plan is too complex and already falling apart. The attack force sent across the river is delayed as the man-made canal keeps collapsing, yet no one informs Pakenham. The British army slips into their attack position as close to the American line as possible. Hidden by darkness and thick fog, they near the edge of the Chalmette Plantation to go at the Americans in a rush. General Andrew Jackson cannot sleep and moves up and down his line, boosting morale. His men are well fed, well supplied and itching for battle.

Gen. Pakenham realizes his west bank attack will be only a diversion as most of the cannons and only part of his force is able to cross the Mississippi. He is unaware that the men with the fascines (to fill the canal in front of the American line) and the ladders are NOT in front of his troops. He has 8,000 men hidden in fog, within range of US artillery. Gen. Jackson’s 4,000 Americans watch and wait. Just before 6 a.m., a signal rocket rises into the gray sky from the British line and the wail of bagpipes echoes across the Chalmette Plantation, along with the steady beat of drums. They are coming!

6 a.m., the fog lifts, revealing the British army advancing at the quick step, two columns, each sixty-men wide and so long the Americans cannot see the end of the line. A tidal wave of red coats, Wellington heroes, the men who defeated Napoleon’s armies in Europe have come to storm the American line and swoop into New Orleans. It is an amazing magnitude until the American cannons open fire.

The Battle Rages – British artillery is ineffective. American cannon fire – deadly. Baratarian pirates guided by Dominique You and Renato Beluche, US Infantry artillerymen and US Navy gunners fire cannon balls and grapeshot into massed infantry. Entire British companies are blown apart. The Scottish Sutherland Highlanders, ordered to cross the battlefield at the diagonal, right across the American line of fire, are decimated. Gen. Pakenham and Gen. Gibbs rush to the front to rally their wavering troops.

The Battle Continues – British riflemen storm the redoubt near the river and the fighting is close, man against man, but there is no support for the British and US Marines, Infantrymen and New Orleans Riflemen kill the British now trapped in the redoubt.

Near the swamp, Gen. Pakenham is blown from his horse. Wounded, he mounts another horse to be hit again by grapeshot and rifle fire. He dies on the battlefield as best friend Gen. Gibbs is also mortally wounded. Near the river, Gen. Keane is critically wounded.

Maj. Gen. Lambert, the lone surviving British general, sees the attack has made no impression on the American line and brave soldiers are dying under withering American fire. He withdraws the army. Gen. Andrew Jackson, standing near the center of the US line is amazed at the carnage. This he did not expect. No one expected such a lopsided victory.

The Battle Ends – As the British withdraw to de la Ronde Plantation, Gen. Jackson is urged to pursue, destroy the British army. He does not rise to the bait. His job is not to destroy the British, but to protect New Orleans, which he has. NO – the British did not run through the brambles, rush through the bushes where the rabbits couldn’t go. They withdrew orderly and wait. Casualties on the British side are over 2,000. Eight Americans were killed at the Rodriguez Canal.

A detailed, blow-by-blow account of the battle is in my novel BATTLE KISS, Part 3, “The Battle of New Orleans” www.oneildenoux.net