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
