The Battle of New Orleans was one of the most decisive victories by an American army over a much larger British force during the War of 1812. The opening shots of the battle rang out as Great Britain and the United States were signing a treaty in Ghent, Belgium that ended the conflict.
Historic Reenactment of the battle of new orleans
An estimated 1,500 military reenactors from around the world act out the Battle of New Orleans to mark its 200th anniversary in 2015. The actual site of the battle is a national historic site in Chalmette, Louisiana.
United States Gen. Andrew Jackson assembled a force of 1,000 Army regulars, bolstered by several thousand militia from Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana, along with pirate Jean Lafitte’s Baratarians and local volunteers. This video tells the story their unlikely triumph at New Orleans.
a bold defense of new orleans
British forces arrived by ships in Lake Borgne and overpowered a flotilla of American gunboats. More than 8,000 British troops landed in the marshes east of New Orleans. When Gen. Jackson learned of the British arrival, he immediately launched a daring night attack on Christmas Eve.
The bloody hand-to-hand skirmish stunned the British invaders and gave Jackson time to dig in his forces behind a canal and earthworks.
five days of battle
There were a total of five engagements between the British and American forces ending in an overwhelming American victory on the battlefield at Chalmette. A series of delays, miscalculations and mistakes by the British sealed their tragic fate.
The British suffered more than 2,000 casualties, while the American losses numbered about 60. British commander Gen. Edward Packenham was among those killed in the final battle. The 200th anniversary reenactments of the battles show how the British invasion failed.
ursuline nuns pray for victory
The roar of the cannons was heard 5 miles away at the Ursuline Convent in New Orleans, where nuns, women and children held vigil and prayed for victory. The Old Ursuline Convent in the French Quarter is the oldest building in the Mississippi River Valley.
1 Battlefield Rd, Chalmette, LA 70043
Earnest Hooks
Thanks for your version of what happened. however, Major Canary with the defense of two battalions of needed force were there to lead in defeat of the British lost of 2000.