A Naval Eyewitness

Battle Of New Orleans Site

Source

"In strong contrast to Alison, *Admiral Codrington, an eyewitness, states the true reason of the British failure...".

*Memoir of the life of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington. ... v.1. Codrington, Edward, Sir, 1770-1851.

Denny In Captain Allen's Company

Invalid Pension File (Source - Fold3)

William Denny/Dennie was a member of Captain Allen's company of Mounted gunmen in General Coffee's Brigade.

William's last term of enlistment was in the Company of Bethel Allen and he was a member of John Coffee's Brigade. Often forgotten in the discussion of the Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson was not content to wait on the British to attack his rather weak fortifications near the City. He sent out many companies to fell trees and sink small boats in an attempt to clog passages and slow the progress of the British advance. [Source]

Misfiled certificate? (Fold3)

Affidavit taken by resident in Smith County, Tennessee stated that he was wounded by cannonball on or about December 23, 1814, "at the battle below New Orleans..." as well as a musket ball wound.

Stephen Foster's Father

Biography, songs and musical compositions of Stephen C. Foster, Authors: Foster, Stephen Collins, 1826-1864, Foster, Morrison, 1823-1904:

From Historic Pittsburgh

"My father [William Barclay Foster] was a man of great public spirit and unbounded patriotism.  During the War of 1812 he was appointed Quartermaster and Commissary of the U.S. Army."

University of Pittsburgh Archives and Manuscript Collections:

Subseries 10. William B. Foster Papers, 1814-1955
Scope and Content Notes:
This subseries includes the business papers of Stephen Foster's father, William B. Foster, Sr. It consists of correspondence, papers related to court cases, the War of 1812, the establishment of Lawrenceville, and materials general by Morrison Foster related to his attempts to settle his father's estate.

Section: 1. War of 1812 Correspondence and Transactions
Scope and Content Notes:
This section contains the correspondence of William B. Foster during his years as a commissary agent for the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Most of these papers deal with supply and military sustenance issues; occasionally a letter emerges that tells of William’s amicable relationship with several of these military officers.

Jackson Ordered To St. Louis

Andrew Jackson Statue In New Orleans

"Over in Missouri, however, Illinois Indians continued a constant warfare well into the year 1815, after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed and promulgated... .  They continued until the war department assigned Andrew Jackson to this department, with orders to report to St. Louis there to attach himself to the head of the troops he would find awaiting him and march against the Rock River Sacs... .  Duncan Graham, head of the British intriguers at that point, had formed a profound respect for Andrew Jackson, by reason of the New Orleans affair and other events, and without ceremony at once fled to Canada." [Source]

Battle Of Fayal

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Source

"...Captain Reid...had indeed done wonders, for so great was the damage he inflicted that the fleet was forced to stay a week at Fayal burying the dead and caring for the wounded. That week's delay was most important, for the Rota, the Plantagenet, and the Carnation, on their way to Jamaica to join the expedition against New Orleans, were prevented by the fight at Fayal from arriving on time and so delayed the fleet of Pakenham that Jackson had time to defend New Orleans.

Captain Reid, by his splendid defence of the General Armstrong, may therefore justly be said to have contributed not a little to Jackson's great victory on the banks of the Mississippi. [Source]

Dinner At The Bell Tavern

Source -  A Tavern In The South

"The volunteers returned from a campaign in May 1814, and a dinner was given at the Bell Tavern, and Felix Grundy delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by Gen. Jackson on behalf of the volunteers."

Source

Graphic Account From New Orleans

House At Chalmette Battlefield (Battle Of New Orleans)

A letter (excerpted below) from Captain Thurston, written to his father-in-law:

Source

Battle Of NOLA In Pictures

Source

Captain Robert Thurston

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Captain Thurston, a physician and man of prominence in his locality, recruited a company from Shelby and adjoining counties for service in the War of 1812. Shortly after organization, Captain Thurston's company proceeded under orders and reported to Colonel Presley Gray, who was in command of the Thirteenth Regiment Kentucky Militia. This regiment was under command of Major General Thomas, and shortly after being joined by Captain Thurston's company, moved southward to assist in the defense of New Orleans.

Jackson's Battle Plan

Source - Page 83

A Man Of Force

From the Reminiscences of Colonel Robert Chester:

I asked about General Jackson's displays of temper. Colonel Chester replied that he was a man of  force, and used his temper to gain his ends, but was not of bad or ungovernable temper. " His manners were courtly, and the expression used about him at the time was that he was as able in the cock-pit as in the battle-field, as capable in small as in great things. He was a believer in predestination, and trusted and believed in special Providence, considering the battle of New Orleans as an evidence of Divine favor vouchsafed him."

I served under Jackson at New Orleans," Colonel Chester went on, " and he once said to me that the battle was won by Coffee's repulse of the night attack of the British. Had that attack succeeded there were not Americans enough to hold the line. This was in December, before the arrival of Carroll. Cotton bales were undoubtedly used in the fortifications. [Source]

One Of The Great Rules Of Strategy

General Jackson Statue In New Orleans

"The battle of Plattsburg; a study in and of the war of 1812...General Macomb.... :

The same idea [as the British had before the Battle of New Orleans, to separate the country at the Mississippi River], combined with one of the great rules of strategy, was back of the battle of Plattsburg. The British believed — and had indeed good grounds for so believing — that if they won at Plattsburg, defeating both the fleet on Lake Champlain and the land forces, they could divide as regards military operations.

Interactive Timeline

The timeline at Ohio History

Action In The Battle Of New Orleans

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Americans Lines In NOLA

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British Army Landing In New Orleans

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U.S. Marshall Duplessis

Chalmette Monument Commemorating The Battle Of New Orleans

From the U.S. Marshal's Service, History -   A Pirate, a Marshal, and the Battle of New Orleans:

"...Largely thanks to Jackson’s choice of position, good communication and resolve, the Americans won a decisive triumph."

"A sizeable portion of that good communication was carried forth by Marshal Peter Duplessis, and the United States will forever be the better for it."

Duplessis' pre-war activity mentioned:

Battle Statistics

Source

Inferior To None

Statue Of General Jackson In New Orleans

In fact, it might be contended that the battles of Plattsburg and New Orleans, in both of which our
soldiers proved far more than a match, man for man, for Wellington's seasoned and best soldiers, showed the most skillful and resourceful fighting done on this continent; and inferior to none anywhere in the history of war in bravery or brilliancy of achievement. [Source]

1815 Letter Written Near Cat Island

Ship Island (Adjacent To Cat Island)

LETTER OF A BRITISH OFFICER 

[C. J. Forbes]

On Board H. M. S. Alceste
Off Cat Island, 28th Jan., 1815

Source [ Excerpted Letter]

A summary of Charles Forbes and his letter (Trent University Library):

While in the British Army, Charles Forbes was present for the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Our donation contains a letter written 29 Jan. 1815 on board H.M.S. Alceste, off Cat Island (near New Orleans), and sent to James Cobb, Secretary, East India Company (a cousin). In the letter Charles says that the information given to the Admiral was “fallacious” and that unlike what they had been led to believe, no “settlers of Louisiana and the Floridas” flocked to join the British cause and hence they had insufficient troops for the encounter with the Americans. It’s interesting to note that even by the end of January, Charles did not know that a treaty to end the War had been signed.