Battle of New Orleans

In December of 1814 British forces under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham[?] landed along the lower Mississippi River. At first the met with only minor skirmishes of resistance. The Americans lead by General Andrew Jackson set up defensive positions at Chalmette, Louisiana, some 5 miles below the city of New Orleans. The first British troops reached the American position on January 1, and in an exchage of artillery fire the Americans held their ground. Packenham decided to wait until his entire force of over 10,000 men to assemble before launching an attack. On the 8th he ordered 3 large assalts on the American positions, all of which were cut down by American fire, Packenham himself being mortally wounded in the 3rd attack. The British withdrew having suffered a loss of 2,036 men, while the Americans lost but 71.

Unknown to both parties the war was already officially over, the peace treaty having been signed in Ghent December 24, 1814. The Battle none the less had historic consequences. In the hypothetical realm, it has been speculated that had the British been in control of the key port of New Orleans they would have attempted to use this to get additional concessions from the United States. In the realm of certainty, the victory was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the United States, and gave Andrew Jackson the reputation of a hero which propelled him to the Presidency.

See also: War of 1812