Collection America Under Fire
The young national capital at Washington, D.C. became the epicenter of The War of 1812 with Great Britain during the...
The Battle of New Orleans
How Long? 1 minute
Andrew Jackson arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, and took charge of the city's defense, commanding that waterways be obstructed and placing guns, soldiers, militia, volunteers (including free African Americans), and Jean Laffite's Baratarian Pirates (who Jackson called "hellish banditti") at approaches to the city.
The Battle of New Orleans, fought on January 8, 1815, was a remarkable American victory. The British gambled and lost on a forward attack that sent a force of 5,300 against about 4,000 Americans dug into fortified mud and cotton bale earthworks on the east bank of the Mississippi. The British incurred nearly 1,550 killed or wounded, many the victims of American sharpshooters and of cannon packed with canisters full of musket balls. American losses were 32 dead and missing, 39 wounded.
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