Research Paper On The Battle Of New Orleans

The Battle of New Orleans The War of 1812 was one of the last battles fought on the soil of the United States. Of great significance in this war was the battle of New Orleans, which will be the subject matter of this essay and analysis. The Key players in this battle on the US forces side was anindividual who would later become the president of this nation. That leader was Major General, Andrew Jackson. Jackson was the only president to serve in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. His experience’s from the Revolutionary war gave him the distaste for and motivation to engage the British and to later defeat them near New Orleans. His soldiers were comprised of varied persons to include the men from Kentucky, Louisiana, hunters,

The commander of the British was Admiral Alexander Cochrane and his General Edward Pakenham. The British had members of the Royal Marines and Royal Navy numbering in the 10,000 range of personnel.
The British were the more polished and seasoned combat troops in this engagement.

The Battle was fought between January 8th and January 18th south of New Orleans, 2 weeks after a treaty for peace had been signed in Ghent Belgium. The British had attempted to create a landing near Mobile Alabama prior to landing south of New Orleans but this did not occur which may have had a great bearing on how things transpired. From the south of New Orleans is where the British would launch their ill-fated attempt. Along the banks of the mighty Mississippi river and the swamps and bayous of the delta.

The British came to New Orleans in hopes of taking the Louisiana area from the US.
The British had been dominating in most battles they had fought in the past and possibly had become overconfident in their capabilities. The US however were outraged at the prior loses they had endured and were determined to stand their ground at all costs. Jackson Knew the value that New Orleans represented and vowed to rid New Orleans of the British or dye

Andrew Jacksons aggressive method to ensure the effective fire power from a covered position allowed us to learn that the rank and file method of warfare method was deficient.

The British fought in the gentleman’s fashion of warfare in they fought in the rank and file continuous advancement method while the Americans used the advanced cover and concealment.

The British battles on the seas with Napoleon led to the seizure of American ships and to the impressment of American sailors. Americans were fully against impressment which would force American sailors to become part of the British royal navy.This was a major contributing factor for the War.

The battle that was to be the US initial assault was launched at night against the British as they were encamped at the Villerie plantation. The US traveled down the Mississippi river in the dark of the night to engage the British forces on the north side of the river. The US used the encampments burning fires as a reference for their fields of fire to engage the British. The battle ended in a bloody hand to hand combat fight in the dark of the