New Orleans
No sketch of Andrew Jackson, however brief, can fail of emphasis on the Battle of New Orleans, for it was his marvelous victory over the greatly outnumbering, confident, invading British Army on January 8, 1815, that first gave him national renown and made him a popular idol and hero. It came at a time when the national spirit was at its lowest ebb, as a result of a long series of land defeats, and sent a wave of exultant joy throughout the country. It was a complete and decisive victory. Historians agree that it was a brilliant victory, but many of them, and unfortunately school histories, present the view that the battle was fought after peace and was unnecessary. This has been exposed as an error. The State of Tennessee in 1927 appointed a commission to make research into the real value of the battle of New Orleans, and this commission submitted report to the Governor who transmitted it to the Legislature of 1935. This report has been published by the Ladies’ Hermitage Association and is kept on sale at the Hermitage. It shows by quotation from the document itself that the treaty of Ghent, signed by the commissioners of the contending countries December 24, 1814, specifically provided that it should be effective when ratified by both sides, and that it was not ratified by the United States until February 17, 1815, forty days after the battle at New Orleans. The report further shows by evidence of records that the battle saved the Louisiana Purchase, or another war with England. It shows also that the battle reestablished national integrity or peace from within. The importance of the battle can hardly be overestimated, viewed either from the immediate effects or the aftermath. The Ladies’ Hermitage Association in 1935 joined with the National Daughters of 1812 and other patriotic entities in calling for revision of school histories to accord with revealed facts.
The victory at New Orleans, one of the most decisive defensive victories of history, will always be celebrated as an illustrious feat of the American arms and of the military genius of Andrew Jackson. Jackson mobilized incongruous elements, every available resource, into defense against the enemy attack. The forces thus assembled, consisting of Tennessee militia, Kentucky militia, Louisiana militia, and small contingents of regulars, Baratarian privateers, free men of color, Mississippi Dragoons, and friendly Choctaw Indians, numbered in all a little over five thousand. The invading army consisted of about twelve thousand seasoned British regulars. The British soldiers fought bravely, as British soldiers always do, but they could not stand against the well-planned, unerring fire from the American breastworks. The assault continued for twenty-five minutes, and then the British retreated in confusion, having lost in killed, wounded, and captured over twenty-five hundred of their number, including General Pakenham, chief in command, and General Gibbs, second in command, both having been killed. The American loss was put at thirteen killed and wounded. On the west bank of the river the British succeeded in capturing a small redoubt, but owing to the catastrophe of the main attack, this was abandoned.
Jackson was too prudent to yield to the impulse to pursue the retreating enemy, which he knew still outnumbered him by two to one, but kept in readiness against a return assault. The British ten days later broke camp and retired to their ships, and on January 28 set sail for the Dauphine islands. Jackson maintained himself in constant readiness against possibility of a return attack.