re: The Battle of New Orleans was fought 210 years ago today...

Friend,

The weather was foggy the two days before the British attacked, and Packenham thought he could take advantage of the fog. However, a strong front came through, blowing away the fog and ushering in temps in the 30s. By the time the Battle happened, the mosquitos would not have been an issue. The good visibility helped the Americans, who had position, slaughter the Brits.

Yours,
TulaneLSU

Which was led by my Great, great, great, Great, great, great Uncle.

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Plauché started out as a cotton trade merchant, but was later elected leader of the Battalion D'Orleans, which consisted of New Orleans Businessmen and shopkeepers, veterans of Napoleon Bonaparte, local Native Americans, and members of the famed pirate Jean Lafitte, who drilled weekly and furnished their own uniforms.

In the Battle of New Orleans, Major Plauché headed the Bataillon d'Orleans militia. With the assistance of Senator Edward Livingston, he had formed the battalion from five uniformed companies, with a strength of 289 men.[3] At the time (December 1814 – January 1815), he was 29 years old, starting at the rank of Brigader General, and later rose to Major General. In the early stages of the Battle of New Orleans, Plauché's troops were stationed at Fort Bayou St. John, near Lake Pontchartrain, keeping a lookout for British Troops arriving from the North. After being summoned to the city, the troops ran 5 miles from the fort to the Vieux Carré, being one of the first of Jackson's men to arrive. Colonel Andrew Jackson, a man who was known for "not scattering praise where it wasn't deserved", was so impressed with the performance of the Bataillon d'Orleans and Plauché, that he praised them in a letter before he left the city:

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And my Grandfather came up with the "Hot Boudin...Cold cous-cous " Cheer.

I would say the Plauche's have left a distinct mark on Louisiana History!

Written by Jimmy Driftwood and made famous by Johnny Horton.

Loved riding our bikes over to the battlefield as a young Chalmatian. I found a couple civil war-era marbles (made from marble) there in a ditch. Saw some exactly like them in a civil war museum.

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Meh, the treaty had been signed but not ratified. So officially we were still at war. And if the Brits had taken the city, they may not have given it back. They weren’t acquiescing in the validity of the Louisiana Purchase. It was a very important battle.

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I watched part of a how on the battle last weekend and learned this. The “war was over” sentiment is 100% misplaced. The treaty had to be ratified and even then wouldn’t be final until ratified copies were exchanged. No chance this happens had the Brits won.

Also, the Brits probably could have/should have taken New Orleans, as they were in position to take the West Bank across from Jackson square after the battle. From here, they could methodically barrage the city into submission. Jackson even looked up and said, my god, we have lost. However due to the heavy casualties sustained and the loss of their core leadership the next in charge guy didn’t realize this and surrendered. As the show described, the Brits snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

My family leased the battlefield in the early 1900’s for the pasture to their dairy farm. Hell my great grandma was still living in the woods right there will into the 50’s. They found all kinds of cool shite.

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There wasn't as many as there was a while ago

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There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.

From the family Tree....

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The Brits made two big mistakes. They sent a group across the river to attack on the West Bank, but they miscalculated the strength of the river and were send downriver and had to march back up which delayed their timing. And on the main battle field they forgot the ladders they were going to use to get over the fortifications. Real men of genius stuff.

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English Turn got the name from this.

I too have a distant relative that fought.