Battle of New Orleans

[vtsaogames]

I figure this is Napoleonic, at least in time frame, even if on the wrong side of the pond. There was no tin soldier game last night, hence no report. Instead, here is a post about why the Battle of New Orleans mattered, even though it was after the peace treaty was signed. It may help you sleep.

https://corlearshookfencibles.blogspot.com/

It's never too late to have a happy childhood

[zippyfusenet]

Thanks for the post. You enlightened me on several points.

You'll shoot your eye out, kid!

[Steelonsand]

Great posting – always been interested in this battle since seeing the movie with Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner (!)

but also confused by it in equal measure – why such apparently cr*ppy tactics from Pakenham?

good to see some myths debunked.

[vtsaogames]

This was Pakenham’s first independent command. His brother-in-law the Duke of Wellington had turned down the chance of command in the New World. Pakenham had a hard nut to crack, facing the best US commander in difficult terrain. Jackson’s line was anchored on the left in a dense cypress swamp, on the right by the Mississippi River, with a US Navy gunboat anchored in it in support. Every British soldier, round and biscuit had been rowed across Lake Borne in ship’s boats by the Royal Navy, a distance of 60 miles. The first night of the landing had seen a vicious night attack on the lead brigade’s camp that was only driven off after a tough fight. An earlier bombardment to silence the US artillery had failed due to a lack of ammunition and soggy ground under the British guns. An attack that was supposed to go in on the west bank at the same time was seriously delayed by terrain and human error. It went in late and succeeded, after the main attack had been mauled.

Also, the 44th Foot was led by acting colonel (actually captain) Mullens, who failed badly. His regiment was to bring fascines and scaling ladders to the wall. When the attack went in, his regiment was not in the lead and did not have any of the storming gear. General Gibbs, 2nd in command, was heard to roar on the field, “Colonel Mullens, if I live till tomorrow you will be hanged from one of these trees!” Shortly after this Gibbs was mortally wounded. Mullens was later courtmartialed and dismissed from the service.

20/20 hindsight says the main attack should have waited. But if this had worked and Jackson fell back, there two other fortified lines closer to the city. One presumes he would have stationed better troops and commanders across the river after seeing the first failure. Pakenham needed to break Jackson’s polyglot army.

Jackson also planned, if he could not hold the city, to burn it to the ground. The burghers were not informed of this, needless to say. The film has the location of the battle right. That and some of the names.

PS The Royal Navy earlier seized control of Lake Borne when ship’s boats boarded and seized a flotilla of US Navy gunboats in a bloody battle.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood

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