On June 18 1812, The United States declared war on Great Britain. The causes of the war are varied, including Britain's attitude regarding American expansionism. But the central cause revolved on Britain's war with Napoleonic France. Britain had imposed a trade embargo on France, but the United States regarding these trade restrictions as against international law. Moreover, American ships attempting to trade with the French that were caught by British ships often had their crews impressed into the British navy.
So it became a matter of national honor.
The war was not popular in the New England States who refused to send militia units into the fight against England. The British took full advantage by blockading only American southern ports -- not New England ports who were actively trading with the British despite the war.
So from the start, things were not going all that well as far as America was concerned.
Then on August 24 1814, the British burned Washington and President Monroe was forced to flee to Virginia. But eventually, a stalemate ensued. Further, the main reasons for the conflict ceased to exist as Napoleon was defeated and exiled to Elba. So both sides, not wanting to continue the costly conflict sent delegates to Ghent, Belgium to open peace negotiations. On December 24, this peace treaty was agreed upon (though not yet ratified by the U.S. Government).
But in 1814, news traveled slowly. British and American forces in the southern theater of operations were unaware of the negotiations and the eventual treaty. So in late 1814, an American force under General Andrew Jackson was sent to New Orleans to ward off a British invasion.
Upon arrival, Jackson discovered that the city had not taken any measures as of yet to defend itself and could only contribute about 1,000 troops to that end.
But there were also cannon available. Better yet, there were experienced gunners to man the cannon as well as many experienced sailors in the city.
There was just one problem. Many of these experienced gunners and sailors were in jail. They were from a band of pirates and smugglers under Jean Lafitte. Lafitte's own brother was among the interned. There were also many other of Lafitte's men in New Orleans who were not jailed, but who were unhappy with the local government who had just recently raided their encampment.
Jackson met with Lafitte, and promised amnesty to any one of his men who agreed to help fight the British. Lafitte agreed.
The British, 10,000 strong, were commanded by General Sir Edward M. Packenham. A vanguard of around 1,800 men under General John Keane reached the east bank on the Mississippi nine miles south of New Orleans on December 23.
When Jackson learned of this that afternoon, he vowed that "By the Eternal, they shall not sleep on our soil".
That evening he led a force of around 2,100 men and attacked the surprised British from the north. The attack didn't amount to much and might have even been considered to be a British victory. But it did make Keane hesitant about immediately marching on New Orleans. He decided to wait until the rest of the army came up.
Jackson now had a chance to set up his main defense line, transforming the Rodriguez Canal into a heavily fortified earthwork about four miles south of the city. He had around 4,000 men to man the position.
And it was a good position. Jackson had the Mississippi River to protect one flank, and a swamp to protect the other.
Once General Packenham arrived on the scene, he began probing attacks on the earthworks. Once the British withdrew, Jackson began placing the artillery to protect the earthworks. Lafitte's experienced men then manned the cannon.
The main British force arrived on the scene on New Year's Day 1815. An artillery exchange began. Some of Jackson's guns were knocked out, but again British caution prevented an immediate assault on the earthworks.
Early in the morning on January 8, the main British assault began. It was a two-pronged affair. One brigade of 780 men was to cross the Mississippi, and attack an American artillery emplacement that was protecting their right flank. This attack, if successful, would allow the British to pour enfilading fire down on the American line. But the attack, though mostly successful, got off to a late start and did not influence what was about to happen next.
The main attack against the earthworks began protected by a heavy fog. But as the British neared the American position, the fog lifted and the they were subjected to withering volleys of grapeshot from the cannon as well as heavy musket fire. (Grapeshot is a canvas bag filled with small bits of metal. The effect is like firing a large shotgun.)
Also, Lt. Colonel Thomas Mullins, the commander of the assault forgot to bring along the scaling ladders to cross the canal and scale the earthworks.
Most of the British senior officers were killed or wounded, and many of the men simply lied down in the canal unable to go either forward or backward. The Americans fired down at them with more grapeshot and musket fire causing massive casualties.
British forces following up fared little better. A few men were able to scale the earthworks but were either killed or wounded. Packenham was killed along with more senior officers.
For twenty more minutes, the British, with most of the senior officers either dead or wounded, were without orders. They simply stood there on the field absorbing more casualties from grapeshot and musket fire.
Finally, General John Lambert assumed command and ordered a withdrawal.
The British suffered more than 2,000 casualties, while the Americans suffered only 71 killed, wounded, and missing. It was a stunning victory for Jackson and the American army.
With the defeat, Lambert, despite receiving additional reinforcements, decided that to continue the campaign to take New Orleans would be too costly. He embarked his army on ships and retired to Biloxi, Mississippi.
During British preparations to attack Mobile, the news of the peace treaty arrived.
The War of 1812 was now over in practicality as well as officially via the peace treaty.
