Battle of New Orleans

Before news of the War of 1812 treaty even reached America, there was one last battle - the Battle of New Orleans.  On January 18, 1815 Jackson's troops overwhelmingly defeated the British.

Fought on the plains of Chalmette, the Battle of New Orleans was one of few American victories on land.  Andrew Jackson's badly organized assortment of men against one of Britain's veterans of Napoleon's war - 2000 Redcoat causalities vs. 21 Americans made it a psychological victory that made a national hero of Andrew Jackson.

On January 8, 1815 the main British column was to hit the American left.  A 2nd column was to attack along the river, a 3rd was to join whichever was more successful.  A 4th column, hampered by a lack of boats, crossed the river and defeated a Kentucky detachment before being ordered to retreat.  The American artillery forces were ready and waiting to mow down troops as they attacked.

The westerners, now free of Indian menaces, hailed Jackson as the new national hero and the port of New Orleans was safe.  America was feeling proud!

Next...a unique kind of  western explorer
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On this Day in Pioneer History: On March 7, 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for his revolutionary new invention–the telephone. Now that's a pioneer!