War of 1812 Marker Ceremony in Ponchatoula

From the May  4, 2022, Hammond (Louisiana)  Daily Star.

When the British threatened New Orleans in January 1814, Louisiana men rallied to defend their city.  Among the militia men was Antoine Lavigne.  His and others effort led to the British defeat at  Chalmette on January 8.

A monument marking his grave will be unveiled at a ceremony  on May 7 at 10 a.m. at Collins Cemetery in Ponchatoula.

An honor guard from American Legion Post  47 in Ponchatoula as well as re-enactors in War of 1812 uniforms will also be there.  The public is invited to attend.

Antoine Lavigne has many ancestors in the area bearing names like Lavigne,   Hoover, Mitchell,  Perrin, Wells, Poche, Radford,  Raiford and Tucker.

Antoine Lavigne married Marie  Rousseau Lavigne and later settled on the east bank of the Tangipahoa River.  After the death of his wife, he remarried  Mary Elizabeth Hoover (Ouvre) Denelle,  widow of  Jean Baptiste  Denelle.

--Brock-Perry

Commemorating the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815 (205th Anniversary)

From the Jan. 8, 2020 WGNO ABC News "How you can celebrate  the Battle of New Orleans this week."

Wednesday, Jan. 8, morning events began with a wreath-laying ceremony at Chalmette Battlefield.

Also Wednesday, there will be a ceremony at Jackson Square in the French Quarter at noon.  The United States Daughters of 1812 are hosting the event.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving with Archbishop Gregory Aymond at Ursuline Academy , 2635 State Street.

In the Battle of New Orleans, General Andrew Jackson and the pirate Jean Lafitte joined forces  to defeat the British in the War of 1812.

On Friday and Saturday there will be American and British camps set up at Chalmette Battlefield inside the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.  Along with games, talks,  and story-telling, there will be people  dressed in period clothing.  There will be firing of cannons and muskets throughout the day.

--Brock-Perry

Chalmette National Cemetery-- Part 1: Next to the Chalmette Battlefield

From the May 28, 2018, WGNO (New Orleans)  "NOLA 300:  Memories of wars past at Chalmette National Cemetery" by Mark Deane.

The cemetery is located right next to Chalmette Battlefield where Andrew Jackson's outnumbered hodge-podge American army defeated the British at the famed Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812.

The Chalmette National Cemetery also contains the remains of four War of 1812 veterans.

--Brock-Perry

New Orleans' Jordan B. Noble-- Part 2: "Advanced the Cause of Black Freedom and Human Rights"

One music historian, Jerry Brock, said that Jordan Noble "was arguably the most celebrated black musician in 19th century New Orleans and in a life that bridged nine decades, Noble advanced the cause of black freedom and human rights."

On his death in 1890, the Daily Picayune headlines:  "Answered the Last Roll:  Death of the Drumer Boy of Chalmette," and noted "many will remember the white-headed old man and his well-worn drum."

--Brock-Perry

"Old Jordan" The Drummer of Chalmette-- Part 1

From 2009 New Orleans Nostalgia by Ned Hemard.

This is more information on the man whose drum from the Battle of New Orleans was recently auctioned off.

In New Orleans, Jordan Noble was generally called "Old Jordan" and "The Drummer of Chalmette."

Chalmette is another name for the battlefield where the Battle of New Orleans was fought.

He was 14-years-old at the Battle of New Orleans and had enlisted in the 7th U.S. Infantry.

During the Civil War he participated in the organizing of the Native Guards, General Benjamin Butler's 1st Regiment of Louisiana Native Guard.  He was sworn into service on September 27, 1862, the first black soldiers officially mustered into the Union Army.  The 2nd and 3rd Regiments of the group were organized in the next two months.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Battle of New Orleans Stamp Issued Back in January-- Part 2

Continued from January 6, 2015.

The Battle of New Orleans will have a re-enactment January 9-Jan 11th in which 1500 British and Americans will have encampments in Chalmette, where the battle took place.

They will act out five of the different battles that took place during the New Orleans Campaign.  This will take place about a mile away from the federal Chalmette Battlefield where the battle actually took place.  re-enactments are not allowed on federal battlefields.

I wish they would be allowed, however.

--Brock-Perry