USS Louisiana (1812): The Battle of New Orleans

From Wikipedia.

Sloop of war built in New Orleans, launched 1812, broken up in 1821.

341 tons, 99 feet long, 28-foot beam.  Mounted sixteen 24-pdrs.

Originally built as a merchant ship for $15,510.

Commanded by Captain Charles C.B. Thompson.

From 23 December 1814, to January 8, 1815, fired on the advancing British troops in support of Andrew Jackson.

The lack of wind caused crew members to go ashore and they had to tow the ship upriver against the current.

Played a key role in the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

Jordan Noble's Battle of New Orleans Drum At Auction-- Part 2: In Four Wars

Jordan Bankston Noble lived from 1800 to 1890 and he beat the roll to arms for Andrew Jackson's troops at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.

He was one of the most revered figures in New Orleans for that.

After the battle, he continued his military service.  He was again with Andrew Jackson in 1836, at the Second Seminole War as a member of te Louisiana Volunteers.  During the Mexican War he was with the Washington Artillery and in the Civil War he was on the Union side as the captain of Company C, 7th Louisiana Volunteer Infantry.

--Brock-Perry

Drum of Jordan Noble Used at Battle of New Orleans At Auction-- Part 1

From the November 21, 2016, WGNO ABC News "Drum used in War of 1812 up for auction."

Jordan Bankston Noble was a slave who became a free man and then became Andrew Jackson's official drummer.  Neal Auction Co. has his original drum used at the Battle of New Orleans and will auction it off December 2nd.

(I have been unable to find out how much it went for, but sure hope a public institution was able to come up with the funds to buy it so it can remain something the public can see.)

I also did more research on Jordan Noble and am surprised I had not heard of him before.  I will be writing more about him.

--Brock-Perry

Henderson County Also Named for Col. James Henderson of the War of 1812

From the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

Henderson County was created in West Tennessee by an act of the Tennessee legislature on November 7, 1821, and named for Colonel James Henderson, who served under Andrew Jackson and commanded Tennessee troops at the Battle of New Orleans.

Several of the county's early settlers also served under Henderson's command during the war and during the Natchez and Creek campaigns.

A Lot of War of 1812 Connection in Tennessee.  --Brock-Perry

Tennessee's William Carroll-- Part 2: War of 1812 Service

William Carroll gained his military reputation during the War of 1812.  He organized and served as captain of a volunteer company.  Andrew Jackson appointed him brigade inspector for the campaigns to Natchez in 1812 and against the Creek Indians in 1813.

On the 1813 campaign, he participated in several battles before sustaining a severe wound during Jackson's victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.  Even with this severe wound, Carroll returned to the field and assumed command of the Tennessee militia, after Jackson was promoted to major general in the regular army.

Carroll's troops provided Jackson with crucial reinforcements which helped him win the Battle of New Orleans.

Because of his contributions at New Orleans, Carroll came out of the war with a reputation second only to that of Jackson himself.

--Brock-Perry

Thomas Hart Benton in the War of 1812

From the Civil War in Missouri.

Thomas Hart Benton was born into a wealthy Virginia family in 1782 and later moved to Tennessee.

During the War of 1812, he offered his services to Col. Andrew Jackson who made him his aide-de-camp.  Benton engaged the Creek Indians but really wanted to fight the British.  He would get that chance with Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans.

He was so proud of that, that for years afterwards he signed his correspondence "Lieutenant Colonel. 39th Infantry."

In 1815, he moved to Missouri Territory.

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Keown, Veteran of America's Forgotten War-- Part 1

From the October 26, 2016, Bellevue (Illinois) News-Democrat "Veteran of America's 'forgotten war' is remembered' by Curt Libbra.

Andrew Keown was with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 on January 8, 1815 as a member of the Kentucky militia.

He returned to Kentucky after the war and married.  Eventually, he and his family moved to Illinois, purchased land and raised a family.

He died in 1880 at the age of 86.   Burial took place in the Vincent Cemetery between Alhambra and Livingston.  The cemetery was neglected over the years and became overgrown as well as a dumping ground.  The cemetery has now been restored.

--Brock-Perry

Texas War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 31: Zadock Woods

ZADOCK WOODS  September 18, 1773-September 18, 1842

Buried at Monument Hill Cemetery, LaGrange, Texas.

Born in Brookfield, Massachusetts.  Married Minerva Cottle.  Moved to Missouri about 1802 and established a "fort" at Woodville, near Troy, Missouri.

During the War of 1812, Zachary Taylor garrisoned at Woods Fort and Zadock Woods later served with Jackson at New Orleans.

--Brock-Perry

Texas War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 12: Elisha Henry Robert Wallis

ELISHA HENRY ROBERT WALLIS  (1781-1846)

Born in Georgia.  Married in Louisiana in 1814.  That same year he enlisted in the 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division at Opelousas, Louisiana and fought at the Battle of New Orleans.

Moved from Louisiana to Texas in 1824 and settled at Wallis Hill.

He is buried at Wallis Hill Cemetery, a plaqued site.

Wallisville, Texas, an unincorporated town on the Trinity River is named after him.

--Brock-Perry

Texas War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 7: James Gibson Swisher

JAMES GIBSON SWISHER (1794-1862)

In the War of 1812 he served in Captain David Mason's company of Tennessee militia from August 18, 1813 to May 21, 1814, and in Captain John Donelson's company of United States Mounted Rangers from September 2, 1814, to September 2, 1815.

He participated in the two battles for New Orleans.

He and his family moved to Texas in 1833 and he was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.  He was a veteran of the Siege of Bexar.

Swisher County, Texas is named for him.

Buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 3: A War of 1812 Connection

The fort was built from 1806 through 1826.  For the Creek Indians, it became a center for deerskin trade with Europeans/Americans and was also on sacred ground.

It was named for Benjamin Hawkins who was still serving as General Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

During the War of 1812,  Andrew Jackson visited it and used it as a staging area for the Battle of New Orleans as well as during the Creek and Seminole wars.

After the war, it was used as militia headquarters and muster ground for the Georgia militia.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 2: A War of 1812 Connection

The fort was built from 1806 through 1826.  For the Creek Indians, it became a center for deerskin trade with Europeans/Americans and was also on sacred ground.

It was named for Benjamin Hawkins who was still serving as General Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

During the War of 1812,  Andrew Jackson visited it and used it as a staging area for the Battle of New Orleans as well as during the Creek and Seminole wars.

After the war, it was used as militia headquarters and muster ground for the Georgia militia.

--Brock-Perry

Tennessee in the War of 1812-- Part 6: Battle of New Orleans

Although much has been made about the fact that the Battle of New Orleans occurred after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed (December 24, 1814), it should be noted that the treaty was not ratified by the United States until February 1815, which meant that technically the war was still underway.  Of course, communications back then were much slower and the treaty was signed in Belgium and took quite awhile for it to reach the United States.

This victory catapulted Andrew Jackson to hero status throughout the country and started a political ascent that  led Jackson to the presidency.

--Brock-Perry

Tennessee in the War of 1812-- Part 5: The Battle of New Orleans

Andrew Jackson next pressed into West Florida, securing Pensacola by the end of 1814.  Reports of an impending British attack on New Orleans led him to that place with his hodgepodge army of backwoods militia from Tennessee and Kentucky, U.S. Army regulars, Choctow Indians, free blacks and pirates. They had to face Britain's elite who had defeated Napoleon.

Jackson's defensive strategy and the British commander's underestimation of American fighting ability led to their defeat at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815.

Tennessee troops, under General William Carroll and John Coffee, played an active role in the American victory.

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Open For Free Today

From the January 2, 2016, Brentwood Home Page "Hermitage admission is free on the anniversary of Battle of New Orleans."

There will be free activities, speeches, wreath-laying and book signings at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage on Jan. 8, 2016, marking the 201st anniversary of the battle.  There will also be a living history program

Visitors can see the newest exhibit, "Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm which features significant Jackson artifacts such as his presidential carriage and a gold presentation box given him for the victory in the battle.

Chalmette Battlefield, where the Battle of New Orleans  took place, is downriver from New Orleans.

The Hertmitage opened its doors to the public in 1889 and was one of the first presidential museums.

The state has 1,120 acres with 27 buildings including the mansion, his tomb and slave quarters.

It is a National Historical Landmark and has more than 180,000 visitors a year.

And, Today, It Is FREE!!  --Brock-Perry

Epraim Brevard Osborne, War of 1812 Medical Doctor

Buried in Salem Cemetery, Navarro County (or possibly Hill County)Medical doctor in the war and one of the few survivors of the Fort Mims Massacre.  His brother Spruce Osborne was killed there.  Ephraim was also at the Battle of New Orleans.

He married in 1818.

He died May 23, 1875, in Emmett, Navarro County.

A note from his son mentioned that Lt. Osborne was at Fort Mims and the Battle of New Orleans.  He added, "I have heard him tell of the breast works of cotton bales and of the dense fog that enveloped the whole face of the earth."

--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

Fort Gadsden-- Part 8: Blacks Left in Charge of the Fort

From Explore Southern History blog "Fort Gadsen state Historic Site which has photos and much more information.

Along with the British at the fort, there were some 2,000 Red Stick and Seminole warriors and 100 black soldiers (Colonial Marines), who were mostly made up of free black citizens but who had once been slaves.

These men were equipped, supplied and trained by British officers.

Some of the Colonial Marines based here took part in the failed attack on Fort Bowyer at Mobile Bar (near where Fort Morgan stands today).  Some were even at the Battle of New Orleans.

When the British left in May 1815, , the fort and its massive supply of small arms and ammunition was turned over to the Indians and blacks.  Under the command of Garcon.  Most of the Indians eventually returned to their villages, but Garcon, who had been a sergeant major in the Colonial Marines remained along with 80 yo 100 blacks.

It was during this period that it became known as "Negro Fort."

--Brock-Perry

The British Corps of Colonial Marines-- Part 2

The 1814-1816 reincarnation of the Colonial Marines saw action from Canada to Georgia.  they proved of great assistance because they had extensive knowledge of the lands where they were formerly enslaved.  They helped the British capture Washington, D.C..

The Colonial Marines also assisted in the British Southern Coastal Campaign and guarded their right flank in attack on and subsequent Battle of New Orleans.

At the end of the war they were transferred to Bermuda.

In 1816, they were ordered to Prospect Bluff, Florida where they defended a Spanish fort overlooking the Apalachicola River (Fort Gadsden).  American troops were threatening the fort which had a lot of escaped slaves who had gone there for protection, so many in fact that it was referred to as Negro Fort.

Major General Andrew Jackson attempted to capture it in July 1816 when he led a flotilla of American gunboats and troops.  They overran the stockade and forced the British force to surrender.  Many of the Colonial Marines were then enslaved again.

--Brock-Perry

Lyrics to Johnny Horton's "The Battle of New Orleans"-- Part 2

Again, please no singing along as you read them.

REFRAIN

"Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise
If we didn't fire our muskets
'Till we looked 'em in the eye
We held our fire
Till we seed their faces well
Then we opened up our squirrel guns
And really gave 'em....Well....

REFRAIN 2

"Yeah, they ran through the briars
And they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes
Where a rabbit couldn't go
They ran so fast
That the hounds couldn't catch them
On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.


"We fired our cannons 'till the barrels melted down
So we grabbed an alligator and fought another round
We filled his head with cannonballs and powdered his behind
And when we touched the powder off the gator lost his mind.

Refrains.

Think I'll have to Go Play This Song and Really Sing Along With It.  --Brock-Perry