Battle of New Orleans
Near New Orleans, Louisiana
What happened
General Andrew Jackson led an American army against a British army led by General Sir Edward Pakenham. Britain sent an army to capture New Orleans near the end of the War of 1812. Jackson's defenders pulled back to the Rodriguez Canal south of the city and built ramparts, with the help of enslaved workers. The British attacked in darkness and heavy fog, but the fog lifted as they neared the American line, exposing them to American fire.
Why it matters
Result: American victory. Leader: Andrew Jackson / Jean Lafitte. Why it matters: It was a big American victory that made Andrew Jackson a national hero. It helped carry him to the presidency in 1829.
What came next
The British withdrew. January 8 was a federal holiday in the United States from 1828 to 1861.
Did you know?
The battle was fought after the peace treaty ending the war had already been signed in Europe, because news crossed the ocean so slowly.
Timeline
- December 24, 1814The Treaty of Ghent is signed in Belgium.
- January 8, 1815Jackson's army defeats the British at New Orleans.
- 1829Andrew Jackson becomes president.