The Battle of New Orleans / including the Previous Engagements between the Americans / and the British, the Indians and the Spanish which led to / the Final Conflict on the 8th of January, 1815

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25699

Title

The Battle of New Orleans / including the Previous Engagements between the Americans / and the British, the Indians and the Spanish which led to / the Final Conflict on the 8th of January, 1815

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Z.F. Smith's 1904 account details the War of 1812, focusing on British hostility toward the U.S. and the pivotal Battle of New Orleans. Drawing on extensive archives, the narrative explores the strategic defenses, the controversial retreat of Kentucky militia, and the eventual American victory under General Jackson.

Summary up to 500 words

In his 1904 historical account, Z.F. Smith chronicles the lead-up to the Battle of New Orleans, arguing that British actions following the 1783 Treaty of Paris provoked the conflict. Smith contends that Britain's retention of forts and issuance of Orders in Council, which restricted American commerce and armed Native Americans, were acts of hostility rather than mere diplomatic friction. The Filson Club selected three key battles of the War of 1812: Tippecanoe, the Thames, and New Orleans, viewing the latter as the culminating victory that secured American honor. Smith meticulously describes the American defensive line established by General Morgan and Commodore Patterson on the west bank of the Mississippi. He notes significant vulnerabilities in this position, particularly the open plain extending from the fortified breastwork to the swamp, which left the right flank exposed to flanking maneuvers. A central theme of the book is the defense of the Kentucky militia's reputation. Smith refutes General Jackson's infamous criticism that the Kentuckians "ingloriously fled." He details how the Kentucky troops were stretched thin, covering a mile of open ground with only 170 men and lacking artillery support. Facing superior numbers and a coordinated British assault, their retreat was a tactical withdrawal under orders to avoid encirclement, not a cowardly rout. The narrative covers the British landing at daybreak on January 8, the initial American resistance, and the subsequent retreat of the militia to the main line. Smith utilizes primary sources, including reports from British officers like Gleig and Latour, to provide a balanced view of the engagement. He highlights that Commodore Patterson's artillery was masked by the retreating troops, preventing its use against the enemy. The book concludes with the American victory, the recrossing of the river by the British, and the vindication of the Kentucky militia's honor, acknowledging the chaotic nature of the final conflict while affirming the bravery of the forces involved.

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4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Military History