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Battle of New Orleans Timeline

(December 14, 1814 – January 18, 1815)

The Battle of New Orleans, fought on January 8, 1815, was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces led by General Andrew Jackson decisively defeated a much larger British invasion force, securing New Orleans and boosting American national pride—though it occurred after the Treaty of Ghent had already been signed. Less

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Road to Battle

Louisiana Purchase territories disputed

1800

Britain and their Spanish allies did not recognize the land deals made by Napoleon, starting with the 1800 Spanish cession of Louisiana to France, followed by the 1804 French sale of Louisiana to the United States. There was major concern that they wanted to reclaim the territories of the Louisiana Purchase.

Image source: Louisiana Purchase

Louisiana Purchase territories disputed

Cochrane convinces Admiralty to attack New Orleans

Aug 1814

In August 1814, Vice Admiral Cochrane convinced the Admiralty that a campaign against New Orleans would weaken American resolve against Canada and hasten a successful end to the war.

Britain and United States begin peace negotiations

Aug 1814

Britain and the United States began negotiations to end the War of 1812 in August 1814, even as military campaigns continued on multiple fronts.

Bathurst issues Pakenham's secret orders

Oct 24, 1814

British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Henry Bathurst issued Pakenham's secret orders commanding him to continue the war even if he heard rumors of peace.

Image source: Edward Pakenham

Bathurst issues Pakenham's secret orders

Prime Minister correspondence dated December 23, 1814

Dec 23, 1814

Historian Jon Latimer disputed claims of British annexation plans for Louisiana, citing specific correspondence from the Prime Minister to the Foreign Secretary dated December 23, 1814.

Image source: Battle of New Orleans

Prime Minister correspondence dated December 23, 1814

Treaty of Ghent signed ending War of 1812

Dec 24, 1814

The Treaty of Ghent formally ended the War of 1812 on December 24, 1814, though news had not yet reached the United States from Europe.

Image source: Treaty of Ghent

Treaty of Ghent signed ending War of 1812

Aftermath and Legacy

Virginia dominance in the presidency since 1800

1800

Virginia's dominance in the presidency since 1800 contributed to political tensions that later shaped the aftermath of the War of 1812, including northern discontent over federal policy.

Image source: War of 1812

Virginia dominance in the presidency since 1800

Hartford Convention leaders deliver demands

Jan 1815

Leaders of the Federalist Party of New England met at the Hartford Convention and decided to deliver a set of demands to the federal government in January 1815, amid economic discord caused by the war blockade.

Image source: Hartford Convention

Hartford Convention leaders deliver demands

Federalist Party extinct; Era of Good Feelings begins

1815 - 1825

From 1815 to 1825 there was single-party rule in Washington and an overwhelming feeling of patriotism due to the extinction of the Federalist Party, partly hastened by the war's end and Jackson's victory.

Image source: Era of Good Feelings

Federalist Party extinct; Era of Good Feelings begins

Hayne's dispatch reports heavy British casualties

Jan 13, 1815

Hayne's dispatch to Jackson dated January 13 estimated the British had 700 fatalities and 1,400 wounded, with 501 prisoners of war in his custody.

Treaty of Ghent ratified by United States

Feb 16, 1815

The Treaty of Ghent would not be ratified by the United States, and therefore did not take effect, until February 16, 1815, as news of the agreement had not yet reached America from Europe when the battle was fought.

Napoleon escapes Elba forcing British redeployment

Feb 26, 1815

It would have been problematic for the British to continue the war in North America due to Napoleon's escape from Elba on February 26, 1815, which ensured their forces were needed in Europe.

Image source: Napoleon

Napoleon escapes Elba forcing British redeployment

Jackson serves as seventh president of the United States

1829 - 1837

Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837, his fame built largely on his victory at Chalmette.

Image source: Andrew Jackson

Jackson serves as seventh president of the United States

Whig Party forms in opposition to Jackson

1833

The void left by the Federalist Party was replaced by the Whig Party, which came into being in 1833 in opposition to Andrew Jackson and his policies as President.

Image source: Whig Party (United States)

Whig Party forms in opposition to Jackson

The Gulf Campaign

Gulf Campaign begins at First Battle of Fort Bowyer

Sep 1814 - Feb 1815

The five-month Gulf Campaign (September 1814 to February 1815) by Britain aimed to take New Orleans, West Florida, and possibly the Louisiana Territory. It began with the First Battle of Fort Bowyer.

Image source: Fort Bowyer

Gulf Campaign begins at First Battle of Fort Bowyer

British fleet anchors in Gulf of Mexico

Dec 14, 1814

A fleet of British ships anchored in the Gulf of Mexico to the east of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne under the command of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane.

Image source: Battle of Lake Borgne

British fleet anchors in Gulf of Mexico

New Orleans campaign begins at Battle of Lake Borgne

Dec 14, 1814

Britain started the New Orleans campaign on December 14, 1814, at the Battle of Lake Borgne. Numerous skirmishes and artillery duels occurred in the weeks leading up to the final battle.

Main British army arrives and begins artillery bombardment

Jan 1, 1815

The main British army arrived on New Year's Day 1815 and began an artillery bombardment of the American earthworks near Chalmette.

British reinforcements under General Lambert arrive

Jan 5, 1815

General Lambert and two infantry battalions totaling 1,700 soldiers disembarked and reinforced the British forces on January 5, 1815.

Image source: John Lambert (British Army officer, born 1772)

British reinforcements under General Lambert arrive

Battle of New Orleans fought at Chalmette

Jan 8, 1815

The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815, between the British Army under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham and the United States Army under Brevet Major General Andrew Jackson, roughly 5 miles southeast of the French Quarter of New Orleans, in present-day Chalmette, Louisiana. The battle took place 15 days after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.

44th Regiment leads advance guard carrying fascines and ladders

Jan 8, 1815

The 44th Regiment of Foot was assigned by Pakenham to be the advance guard for the first column of attack on January 8, 1815, carrying the fascines and ladders needed to cross the ditch and scale the American ramparts.

Image source: 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot

44th Regiment leads advance guard carrying fascines and ladders

Attack launched eight hours late before daybreak

Jan 8, 1815

The British force started off just before daybreak, eight hours late according to Thornton's dispatch, assessed in 2008 to have been twelve hours late.

Siege train artillery arrives after battle

Jan 11, 1815

The transport ships with the 26 artillery pieces of the siege train did not arrive until January 11, too late for the main battle, and would not see action until the engagement at Fort Bowyer on February 7, 1815.

40th Foot disembarks too late for battle

Jan 12, 1815

Pakenham decided to wait for his entire force of 8,000 men to assemble before continuing his attack, but the 40th Foot arrived too late, disembarking on January 12, 1815.

Image source: 40th (the 2nd Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot

40th Foot disembarks too late for battle

Commemorations and Culture

Eaton's Life of General Jackson first published

1817

This watchword claim, as originated by Poindexter, was repeated in Eaton's Life of General Jackson, first published in 1817, contributing to the legend surrounding the battle.

Jackson uses battle song in presidential campaigns

1824 - 1828

In both 1824 and 1828 Jackson used the song commemorating the battle as his campaign song during his presidential campaigns. A second edition of Eaton's biography was also published in 1824 during his first presidential bid.

Eighth of January becomes federal holiday

1828 - 1861

The Eighth of January was a federal holiday from 1828 to 1861, among the earliest national celebrations alongside the Fourth of July and George Washington's birthday.

Watchword controversy becomes known in Great Britain

1833 - 1834

Following the publishing of James Stuart's travelogue in 1833 referring to the watchword, this hitherto unknown controversy became known in Great Britain. Five British officers who fought in the battle signed a rebuttal in August 1833, and Eaton's book published in Britain in 1834 still contained the story of 'booty and beauty'.

Memorial Hall dedicated to Jackson in New Orleans

Jan 8, 1891

The Louisiana Historical Association dedicated its Memorial Hall facility to Jackson on January 8, 1891, the 76th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.

Chalmette Battlefield established as national historical park

1907

The Federal government established a national historical park in 1907 to preserve the Chalmette Battlefield, which also includes the Chalmette National Cemetery. The battlefield was the plantation home of Ignace Martin de Lino, a Spanish veteran of the American Revolutionary War.

Image source: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Chalmette Battlefield established as national historical park

The Buccaneer film released starring Fredric March

1938

The Buccaneer, a 1938 American adventure film made by Cecil B. DeMille starring Fredric March, was based on Jean Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.

Image source: The Buccaneer (1938 film)

The Buccaneer film released starring Fredric March

The Buccaneer remake starring Yul Brynner released

1958

The Buccaneer, a 1958 pirate-war film starring Yul Brynner as Jean Lafitte and Charlton Heston as Andrew Jackson, is a fictionalization of the privateer Lafitte helping Jackson win the Battle of New Orleans.

Image source: The Buccaneer (1958 film)

The Buccaneer remake starring Yul Brynner released

Johnny Horton's The Battle of New Orleans reaches number 1

1959

Johnny Horton's cover of the Jimmy Driftwood song The Battle of New Orleans, which describes the battle from the perspective of an American soldier, reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959.

Image source: The Battle of New Orleans

Johnny Horton's The Battle of New Orleans reaches number 1

Sesquicentennial five-cent stamp issued

1965

A five-cent stamp in 1965 commemorated the sesquicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans and 150 years of peace with Britain.

Bronze statue honors Ephraim McLean Brank

2015

A bronze statue was dedicated in 2015 in honor of local soldier Ephraim McLean Brank, who, as legend has it, was the 'Kentucky rifleman' at the Battle of New Orleans.

Bicentennial celebrated with Forever stamp

2015

The bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans was celebrated in 2015 with a Forever stamp depicting United States troops firing on British soldiers along Line Jackson.

Key Facts

  1. The battle took place on January 8, 1815, roughly two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, because news traveled slowly across the Atlantic.
  2. General Andrew Jackson commanded a diverse force of about 4,000 regular troops, militia, free Black soldiers, Choctaw warriors, and even pirates led by Jean Lafitte.
  3. The British suffered approximately 2,000 casualties, including the death of their commander General Edward Pakenham, while American casualties numbered only around 70.
  4. Jackson's defensive line behind Rodriguez Canal, reinforced with cotton bales and earthworks, proved nearly impenetrable to British frontal assaults in open terrain.
  5. The overwhelming victory made Andrew Jackson a national hero, paving the way for his later election as the seventh President of the United States.

Source

This Battle of New Orleans timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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