The Battle of New Orleans

[@AtunSheiFilms]

One important point I forgot to mention was how ideally Jackson's rampart was placed. He had the river on his right flank and a boggy cypress swamp on his left, effectively creating a choke point. The British had two options: retreat, or attack head-on over open ground. No wonder Packenham was furious!

[@stephenle-surf9893]

Brilliant work fella. Know not wanting to sound like you're mother but, coats and umbrellas, where about are they?

[@panthercreek60]

Rather like Agincourt with the Brits as French and Americans as Brits

[@Gravelgratious]

The rain adds so much to the story ,great dedication!

[@CBfrmcardiff]

This is a short but high quality video. I'd never had come across an explanation as to the manouevres which led to that battle, to the geography (I'd always imagined a 'peninsula' in a literal sense), to the effect of swampy ground, to the little British flank attack, to any positive features of Packenham, and I'd never really understood the cultural importance of the battle for the USA (I know it played a big part in Jackson's political campaigns). I'd always imagined that the British had to attack up a steep hill, but the land at the ramparts looks perfectly flat. Were the British soldiers in the main attack basically impotent, then, if there was a canal (presumably impassable) between themselves and an enemy who was firing from behind a barricade? Would ladders even have helped? And presumably the actual line of fortifications was more formidable than the line of stakes in the ground? I understood that the Americans lost a handful of men in this debacle - were those casualties all incurred fighting the British attack across the Mississippi?

[@IronWarhorsesFun]

i am myself a Canadian and I found your voice impressions... hilarious! they were just great. also NO UMBRELLA???

[@totallynotalpharius2283]

My ancestors fought there Not at the battle , they just got into a drunken fight in new Orleans once

[@tonyoliver2167]

This 🤣🤣

[@superacer1]

Twice

[@BigBangAttack-mt6pz]

I'm pretty sure anyone with family members there doesn't need to go back very far for that result lol (not everyone obviously)

[@totallynotalpharius2283]

@@BigBangAttack-mt6pz we actually had a monument of a drunken uncle Billy beating up two Frenchmen dedicated in our town. We remember his sacrifice every year

[@kanakattack4408]

@@totallynotalpharius2283 God bless the crazy ol' Uncle Billy

[@oldsoul2560]

Dedication right there, continuing the video in the rain.

[@AlexChristian]

Paul Harrell levels of dedication. Big gun? Check. Lots of detail? Check. Continuing in the rain? Check.

[@christymccullough7306]

Only lightning stops a who dat lol

[@bradyrieger]

@@AlexChristian I don’t know how Paul Harrel got mentioned but Paul doesn’t stop for rain, sleet, or snow.

[@kurt14360]

@@AlexChristian nice to see a Paul Harrell shoutout on atun-shei’s channel

[@stirgy4312]

Excellent video.

[@garrettharriman6333]

"The Artillerymen did the bloodiest work that day." A sentiment that applies to every pitched battle since the invention of big guns.

[@thehistorybard6333]

3:39 "No, the enemy is here and I will fight him here" Hmm, where have we heard that before? * _Gettysburg_ movie flashback *

[@terencekreft482]

You do know Gettysburg was after the war of 1812, so that's not a flashback.

[@thejoester1011]

@@terencekreft482 Dude he's taking about the movie...

[@Eire_Aontaithe]

Yo, that's a flashfoward

[@ccody-long6915]

One of the men fighting on the side of the Americans was former General Jean Humbert. Humbert had been involved in the French Revolution and the subsequent French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. In 1798, he led a French expedition to Ireland in order to help irish republican rebels. During the expedition he defeated a force three times the size of his own at Castlebar. He immigrated to New Orleans in 1810, and after fighting in the battle became a school teacher.

[@michaelpowers2370]

@@MedjayofFaiyum he wouldn't he hated the man as he saw him as a threat(not entirely wrong)to the french republic which he was loyal to.As a descendant of Irish immigrants I find General Jean Humbert a controversial figure as he was committed to aiding an Irish revolution if only to cause trouble to Britain .During the expedition he used his Irish allies who were mostly farmers untrained and unused to warfare as literal cannon fodder at the battle of Castlebar . When the rebellion was finally put down a few weeks latter in the battle of Balimuck ,Humbert was able to negotiate a surrender for himself and his french soldiers while turning his back to the massacre of the poor brave Irishmen who thought he came to help them .Id recommend the book The year of the french by Thomas Flanagan which tells a fictionalized account of the 1798 French expedition to Ireland from all sides

[@westchesterfarmer4439]

Hi Cody-Long, for some reason, most modern accounts still give 2000 French+Irish versus 6000 British+Irish at Castlebar, the historian Thomas Pakenham puts the garrison at only 1,700, most of whom were Irish loyal militia. There may have been a larger number there previous to the battle, but they had been redistributed to form garrisons in local towns such as Foxford, and probably Killala. I suspect the figure 6000 refers to the total number in the county? The French numbered about 700 regulars, and a similar number in the Irish Legion. So yes, Humbert was outnumbered, but had more regulars under his command. Most would agree that Pakenham's THE YEAR OF LIBERTY is well researched, using contemporary accounts. Hope this is of interest.

[@westchesterfarmer4439]

@@michaelpowers2370 The treatment of the Irish rebels was very bad, but Humbert's French republicans had been equal or worse in their treatment of the Vendee peasants who had stayed loyal to the French king and their Catholic faith a few years before. Both conflicts were regarded as civil wars, cruelty is a common feature in such conflicts. May I suggest Thomas Packenham's 'Year of Liberty' for a well researched history of the 1798 uprising. By the way, I watched the series Year of the French, some years ago, it captures the period but I would look to Packenham for contemporary accounts. Regards.

[@michaelpowers2370]

@@westchesterfarmer4439 yes your right I know about the vendee uprising I also own the people's uprising Wexford 1798 by Daniel Gahan about the Wexford rising. Its a very sad truth that rebellions and civil wars are hell on earth for everyone involved, except for the people who profited from their aftermath. Is the miniseries year of the French still available somewhere because I would love to watch it

[@westchesterfarmer4439]

@@michaelpowers2370 I fear I'm unable to help, I recorded it on to video tape many years ago when it appeared on UK television, I subsequently transferred it to DVD. With occasional errors, its still a good series, watched it several times. With hindsight, 1798 Rebellion was a real tragedy for the Irish Catholics, when the French Revolution & Napoleon waged war on the Roman Catholic church, it provided a stimulus for the Crown and most people in the UK to lose their genuine fear of Papal intrigue, even the British Army permitted British and Emigre Catholics to hold commissions. I think it would have done the same in Ireland had not the rebellion re-confirmed old prejudices. I think the Duke of Wellington was right, if Irish Catholics were good enough to fight for the British Empire at Waterloo in 1815, they were good enough to have equal rights, three regiments had a majority that was Catholic Irish in that battle.

[@BrianRPaterson]

Exceedingly well done on the British accents, old boy. I'm Greek myself (from Glasgow), so I know a decent one when I hear it. Hopefully we'll be hearing more Greek when you cover the Battle of Thermopylae! I'm subscribing!

[@stpnwlf9]

Little known "fact": Leonidas' soldiers were mostly Irish!

[@kanakattack4408]

Hey whats with the Greeks and the Turks fighting each other

[@balsosnell2064]

You most definitely aren’t Scottish.

[@YourLocalIndieDood]

​@@kanakattack4408 fall of Constantinople, greek revolution, and several other wars

[@YourLocalIndieDood]

​@@balsosnell2064 that's harsh

[@Colminus]

Hey dude, fellow New Orleans tour guide here. This was a great video, thanks for making it. Keep 'em coming, see you in the streets!

[@zachwalker1963]

"They just stood there, and died..." *Crazy arm movements*

[@SYH653]

"...a nice Greek boy." Spot on accent there too. :D

[@maryllthemusicman1318]

wait so was he actually greek or was that just a joke i don't... i don't get what's going on

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

@@maryllthemusicman1318 Major Duncan MacDougall is a VERY Scottish name. And a very Scottish accent at 6:44 Yes, it's a joke.

[@tannertuner]

I’m from Georgia. My family is from Georgia going way back. My father was NOT a musician. But “The Battle of New Orleans” was one of the first songs I ever learned, along with “the Ballad of Jesse James.” He taught me to love history.

[@torinbrown8196]

"In 1814 we took a little trip," LOVE me some Johnny Horton!

[@florpyjohnson9531]

@@torinbrown8196along with colonel jackson down the mighty mississip'! love johnny horton. although, from what i heard in this video, i guess the victory wasn't as glorious as he made it out to be in the song, considering the british just retreated and in the end could have easily won with the artillery.

[@Cybermat47]

Interesting that you learnt American history in Georgia (I’m guessing this was in the Soviet era?).

[@alex.12378]

@@Cybermat47 The State of Georgia, not the country

[@billythedog-309]

These portrayals of the British are so accurate l could swear you are a Hollywood voice coach teaching some accent or other.

[@matthewarsenault6216]

I like when people speak of History without putting their personal belief in it he's just saying what happened Bravo

[@justinking7773]

all history has a bias. Anyone who says they're "just giving you the facts" is lying to you.

[@afriendlyrebel5709]

That's how it should be.

[@birddog7492]

Their has always been my store your story and the Truth.

[@IHateYoutubeHandlesVeryMuch]

@J M History itself is always changing due to more access to sources and tools to give a bigger picture. It was recently released that Edith Cavell may have been indeed a spy, despite historical accounts before then portraying her as a tragic victim. Re-writing her historical accounts as likely being a spy is in no way vile at all. There's a lot of truth in mainstream history, but many myths or plain false information remain to the public as fact due to being unchecked.

[@daryllamonaco3102]

You have an exceptional speaking ability and your are gifted presenter. I enjoy your videos very much and they are of profound depth and knowledge.

[@carolynbrightfield8911]

I'm an Australian and your history is fascinating. Given the current unrest (June 2020, Presidential election in November) I've been watching your Civil War videos - trying to get an understanding of how the past impacts the present etc. Years ago we had a NSW State Premier who was notoriously obssessed with the Civil War - to the point of "you're crazy". His name was Bob Carr (Labor/ "unions/left"). Now I know why he was so keen - your history effects us /the world. Thanks. Wonderful job.

[@valaudae1809]

Would have appreciated swinging the camera round to see the ground over which the British advanced.

[@ComedyJakob]

I very much enjoyed this man telling me the story of the Battle of New Orleans whilst being pummeled by rain. Your gumption and stick-to-it-iveness has earned my subscription.

[@chips989]

"that;s a nasty place to get hit by canister shot" I THINK MOST PLACES ARE

[@blankmind12]

I used to live in Arabi, within walking distance of the battlefield. I loved learning about the battle in school and I'm so happy to see you going into such detail about it! I love all your other videos as well. Please keep up the good work!

[@macfilms9904]

My (insert requisite number of Greats) ancestor, William McPherron followed Andy Jackson down to New Orleans and fought in the battle. He's probably rolling in his grave at all the British officers I play in reenactments etc.

[@TheManofthecross]

he would understand that reneactors are preserving history etc so he would be proud to see that history and what not is remembered and his work done. he would not mind at all really.

[@suzannehartmann946]

Nah someone has to play the bad guy lol

[@rixx46]

I have only just found your work and have been binging everything. It's so clear that you are doing this as a passion project not just jumping on the YT train. I am always impressed with your knowledge and the fact that you so often deliver your presentations without a cut or a flub - you must have to do a few takes to pull this off! I also like your use of graphics and music. Never overproduced - always informative and entertaining.

[@redhawk8476]

I've participated in 4 reenactments over the years at that battlefield. Thank you for spreading its forgotten story.

[@piethrower91]

Your determination to do this in one take in the rain is extremely admirable. But also, what a good story!

[@TheBeforewebegin]

Thanks!

[@c.w.johnsonjr6374]

Great video! Thank you for highlighting my state's history. I would like to add something. The British did attack Mobile in order to cut off trade to New Orleans but were repulsed in the September 14-16, 1814 Battle of Fort Bowyer.

[@nogoodnameleft]

Not only to cut off trade temporarily. That was the original invasion of New Orleans plan. They would have taken New Orleans by mid-October if they had taken Mobile in September. There was minimal swamp from Mobile to New Orleans unlike how later on they were forced to go through so many bayous and swamps and were exhausted by the time the Battle of New Orleans happened. General Sir Pakenham was in Europe and knew about the Treaty of Ghent negotiations. He didn't arrive in New Orleans until the final week of 1814 so he knew a treaty was already agreed to but would not end the war until it was ratified. He was also ordered to take New Orleans and Louisiana Territory despite the Ghent negotiations because that only covered the Canadian/U.S. border, not Louisiana. The British had government bureaucrats embedded in each military unit ready to take over New Orleans immediately because the British did not recognize the Louisiana Purchase. The UK and Spain (UK ally) VOIDED all treaties done by Napoleon, which meant according to them in 1814-15 Spanish Louisiana was illegally occupied by the USA. Jackson's victory guaranteed that no European power would ever try to take the Louisiana Purchase territory again. The Treaty of Ghent was essentially a feint to try to get the Americans to not defend New Orleans and Louisiana Territory efficiently. The treaty would have been torn up the second they occupied New Orleans, like Andrew Jackson said many decades later when asked "what was the point of New Orleans?" Read this: Drez, Ronald J. (2014), "The War of 1812, conflict and deception: the British attempt to seize New Orleans and nullify the Louisiana Purchase"

[@dizzlenizzel4422]

Bruuuuh your voiceovers are hilarious and i wish you were my history teacher in high school i never would've skips class 😆

[@pj2334]

I will be in that area next year and I can’t wait to tour the battlefield!

[@karenmilano2607]

There is a plantation house near the river that is the museum with artifacts from the battle.

[@stephenle-surf9893]

It's like seeing an American lindybeige! He loves history! Now, as an Englishman and therefore an expert on this matter may I offer some advice to a colonial. Get in out of the bloody rain before you catch your death man!😀😀😀

[@ennieminee4470]

Stephen Le-surf rain wont dare tread on a American

[@shane4371]

He needs to call something that isn't a Spandau a Spandau before he can truly be considered an American Lindybeige. ; )

[@JL999k]

Be fair, he doesn't yet ramble off topic enough but he's getting there! I only recently came across Aten-shei as I checked out his review of Gods & Generals (a ghastly Civil War film) but he's rapidly becoming one of my favourite channels.

[@johnjones_1501]

@t t It's southeastern United States rain though. It is like standing in your warm shower. You are not going to get sick from it.

[@Bimon1234567]

He's not enough of a weirdo to be called "an American lindybeige".

[@robertcurry389]

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 United we stand, divided we fall.

[@mugsnvicki]

I think one of the end results of the Treaty of Ghent was "status ante bellum", which meant if New Orleans had been taken, it would have been returned. A battle for naught.

[@TheManofthecross]

note this was brokered by Russia no less who wanted the british to remain focoused on Europe and did not want the fighting in the Americas at all. on top of the cultural similarities etc as a side thing but mostly with the brits on a two front war like that would give the French a chance to rebound and win on the contantint or at least give the crippled French fleet a chance to pull off some minor upsets and try to distrupt the british supply lines.

[@militaryhistoryguy827]

Yeah but do you really think the British would have simply handed over an very important city like New Orleans to the US simply because a treaty said they were supposed to? They would have definitely tried to renegotiate at the very least, especially if they had still won the battle and still suffered heavy casualties. They would have been in a position of power to stick it the the US who had just given them a bloody nose in any case. It wasn’t a battle for naught.

[@mugsnvicki]

And don't think like a 21st century commentator, but rather think like a 19th century politician. The UK had just finished with the Napoleonic Wars. I believe you could say it was war weary.

[@tonyoliver2167]

@@mugsnvicki Good point, sometimes we have to take our minds out of our 21st century experiences and values and put them into a historic context.

[@judahkaresh2429]

@@militaryhistoryguy827 Yes, both sides knew that there could be further developments after the signage of the treaty but before the news reached the front, as could be the case after any renegotiations. The British knew that they might succeed in New Orleans, but they offered status quo anyways. Trying to push for better terms would've meant more fighting, which Britain did not want, and would have galvanized the American public far more than the war-weary British, who by and large did not really care about what was going on in the New World.

[@Chris_the_Dingo]

Informative video! My grt-grt-grt grandfather, John J. Jones, was a Welsman who settled in Tennessee. He served under Jackson as a major in a Tennessee regiment. After the war, for reasons unknown, he returned to the UK. He lived in Ireland until the 1840s, at which point he returned to Tennessee for the remainder of his life.

[@Mottleydude1]

My favorite story about Andrew Jackson is that as young man in his mid to late 20’s was the leader of a roustabout surveying crew gang in Kentucky. He was in a pub one night getting rowdy with his crew and bragging about how no man had ever whipped him in a fight. He then made the mistake of sucker punching Simon Kenton whom Jackson had never met. Kenton was about 20 years older, did not fight for fun and was most definitely not a man to be trifled with. In about 1 minute Jackson discovered that this was a man he could not whip. Within 2 minutes he discovered just how bad a mistake he had made as he was laying bloody on the floor and fortunately for Jackson some of Kenton’s friends pulled him off of Jackson just as Kenton was about to tomahawk him. Jackson had to have been blind stinking drunk to have been crazy enough to start a fight with Simon Kenton.

[@arcraventree]

My fifth great grandfather, Major Augustus d’Avezac was Jackson‘s aide during the battle.

[@JeriScarborough]

You're an absolute joy to watch. Tgis kind of story-telling is what people need to keep attention, and we absorb the facts so well, so thank God for your channel. Those accents are great😁👍

[@benketengu]

Thank you so much you did a much better job than the narrated movie I saw at the battlefield in the early 70s we moved away from Metairie Louisiana a suburb of New Orleans to Dallas in the middle of my fifth grade. Of course my memory could be faulty, that was a long ago. Thank you so much

[@surenvision6989]

Hey good story telling, very efficient use of pop-up pics and info, and top points of presenting History in this form. Tends to appeal beyond those (like myself) who enjoy history. Improvements: Different camera angles when you speak.

[@tegunn]

cannister shot are composed of ball, the "forks" scrap metal loaded as a round is called langrage

[@craigkdillon]

thanks. didn't know that.

[@stflaw]

Hey, watch your langrage!

[@mkpleco]

Great song, ZZ Tops "la grange".

[@bjw8806]

One might add the the port Hudson battle in/near Baton Rouge actually was the first time African American troops were led by African American leadership.

[@bjw8806]

Patzner Cameron it was. Still the first instance in American history

[@truemakale]

Who was the leadership you're referencing? In trying to look this up, the only black regiment I can find in that battle was the "Corps D'Afrique" of the "United States Colored Troops" led by Daniel Ullman (not black).

[@TomBennett1]

@Patzner Cameron there was never a African commander of African troops in the civil war they didn't let the Africans out of fear that they wouldn't have good leadership and not know what to do so they assigned officers to lead them only in the North. The South never had any soldiers of African descent they only had started to draft African soldiers after 1865 and the war was already lost for the Southern State's.

[@francoantonelli7723]

Really, hmmmmm....

[@grapeshot]

@@TomBennett1 yes the commander of the black New Orleans unit that fought in the Battle of Port Hudson was black.

[@marvinthiessen3454]

Johnny Horton sang the popular hit "Battle of New Orleans" in the early 1960's. The lyrics are comical. At one point in the song "the cannons melted down so they grabbed an alligator, powdered his behind and shot another round". It's on You Tube.

[@nogoodnameleft]

Number 1 song in the USA for 1959. Well deserved.

[@Peyote1312]

You don’t say?

[@scottbivins4758]

And the British met the South Pet gators... 😂

[@jjham6780]

thats also untrue though and that never actually happened. sorry to spoil the fun :(

[@MarvinThiessen]

@@jjham6780 What's "untrue"?

[@michaelg2519]

I only recently came across your channel and I enjoy it quite a bit. I would very much encourage you remake or expand on this video. I don’t mean to imply it is insufficient, you’ve done a wonderful job, but what I feel is so the most interesting part of the whole battle (the eclectic rabble assembled by Jackson) is just a foot note at the end of the video! Your channel is obviously evolved more since you made this video, but it seems so much more on brand to focus on the people involved and any potential effects that had on Orleans culture. I honestly don’t know the answer, my area of focus is far from New Orleans, but I’d love to hear a breakdown from you in your style. Keep up the good work.

[@rickh7676]

Would love to see your take on some battles of the peninsula war…

[@ennieminee4470]

The 4 dislike were those inept rustics!

[@skitariiranger4346]

3 of them are, the 4th is the gator

[@ms.creepylee]

Thanks for this video! I walk my dog through the battlefield all the time. It's nice to hear a fun tour guide type video rather than the stale textbook reading style.

[@keenonhopple4824]

Andy, you are the best KZbinr on this app.

[@chrisbuchheit]

Crazy enough, I visited this battlefield around the same day you did. I wonder if we just missed each other. I left right before the rain started.

[@darrenanderson1233]

Good history with a good piece of humor, thx you.

[@RichardAHolt]

My direct ancestor Micajah Fly was a Corporal in Capt. Mullen's Co., 1st Reg. West TN Militia. His company was engaged during the battle in the center of the defensive breastworks.

[@ardalla535]

After watching this I was inspired to watch "New Orleans Wins the War," Randy Newman

[@overlordcacius]

Lake ponchartrain: best proof against the flat earth.

[@Rixoli]

to give you an idea. Grapeshot and Canister shot are different types of loads, but fulfill the same purpose: clearing the field. Grape shot was essentially a dozen large balls loaded wrapped in canvas or rope bundling meant to burn away as the gunpowder ignites. Essentially the name comes from the rounds resembling overly large grapes. Canister shot on the other hand is, as he mentions in the video, a literal canister crammed full of shot/musket balls or whatever they could get their hands on in emergency situations. In naval/emergency situations, it isn't actually unheard of for troops to stuff the canister full of tableware as jokingly portrayed in Pirates of the Carribean's earlier films. Forks are dangerous things in the right hand, a tin full of forks; spoons and knives being sent screaming down the field at several hundred feet per second is utterly fucking terrifying even if it's not meant to be a practical piece of ammunition. For context of how utterly terrifying canister shot would be, here is a portrayal of Grape Shot, and it's worth remembering the spray/scattering would likely be tens of magnitudes more intense likely if this had been Canister shot. Fair warning, the scene is VERY NSFW: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaiYqoyQjcyNkKM

[@phlippbergamot5723]

I felt some Lindybeige vibes going on in this video. Well done! Congrats on 100k subs!

[@LesHaskell]

How long was it before North America heard about the end of the war that was decided over in Europe. My 3rd great grandparents got married in March, 1815 in Canada (probably in Nova Scotia, maybe New Brunswick). Caleb Haskell was from Newburyport, Massachusetts (son of a Patriot in the Revolution, also named Caleb) and Fannie Matilda Betts was from Saint John, New Brunswick (daughter of a Loyalist from New York - Queen's Rangers and DeLancey's Cowboys and all that).

[@BigBangAttack-mt6pz]

5:11 That was the mark KZbin put me at and while unrelated to the topic that quote was very fitting and helped in getting me to start using my brain again

[@LesHaskell]

Here in Nashville we celebrate the Battle of New Orleans every year on the anniversary, which also happens to be Elvis Presley's birthday. Free admission at the Hermitage. A few years ago I was taking advantage of that and I met a guy there I knew from work whose nickname was Elvis, and he had an Elvis Presley t-shirt on. What a coincidence.

[@faybyshe]

I could watch ANYTHING this guy makes!!!

[@ctbaw9484]

After the battle, during the clean-up a lot of British Napoleonic veterans freely admitted that this was the worst fighting they had seen.

[@TheManofthecross]

and yet even if it was not it still would not matter much at all cause those guys would be upset on the treaty anyway.

[@thunderbird1921]

The War of 1812 was nasty in so many ways. Thankfully, it would be the last time the US and Britain ever fought a true war. There were sour relations for many decades obviously, but at least both governments began settling disputes as diplomatic gentlemen instead (see the peaceful resolution of the Oregon Territory dispute).

[@nogoodnameleft]

@@TheManofthecross Wrong. General Sir Pakenham was in Europe and knew about the Treaty of Ghent negotiations. He didn't arrive in New Orleans until the final week of 1814 so he knew a treaty was already agreed to but would not end the war until it was ratified. He was also ordered to take New Orleans and Louisiana Territory despite the Ghent negotiations because that only covered the Canadian/U.S. border, not Louisiana. The British had government bureaucrats embedded in each military unit ready to take over New Orleans immediately because the British did not recognize the Louisiana Purchase. The UK and Spain (UK ally) VOIDED all treaties done by Napoleon, which meant according to them in 1814-15 Spanish Louisiana was illegally occupied by the USA. Jackson's victory guaranteed that no European power would ever try to take the Louisiana Purchase territory again. The Treaty of Ghent was essentially a feint to try to get the Americans to not defend New Orleans and Louisiana Territory efficiently. The treaty would have been torn up the second they occupied New Orleans, like Andrew Jackson said many decades later when asked "what was the point of New Orleans?" Read this: Drez, Ronald J. (2014), "The War of 1812, conflict and deception: the British attempt to seize New Orleans and nullify the Louisiana Purchase"

[@TheManofthecross]

@@nogoodnameleft ah ok then that would explain it.

[@nathanirby4273]

Come out to Chalmette this weekend for the reenactment of the Battle!

[@daroth7127]

props for recording through the downpour

[@rexfrommn3316]

You mentioned canister rounds from the cannons. However, the musket soldiers and militiamen in General Andrew Jackson had buck and ball rounds and specially handmade buckshot rounds for their muskets. Thees turned the muskets of the Americans into shotguns. The buck and ball rounds used in George Washington's Army in the Revolutionary War were three .22 caliber buckshot with a .69 caliber ball or similar caliber ball. Later on the American Army switched to a standard three .30 caliber balls and a .69 caliber round ball. These buck and ball rounds were useful out to a hundred meters but best at close range of 50 meters. A regimental volley of these buck and ball rounds at 50 meters were an automatic mass casualty event for the receiving team. Experienced Noncoms and soldiers learned how to make their handmade own special "buckshot" rounds out of artillery canister rounds with anywhere from 12 to 24 buckshot. A reserve of men were often kept with these special handmade buckshot rounds for a special treat for the enemy when they got in close range. One buckshot round from a musket at say ten or 15 meters often killed or maimed two or three enemy soldiers with a single shot. A single shot of buckshot at ten or 15 meters would literally shred a human body into absolute bloody strawberry jam with arms or limbs or a head blown completely off. A good buckshot pattern at close range into an enemy soldier's abdomen would literally disembowel the human body. These muskets with buck and ball rounds were terrible and nasty weapons at close range. Buckshot rounds were used routinely and it became a "point and shoot" affair making warfare almost idiot proof for the poorly trained militia soldiers. Mass carnage was inflicted almost everytime a regiment of militia soldiers waited behind cover for an enemy to advanced to under 50 meters. Buck and ball rounds and buckshot rounds were used in every American war including the Civil War. Many regiments didn't want to give up their smoothbore muskets and buck and ball rounds because they were so deadly and highly effective at close range. The main reason Jackson won at New Orleans was the tried and true buck and ball and buckshot rounds fired from smoothbore weapons behind entrenchments. www.davide-pedersoli.com/rivista-dettaglio.asp/l_fr/idne_89/69-ball-buck-and-ball-and-buckshot-cartridges-of-the-us-army.html

[@vincivedivicilextalionas4036]

Thank you for the giant lecture on the buckshot.

[@Mike-im5bo]

A good presentation! Kudos! If I may insert my two cents worth; 1.) Pakenham, because he was related to the Duke of Wellington and was socially promient, his body was shipped home in a cask of rum to preserve it. The sailors, not knowing he was in there, drank from that cask on the way home. YUM!!! 2.) The First Louisiana Native Guards pre-dated the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. They were enrolled into the Union army in September 1862 in New Orleans. The regiment was composed of what was then called "Free people of color" from Louisiana. They had black officers. They saw their first major action on May 27, 1863 at Port Hudson, Louisiana, over a month before the 54th Mass made their attack at Battery Wagner.

[@TheManofthecross]

but It was the attack at battery wagner and it being the first pure northern raised unit that gives it the promance that it has.

[@madmike5621]

Every battle has a turning point for victory or defeat. Well done and nicely presented ... even during multiple rain showers. :-)

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

I have been enjoying your channel so much!! THANK YOU

[@ststammers2056]

The way I heard it told was we fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down So we grabbed an alligator and we fired another round We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind And when we touched the powder off the gator lost his mind

[@bobpobcf9723]

That is exactly what happened. Can confirm am a gator

[@timbuktu8069]

@@bobpobcf9723 Give or take a lie or two. -Sunset

[@bobpobcf9723]

@@timbuktu8069 yeah. Plus, minus + -

[@ladymaiden2308]

The voices you do are excellent

[@ryanmichael1298]

Great video, thanks so much.

[@stevenberg9103]

Truely a great victory for the US when they were fighting for freedom. Good job on the video thank you

[@karther1058]

I appreciate your work.

[@HistoryWithAnthonyO]

Love the shots from The Buccaneer (1958). Yul Brenner and Charelton Heston were beasts.

[@SamboFilmProductions]

Greetings; I really love your videos. I am not sure if you bring this up in a later video, but a slight correction; the 54th Mass. was not the first regiment of African Descent to fight in the Civil War. That honor goes to the 1st Kansas that fought at battle of Island Mound. Also, New Orleans gives us the 1st Louisiana Native Guards (a regiment that was originally confederate militia) before the 54th; and that was initially staffed with officers of African-Descent.

[@Jedigrandmaster6637]

🎵 In 1814, we took a little trip, 🎵

[@1rwjwith]

Absolutely fantastic video...they should have kids in history class watch this so they learn something of what really happened.

[@tomservo5347]

For a British veteran to state that the fire he went through attacking the American positions was the absolute worst he'd EVER seen says a lot about Old Hickory's defensive position. He knew about as well as anyone else fighting the British in the open wasn't a good idea for his largely loosely disciplined group of pirates, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi militia, free men of color, backwoodsman, Choctaw warriors, Cajuns, Creoles. The very center of his line was held by 58 US Marines (tough SOB's who repelled the famous Highlander unit), 968 crusty US Army regulars and 106 US Navy sailors. Roughly 300 American casualties against more than 2,000 British shot down is extraordinary.

[@tomservo5347]

@@williambodin5359 So right. It's very fortunate for the Americans that the Mississippi current took the British flanking force way down river, delaying them as they did take the batteries stationed on the other side but it was too little, too late. Of note the Army unit of 968 men stood 4 ranks deep, with the rear ranks loading and passing ready to fire muskets to the front that enabled a withering, devastating rate of fire. Since they defended from behind bales of cotton (ingenious impromptu defense) they're known to this day as the 'Cotton-Balers'. The Highlander unit lost all of it's officers, (Jackson had quite a few riflemen on his side-and guess who the most brightly decorated, inviting targets are) and without orders to advance or retreat they simply stood there getting shot to pieces. Says a lot about British discipline-but it can be detrimental to initiative and flexibility.

[@windwalker5765]

Generals took a long time-about 100 years-to realize that you couldn't assault a dug-in enemy in the age of gunpowder. This mistake was repeated in the Civil War at Fredericksburg and Pickett's Charge, then again and again in World War I.

[@TheManofthecross]

but still doable to beat them in open field I mean look at some of there defeats in open field in Europe etc. it can be done especially in the wars of the first and second coloition this happened to. but yeah best way to do that is force them to attack fortified positions head on as much as possible will do the trick just fine knock out the officers and that will be enough to get it done in terms of casulities inflicted.

[@TheManofthecross]

@@williambodin5359 indeed though use of carcaus and quick lime shot and other types of shot could had done wonders but as with the use of quick lime in battle while very effective you run the risk that the enemy will rightfully use it right back against you and then some.

[@TheManofthecross]

@@windwalker5765 the Fredericksburg one you can fogive bernside a lot more the lee (there is a video explaining this.) was that the assult on prospect hill was the main target and marties heights was a diversionary assult but due to him working with lee's reputation for pulling off upsets on attacks he had to make a difficult call to send in the reserves in several more attacks to cover the retreat or not and risk protentually losing a lot more then what happened.

[@chrissanchez2998]

I saw the Battle of New Orleans Battlefield it was an honor I enjoyed New Orleans it was beautiful

[@michaelfuller2153]

Hey, I have stood right where you are. :-) Worked at Chalmet Refining, years ago.

[@mikewilburn5884]

Very good presentation. Thank you.

[@tjhagen1558]

Despite the alligator canon being fictional, this is still a legendary story.

[@stirgy4312]

Excellent video

[@keiferbell6968]

Smart move not posing in front of the giant chemical factory. good Vietnamese right near there Jackson barracks is good history nearby too

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@MrPennywise1540]

I'm from Argentina, and even though, your exposition was fascinating

[@bottomlinebassin2001]

Very interesting piece of history. War of 1812 history is fascinating to me as I grew up near a battle site. "In 1795 a cannon battery constructed on the Point Peter peninsula became the southernmost fortification in the First System of U.S. coastal defenses. Vacated in 1802, it was reoccupied and strengthened in 1808 to provide support for the enforcement of the Embargo Act and the prohibition of the international slave trade. In 1812, former Georgia governor George Matthews led the unsanctioned “Patriot” invasion of Spanish Florida from Point Peter. On January 13, 1815, during the War of 1812, a British force overwhelmed 116 U.S. regulars here, destroying the fort and barracks. After the U.S. acquired Florida in 1819, the post was abandoned"

[@bradbiddy4202]

Well done!!

[@johnathanpenczek5499]

The only thing I knew about the battle of new Orleans before this video was the song bqsed on it is fire

[@ViktoriousDead]

Imagine being the numerically superior force of the greatest trained army of the time, next thing you know you're stumbling through the swamps after getting the order to retreat, having lost to pirates, creoles and Tennessee squirrel hunters

[@bigyin2586]

DukeOfTennessee117 ...and yet all those squirrel hunters et al spoke English. Yep, loser Limeys... BTW, ever heard of the Napoleonic wars?

[@ViktoriousDead]

Big Yin you seemed to have missed my point, and whatever your argument is has none. I never said any nation was better than any other, it was just one of those interesting fluke battles in history.

[@STho205]

And the 7th US Infantry, the 44th US Infantry and the regulated, drilled and uniformed forces from New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The British broke into the 1st Redoubt but were defeated by the bayonet and captured/killed by the 7th US Heavy Infantry. Behind Line Jackson were three US reserve lines about a mile or two apart. Jackson had about 4000 men at the time. Pakingham had about 6000. Cecil B deMille movies tend to exaggerate romantic scenes. The Army of the US was evolving into a professional fighting force after reorganization in 1813. They had driven the Canadians out of Detroit in 13 and had stood the massive siege of Baltimore in 14. The plan A, take Mobile and go overland, failed in Sept 1814 due to the 2nd US garrison standing against the British Marines and a Royal Navy squadron. Cochran tried to sail up the Miss River on Jan 9th, but was stopped by the 7th US garrisoned at Fort St Philip.

[@mikepurdue7472]

Imagine charging towards your death fearlessly, while your opponent is crouched down behind a wall, hiding, not even looking at what they're shooting, and still lose.

[@ViktoriousDead]

Mike Purdue imagine being as stupid as you are.

[@ob2kenobi388]

And to think, Jackson fought the whole battle with a bullet in his chest! Granted, it had been there the past 8 years, but still.

[@marcostark8926]

Man i love your videos :)

[@Dextersauve11]

"In 1814 we took a little trip" or something like that

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

“His name was Duncan MacDougal so y’know he was a nice Greek boy...” Your delivery got me with that one, I did one of those loud, unexpected “HA”s that you do when a joke catches you off guard. Anyone know a name for that? That a guffaw?

[@antred11]

I don't get the joke. 🤔

[@tanker00v25]

@@antred11 Duncan MacDougal is a very Scottish name and Atun even voices him with a very Scottish accent later in the video, so calling him a “nice greek boy" is a very sarcastic remark

[@klausklaus504]

IN 1814 WE TOOK A LITTLE TRIP

[@rathnirradio4350]

In 1814 we took a little trip

[@gerardmonsen1267]

The key thing to note about the battle was that while the peace treaty had been signed, it hadn’t yet been ratified. The British Parliament waited to hear back about the results of the Battle of New Orleans before ratifying the treaty. If the battle had gone well for the British, they almost certainly would have demanded and extracted more concessions. Also, I’m not really sure how much the British were counting on surprise here. Pretty much everyone knew that an attack on New Orleans was coming, which is why Andrew Jackson and his Tennessee militia were there. After Washington DC was burned down and the British fleet had returned to the Caribbean, pretty much everyone knew the British were mustering their forces for a powerful invasion of New Orleans. (Also keep in mind that the British didn’t recognize the Louisiana Purchase as legitimate, as Napoleon basically sold Spanish territory to America and the British didn’t recognize Napolean’s puppet government in Spain. So, there was some possible messiness where the British could “return” the land to Spain).

[@Delogros]

No the peace treaty at this stage was only ratified by the British due to the speed of ships travel and how close the negotiations where held to London it was only the US that hadn't ratified it yet, Similarly there is no way " The British Parliament waited to hear back about the results of the Battle of New Orleans" because London would have 0 clue a battle was going to be fought in this specific place. What they did do is put some stipulations in the treaty for if the campaign was won when the treaty got to Washington though I don't know off hand what that was whether it was money or land concessions but the British where already occupying some US land and that just swapped back with no concessions anyway. Bear in mind a journey across the Atlantic in the age of sail is an 6-10 week affair, if the British hadn't ratified the treaty for the reasons you suggest then it would not have been officially ratified till at best April which obviously isn't the case.

[@silentotto5099]

I agree that the attack on New Orleans probably wasn't much of a surprise, at least not in any strategic sense. After all, the vulnerability to attack by the British was one of the reasons that Napoleon sold Louisiana territory to the US in the first place.

[@STho205]

@@silentotto5099 oh it was plan D or F. First Plan was the blockade (identical to Anaconda Plan in 1861) Second plan was to protect Canada and garrison the south shores of the lakes, to cut the west from the east. A reasonable success until the US Regular Army drove Proctor and his Shawnee out of Detroit. Next was to separate New England physically and politically by taking Champlain and the Hudson. Also exploitong secession sentiments in the New England states. Very similar strategy in 1777. That failed. Next was to cut the North from the South by taking the Chesapeake. Veteran troops going home from Spain were sent there. Looked good at DC, failed miserably a month later at Baltimore. That fleet (after Ghent peace talks began BTW) was ordered to join the Jamaica fleet (no longer fighting Caribbean French) in the Gulf to take Louisiana. War of 1812 became a tit for tat corporation war after Napolean went to Elba. We threated to take Canada, they threaten to take Louisiana. Neither side could hold too much captured territory.

[@TheManofthecross]

@@Delogros and besides it was Russia who was brokering it anyway and did not want anything to cause a further war between America and britan by any quasi belli so they had to enforce any and all conditions to deny any such thing.

[@TheManofthecross]

@@silentotto5099 mainly it was that the French money maker was lost by revolt and that Louisiana was used as a bread basket to supply the money making islands with food and after that the land was rendered useless in that case.

[@o3941]

Your story telling here is amazing. You also resemble Daniel Radcliff.

[@michaeltubbs4606]

My ancestors marched all the way from Tennessee under Colonel Coffee and his Tennessee militia to fight in this battle.

[@williamanderson5437]

Battle of 'Cryslers Farm' next - PLEASE

[@KB-ks8jv]

Great job I even liked the funny stuff you put into it

[@tifforo1]

It feels like the British could have won if their major-general had just waited for the artillery to be captured before starting the advance. He set up a decent attack plan, but then didn't wait for the pieces to come together before moving.

[@mcmneverreadsreplys7318]

mark 9:26 . . . RE: Dominique Youx: Pierre Lafitte (Jean's older brother) was at the Battle but was used as something like a consultant/guide for his knowledge of the local geography - including being sent across the river as a guide to help retake the lost doublet. Dominique Youx, on the other hand, was a 'pardoned pirate Captain' and the artillery commander who "dueled" the British BUT he was NOT related to the Lafittes'.

[@STho205]

Jean was on the Western Shore batteries and not in Line Jackson at Chalmette on the morning of the 8th. If I recall. Movie and novel took poetic license.

[@leonardyoung6821]

As a direct ancestor of Villere, I can tell you that it was not the patriarch Villere who escaped the British at Conseil and reported the landing to Jackson, but his son, Major Gabriel Villere. Jacques Phillipe was commanding the local militia in another area.

[@cabcalloway674]

Nice video dude! Although honestly, it probably would have been easier for you if you stayed dry at home and narrated the story over the pictures you showed. You can always pop in and say something in front of the camera if you need to. It might also make for a better viewing experience that way for visual variety and sound quality.

[@tessat338]

I've only ever been to New Orleans in December as that is when a friend's family has a time-share. I am under the impression that it is a cold place.

[@rogersparker5875]

In the winter ye but this quite particular cold that's wet and pneumonia enabled with three mass of water. Louisiana is known more miserable mid to late winters factor in rain. Just stay inside with a movie and beer