8 January 1815
Andrew Jackson wins the Battle of New Orleans and, essentially, the presidency in 1828.
The War of 1812 had been over for two weeks when the Americans beat the crap out of the British on today's date 191 years ago. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed on 24 December 1814, but communications was so slow that news hadn't reached New Orleans by the time the battle started. So the most memorable battle of a rather desultory war was fought after it ended. British Major General Sir Edward Pakenham sent a note to the Americans prior to the battle that said, "If you do not surrender, I shall destroy your breastworks and eat breakfast in New Orleans Sunday morning." Hey, buddy - these colors don't run! Jackson replied, "If you do, you will eat supper in hell Sunday night." Go, Jackson! Although outnumbered 3-to-1, the Americans destroyed the British, killing 2000, including Pakenham, and lost 7. The battle lasted 30 minutes. Jackson became a national hero, and won the presidency fourteen years later.
The War of 1812 had been over for two weeks when the Americans beat the crap out of the British on today's date 191 years ago. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed on 24 December 1814, but communications was so slow that news hadn't reached New Orleans by the time the battle started. So the most memorable battle of a rather desultory war was fought after it ended. British Major General Sir Edward Pakenham sent a note to the Americans prior to the battle that said, "If you do not surrender, I shall destroy your breastworks and eat breakfast in New Orleans Sunday morning." Hey, buddy - these colors don't run! Jackson replied, "If you do, you will eat supper in hell Sunday night." Go, Jackson! Although outnumbered 3-to-1, the Americans destroyed the British, killing 2000, including Pakenham, and lost 7. The battle lasted 30 minutes. Jackson became a national hero, and won the presidency fourteen years later.
posted by Greg | 2:31 PM
2 Comments:
Of course, Jackson SHOULD have won the election in 1824, one could argue.
Always ruining my excellent points for me, aren't you, Roger? Sheesh. I know very little about early 19th-century presidential races, so although I know Quincy Adams won in 1824, I don't know the particulars. Even so, Jackson probably would not have done so well in politics without the Battle of New Orleans.
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