The Battle of New Orleans

by Robert Vincent Remini

Hardcover, 1999

Status

Available

Publication

New York, N.Y. : Viking, 1999.

Description

The Battle of New Orleans was the climactic battle of America's "forgotten war" of 1812. Andrew Jackson led his ragtag corps of soldiers against 8,000 disciplined invading British regulars in a battle that delivered the British a humiliating military defeat. The victory solidified America's independence and marked the beginning of Jackson's rise to national prominence. Hailed as "terrifically readable" by the Chicago Sun Times, The Battle of New Orleans is popular American history at its best, bringing to life a landmark battle that helped define the character of the United States.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AsYouKnow_Bob
In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.

We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired
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once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

We looked down the river and we see'd the British come.
And there must have been a hundred of'em beatin' on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring.
We stood by our cotton bales and didn't say a thing.

[Chorus]

Old Hickory said we could take 'em by surprise
If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye
We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well.
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em ... well

[Chorus]

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.**

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down.
So we grabbed an alligator and we fought 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.

[Chorus]

Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

Johnny Horton
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LibraryThing member Chrisdier
This book details essentially all the events surrounding the Battle of New Orleans. It starts off with discussing Jackson’s victories against the Native Americans in Spanish Florida. Remini then articulately details the beginning of the Battle of New Orleans, from the earlier skirmishes to the
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battle at Lake Borgne, which the Americans lost. He also details the night attack the Americans launched against the British prior to actual battle. And, of course, with striking detail Remini discusses the actual battle in great detail. He even shows a plethora of maps for those unfamiliar with it.

I disagree with Remini’s claim that this was America’s first actual victory because he discounts the many victories prior. He claims this was a different type of victory because they surrendered in the other battles, but this one was different. I think he is misusing the word victory to support his position.

This book is significant for students considering its importance and relevance to where we live. We, in St. Bernard Parish, live less than ten minutes away from one of the most important battles in American history, and the last major battle on American soil, and the last battle against the English. If I were teaching high school, I would have my students read the entire text or I would read excerpts from it to them.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
This book details essentially all the events surrounding the Battle of New Orleans. A diverse rabble: Kentuckians in top hats, pirates and citizen soldiers banding together with a beat up the regular British Army. The focus is mostly on Andrew Jackson--some of the Brit generals are also mentioned.
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As always, the specifics of the battle are difficult without a map or some foreknowledge.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
A brief but complete history of the 1814-1815 Battle of New Orleans, mostly focusing on Jackson and his troops, but with enough of the view from the other side to be balanced. I thought this was a good read and I enjoyed it.

Language

Barcode

7783
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