Spirit of New Orleans
By John C. McManus

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The morning was chilly and misty. The fog afforded the British some semblance of concealment despite their bright red uniforms. All at once, a British rocket sizzled through the early morning fog. A chorus of voices shouted three cheers. This was the signal to move forward. Immediately, British artillery opened up on the American batteries. In answer, the American artillery, far from being distracted or confused, opened fire and raked the enemy columns. Cannonballs flew back and forth, with British balls slamming into the earthen ramparts and American balls slamming into bodies. Still, the British troops advanced closer until they were plainly visible to the Americans, including the men of the 7th Infantry, who were covering the first three artillery batteries along the western edge of the American line.

The British column attack along the levee road clashed with elements of the 7th under Lieutenant Andrew Ross. The soldiers of this advance element occupied a redoubt just in front of the main line, south of the Rodriguez Canal and on the extreme west flank beside the river. The purpose of this position was twofold: First, it afforded a good observation post; second, it allowed American troops to fire into the flanks of any British troops who managed to reach and assault the main ramparts. Unfortunately for the defenders, these very advantages also made the redoubt vulnerable to attack. The men in the redoubt had a good view of British activity—most would have said far too good a view—and clear fields of fire. But like any observation post detached from a main defensive line, the redoubt was inadequate in the face of a stronger enemy force. Jackson himself had expressed doubts about the usefulness of the redoubt: Two days earlier, when it was constructed, he told his engineers, “That will give us trouble!”

He was right. Although most of the Americans out ahead of the main line were clustered together in small outposts, the redoubt provided them with no special comfort or protection when they scrambled away from the British and headed for it. The British simply pursued them and entered the redoubt to attack Lieutenant Ross’ company. Two of his men, a sergeant and a corporal, were killed immediately; Colonel Robert Rennie, the British officer in command of the assault, personally killed the sergeant. Fighting desperately in wet, hand-to-hand bayonet struggles, Ross’ survivors were either captured or pushed back toward the main line.

As the British cleared the troublesome redoubt, they had a real chance to breach the American line. The Redcoats rushed into the breastworks, led by Rennie, who screamed, “The day is ours!” He was brave, but wrong. At this point, a volley of shots from the American line staggered the British troops. Immediately behind the redoubt, eyeball to eyeball with the British, was a small company of some 30 Louisiana riflemen. The British tried to shield themselves with some of the 7th infantrymen they had captured in and around the redoubt, but this tactic failed. The Louisiana riflemen poured steady fire into the British. Supporting the riflemen were American batteries firing grapeshot, as well as the muskets of the rest of the 7th Infantry. The concentrated firepower ripped into the British troops, who were caught in the open. Some were hit several times and fell backward; others were beheaded by artillery fire; still others caught musket balls in bellies or limbs. A shot ripped through Rennie’s calf, but he kept going. Then he took a mortal shot just above the eyebrow, probably the work of a Louisiana rifleman.

At that moment, the 7th Infantry, with bayonets fixed, mounted a major counterattack, chasing British survivors back down the levee road. Some remained behind the parapets and sniped at the retreating enemy. Artillery continued to hurl grapeshot at the fleeing troops, knocking several off their feet.

On the opposite side of Line Jackson, the British attack failed in an even bigger bloodbath. Pakenham was killed, as were several of his key officers. An ancillary British attack on the west bank of the river was more successful, but ultimately it counted for naught. The great battle was essentially over by midmorning, an almost absurdly short amount of time, given the months of buildup, tension and preparation, and the consequences of the outcome.

Tags: 17th - 18th Century, 19th Century, Historical Conflicts, Historical Figures

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