The Battle of New Orleans "That large country on our borders must be surrendered to us. And it will be - from the Floridas to Mexico!" General Andrew Jackson Further Reading The South in 1814: Background to the Battle of New Orleans Cochrane's Campaign: The British Approach New Orleans The December Defense: Andrew Jackson Arrives at New Orleans The British Arrive at New Orleans Night Before the Battle Massacre at New Orleans Eyewitness Accounts

Andrew Jackson's Southern Defense Like many of his fellow countrymen, Andrew Jackson envisioned the Stars and Stripes one day waving above the entire U.S. southeast, as well as over the vast lands beyond the Mississippi. In 1814, Jackson found himself in a position to bring that day closer, or perhaps even plant the flag himself. This was due largely to the war administration’s lack of military organization in the south - a gap that Jackson bridged, and filled with every ounce of his righteous determination. Jackson’s military success in the Red Stick Creek campaign earned him a commission as brigadier general in the regular army which gave him command of the Seventh Military District. In fighting the Red Sticks, his sheer determination and energy allowed him to assemble a fairly capable force made up entirely of volunteers. Jackson realized his new command would provide him with more power but relatively few regular soldiers. Jackson’s hope was that his volunteer force would help, not only in the protection of the American south, but in the acquisition of new territory for the US Indeed, many of these men from Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee shared Jackson’s view of conquest and almost all had a stake in protecting their southern lands as well as the important trading routes; the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers.